Tuesday, May 02, 2006

That ole devil called Clustering II: The Return

Following on from http://markarnold.blogspot.com/2006/04/that-ole-devil-called-clustering.html#links where Mark expends a good deal of words (well chosen naturally) on the subject of Exchange Server clustering, I got unfortunately embroiled in another one. For brevity and to stop too many windows popping up, I shall use copy and paste.

------------------
Punter:
Hello,I am about to install Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise at our organization, and will be installing it as a 2-node cluster. I’ve read a lot of the literature on Microsoft and on TechNet, and while I’m comfortable with the installation and configuration process, I’m unclear about the disk requirements and best practices.

Does anyone know of an article that describes the best practices for disk configuration in an Exchange 2003 2-node cluster, including sizing requirements? Or could someone share their recommendations?

Our cluster is built around a SAN architecture and we can present disks however necessary.Thanks for the help!
------------------

Well. If it is good enough for Jimmy the Swede (http://jimmytheswede.blogspot.com/2006/03/good-cluster-configuration.html) and good enough for Mark (see above link), then I see no reason to respond in kind:

------------------
My response:
If you are a really, really competent Exchange Server Enginner. And you know Windows 2003 like the back of your hand. And you know the hardware really well. And you absolutely and legitimately have a compelling business reason for a cluster then go for it.

Unless all of those are in place, the only good cluster is an inactive, passive one.

Honestly.
------------------

Would I implement a cluster myself? Not without at least 500 users and probably more like 1,000 users, an unlimited budget and a seriously good business reason from the Board of Directors on why the 99.9% uptime is not sufficient and why the complexity increases by an order of magnitude.

So. Punter responds:
------------------
Ok, and the point of your post is... how much you rock? Wow. It must be so nice to be as good as you.

I have never implemented a cluster for Exchange before, although I have administered Exchange on a SBS at my previous employer.

I'm happily working for a new company where I've been for a little over a year, and where I am the IT manager and I manage a fully HP server room with an EVA6000 SAN with 10TB of 10K online storage, a 2-node Clustered File Server (running on HP Branded PolyServe software), a 2-node MSCS cluster, 2 additional NAS storage boxes, 2 domain controllers, a SQL server, an ISA server, 40 BL20p Blade Servers (running proprietary in-house software), and a nice assortment of miscellaneous servers, all of which take 9 tons of cooling and over 200A to run. I also manage the client systems and the support for over 60 client machines.

Anyway, you need to learn some manners before you say something to the wrong person – there was a day when I assisted people in other areas of this valuable forum. I haven't posted for a while, but since then you have proven that it has been infected with self worshiping egotistical maniacs with no intentions of doing anything except answer simple questions and receive cheap gratification.

Maybe one of the other valuable members, such as the original replier to the post, will be happy to help.

Back to my question. Since the only Exchange server I’ve worked on to date has been on a SBS system, I am not all that familiar with optimal disk assignments and best practices, especially when dealing inside a cluster. If someone could shed some light on this, that’d be very helpful.

Thanks for your time-
------------------


Points to make:
1. I don't spend my evenings helping people for the reasons listed above.
2. I don't consider clustering to be a simple question.
3. Seemingly I am an infection on the site. The site has been infected during the time he has not been posting? He joined in October 2003, has asked 10 Exchange questions, posted 19 responses (mainly to his own questions). I joined March 1999, have asked 33 questions and provided nearly 2,500 responses.
4. I am a "self worshiping egotistical maniac"?

Tragically the thread has now been amended by the site management but copy and paste are wonderful things. Enjoy.

No comments: