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sql server clustering : Windows Server 2003 Storport Action / Experiences ?
Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server and been
researching about the new Storport driver model as per link below. All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone here has real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx What I know already : - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL :-) - Check Vendor support. - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. - Operational Testing / failover etc. - Hotfixes - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 cheers, Andy.
Yes, I've done implementations with almost this exact config...QLogic 2340s
and EMC CLARiiON...also combined it with Boot-from-SAN (but was on Dell servers). Everything worked very nicely; be sure to get the EMC-specific Storport drivers directly from the QLogic web site for best results. Also, make sure everything is up-to-snuff with your HBA firmware, server BIOSes, etc. You wouldn't believe how minor differences can make a difference sometimes... I didn't notice any performance issues with the combination - I've always liked the QLogic HBAs as well as the Emulex ones (bonus: you can save some money as the QLogic ones can be less expensive). Many times your performance issues can be resolved by ensuring that you know what you are doing with regards to SAN switch zoning, multipathing, cabling, etc. EMC preaches "Single HBA Zoning" and I subscribe to that philosophy. EMC has some great documents on their site around HBA / hardware compatibility testing, so check there...Brocade (if that's your switch vendor [and I hope for you that they are]) also has good information on their Brocade Connect site...good resources abound... Best of luck to you! -- Ryan Sokolowski MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, BCFP Avanade http://www.Avanade.com "A troubleshooter's best tool is the Event Viewer and understanding the events and messages contained therein." This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. [quoted text, click to view] "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message news:egc3v6GAFHA.1564@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... > Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server and > been researching about the new Storport driver model as per link below. > > All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone here has > real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability > obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / > performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx > > What I know already : > > - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL :-) > - Check Vendor support. > - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. > - Operational Testing / failover etc. > - Hotfixes - > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 > > Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 > > cheers, > Andy. >
I don't think EMC fully supports MPIO yet, but they are building a future
version of PowerPath around it. I have a couple of CX-600s using McData switches and 4 Emulex HBAs per host node. Single-HBA zoning is the only way to get 16 pathways to work. We recently upgraded to the latest PowerPath to get StorPort support. Emulex had a bug where it didn't release the SCSI reservation on the bus if the host bluescreened. Clustering without failover isn't very fun. So far (60-90 days) there have been no problems. My counterpart here has a CX-700 with QLogic HBAs and hasn't had any problems with connectivity. Don't ask about DAE reliability and Clariion stability. I think they have the bugs out of the CX-700 line by now. At least he seems to be getting some sleep lately. -- Geoff N. Hiten Microsoft SQL Server MVP Senior Database Administrator Careerbuilder.com I support the Professional Association for SQL Server www.sqlpass.org [quoted text, click to view] "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message news:eGQczqoAFHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... > Ryan, > > thanks for that , good to hear someone using a similar config to ours is not > having probs. We are using McData switches. > > Hear you re Firmware / Drivers etc, we have been very careful in the past > with this. > > One thing I didn't mention is that we use EMC Powerpath for MPIO with 2 > QL2340's in each host. We don't intend to use the Win2k3 MPIO. > > thanks again, > Andy. > > "Ryan Sokolowski [Avanade]" <ryan@newsgroups.avanade.com> wrote in message > news:%23UC4K6kAFHA.2012@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl... > > Yes, I've done implementations with almost this exact config...QLogic > > 2340s and EMC CLARiiON...also combined it with Boot-from-SAN (but was on > > Dell servers). Everything worked very nicely; be sure to get the > > EMC-specific Storport drivers directly from the QLogic web site for best > > results. > > > > Also, make sure everything is up-to-snuff with your HBA firmware, server > > BIOSes, etc. You wouldn't believe how minor differences can make a > > difference sometimes... > > > > I didn't notice any performance issues with the combination - I've always > > liked the QLogic HBAs as well as the Emulex ones (bonus: you can save some > > money as the QLogic ones can be less expensive). Many times your > > performance issues can be resolved by ensuring that you know what you are > > doing with regards to SAN switch zoning, multipathing, cabling, etc. > > > > EMC preaches "Single HBA Zoning" and I subscribe to that philosophy. EMC > > has some great documents on their site around HBA / hardware compatibility > > testing, so check there...Brocade (if that's your switch vendor [and I > > hope for you that they are]) also has good information on their Brocade > > Connect site...good resources abound... > > > > Best of luck to you! > > > > -- > > Ryan Sokolowski > > MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, BCFP > > Avanade > > http://www.Avanade.com > > > > "A troubleshooter's best tool is the Event Viewer and understanding the > > events and messages contained therein." > > > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no > > rights. > > > > "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message > > news:egc3v6GAFHA.1564@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... > >> Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server and > >> been researching about the new Storport driver model as per link below. > >> > >> All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone here > >> has real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability > >> obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / > >> performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course > >> > >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx > >> > >> What I know already : > >> > >> - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL :-) > >> - Check Vendor support. > >> - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. > >> - Operational Testing / failover etc. > >> - Hotfixes - > >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 > >> > >> Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 > >> > >> cheers, > >> Andy. > >> > > > > > >
Ryan,
thanks for that , good to hear someone using a similar config to ours is not having probs. We are using McData switches. Hear you re Firmware / Drivers etc, we have been very careful in the past with this. One thing I didn't mention is that we use EMC Powerpath for MPIO with 2 QL2340's in each host. We don't intend to use the Win2k3 MPIO. thanks again, Andy. [quoted text, click to view] "Ryan Sokolowski [Avanade]" <ryan@newsgroups.avanade.com> wrote in message news:%23UC4K6kAFHA.2012@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl... > Yes, I've done implementations with almost this exact config...QLogic > 2340s and EMC CLARiiON...also combined it with Boot-from-SAN (but was on > Dell servers). Everything worked very nicely; be sure to get the > EMC-specific Storport drivers directly from the QLogic web site for best > results. > > Also, make sure everything is up-to-snuff with your HBA firmware, server > BIOSes, etc. You wouldn't believe how minor differences can make a > difference sometimes... > > I didn't notice any performance issues with the combination - I've always > liked the QLogic HBAs as well as the Emulex ones (bonus: you can save some > money as the QLogic ones can be less expensive). Many times your > performance issues can be resolved by ensuring that you know what you are > doing with regards to SAN switch zoning, multipathing, cabling, etc. > > EMC preaches "Single HBA Zoning" and I subscribe to that philosophy. EMC > has some great documents on their site around HBA / hardware compatibility > testing, so check there...Brocade (if that's your switch vendor [and I > hope for you that they are]) also has good information on their Brocade > Connect site...good resources abound... > > Best of luck to you! > > -- > Ryan Sokolowski > MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, BCFP > Avanade > http://www.Avanade.com > > "A troubleshooter's best tool is the Event Viewer and understanding the > events and messages contained therein." > > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no > rights. > > "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message > news:egc3v6GAFHA.1564@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... >> Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server and >> been researching about the new Storport driver model as per link below. >> >> All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone here >> has real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability >> obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / >> performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx >> >> What I know already : >> >> - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL :-) >> - Check Vendor support. >> - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. >> - Operational Testing / failover etc. >> - Hotfixes - >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 >> >> Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 >> >> cheers, >> Andy. >> > >
If you are using QLogic HBAs, single HBA zoning is a must. Since QLogic
loads firmware from the driver, that's one less thing to worry about (the BIOS firmware image is not used at runtime). In this configuration, you are not likely to see any perf differences. This is more likely to be shown on macho servers with many adapters and many spindles. Not all HBA vendors have tuned their drivers for Storport either and this is an ongoing process so stay up-to-date with latest qualified driver supported by your storage vendor. Jeff [MS] [quoted text, click to view] "Geoff N. Hiten" <SRDBA@Careerbuilder.com> wrote in message news:%23G$4RxoAFHA.824@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl... >I don't think EMC fully supports MPIO yet, but they are building a future > version of PowerPath around it. I have a couple of CX-600s using McData > switches and 4 Emulex HBAs per host node. Single-HBA zoning is the only > way > to get 16 pathways to work. We recently upgraded to the latest PowerPath > to > get StorPort support. Emulex had a bug where it didn't release the SCSI > reservation on the bus if the host bluescreened. Clustering without > failover isn't very fun. So far (60-90 days) there have been no problems. > My counterpart here has a CX-700 with QLogic HBAs and hasn't had any > problems with connectivity. Don't ask about DAE reliability and Clariion > stability. I think they have the bugs out of the CX-700 line by now. At > least he seems to be getting some sleep lately. > > -- > Geoff N. Hiten > Microsoft SQL Server MVP > Senior Database Administrator > Careerbuilder.com > > I support the Professional Association for SQL Server > www.sqlpass.org > > "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message > news:eGQczqoAFHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... >> Ryan, >> >> thanks for that , good to hear someone using a similar config to ours is > not >> having probs. We are using McData switches. >> >> Hear you re Firmware / Drivers etc, we have been very careful in the past >> with this. >> >> One thing I didn't mention is that we use EMC Powerpath for MPIO with 2 >> QL2340's in each host. We don't intend to use the Win2k3 MPIO. >> >> thanks again, >> Andy. >> >> "Ryan Sokolowski [Avanade]" <ryan@newsgroups.avanade.com> wrote in >> message >> news:%23UC4K6kAFHA.2012@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl... >> > Yes, I've done implementations with almost this exact config...QLogic >> > 2340s and EMC CLARiiON...also combined it with Boot-from-SAN (but was >> > on >> > Dell servers). Everything worked very nicely; be sure to get the >> > EMC-specific Storport drivers directly from the QLogic web site for >> > best >> > results. >> > >> > Also, make sure everything is up-to-snuff with your HBA firmware, >> > server >> > BIOSes, etc. You wouldn't believe how minor differences can make a >> > difference sometimes... >> > >> > I didn't notice any performance issues with the combination - I've > always >> > liked the QLogic HBAs as well as the Emulex ones (bonus: you can save > some >> > money as the QLogic ones can be less expensive). Many times your >> > performance issues can be resolved by ensuring that you know what you > are >> > doing with regards to SAN switch zoning, multipathing, cabling, etc. >> > >> > EMC preaches "Single HBA Zoning" and I subscribe to that philosophy. > EMC >> > has some great documents on their site around HBA / hardware > compatibility >> > testing, so check there...Brocade (if that's your switch vendor [and I >> > hope for you that they are]) also has good information on their Brocade >> > Connect site...good resources abound... >> > >> > Best of luck to you! >> > >> > -- >> > Ryan Sokolowski >> > MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, BCFP >> > Avanade >> > http://www.Avanade.com >> > >> > "A troubleshooter's best tool is the Event Viewer and understanding the >> > events and messages contained therein." >> > >> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no >> > rights. >> > >> > "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message >> > news:egc3v6GAFHA.1564@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... >> >> Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server >> >> and >> >> been researching about the new Storport driver model as per link >> >> below. >> >> >> >> All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone here >> >> has real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability >> >> obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / >> >> performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course >> >> >> >> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx >> >> >> >> What I know already : >> >> >> >> - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL >> >> :-) >> >> - Check Vendor support. >> >> - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. >> >> - Operational Testing / failover etc. >> >> - Hotfixes - >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 >> >> >> >> Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 >> >> >> >> cheers, >> >> Andy. >> >> >> > >> > >> >> > >
thanks Jeff (and Ryan and Geoff)
The Servers are quite macho / 4 x Operton on a HP DL 585 , 8GB RAM and prob up to 15 spindles for some data. Or is that quite weedy these days ? :-) thanks again Andy. [quoted text, click to view] "Jeff Goldner [MS]" <jeffgo@iworkatmicrosoft> wrote in message news:eP0bHcvAFHA.4044@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... > If you are using QLogic HBAs, single HBA zoning is a must. Since QLogic > loads firmware from the driver, that's one less thing to worry about (the > BIOS firmware image is not used at runtime). > > In this configuration, you are not likely to see any perf differences. > This is more likely to be shown on macho servers with many adapters and > many spindles. Not all HBA vendors have tuned their drivers for Storport > either and this is an ongoing process so stay up-to-date with latest > qualified driver supported by your storage vendor. > > Jeff [MS] > > "Geoff N. Hiten" <SRDBA@Careerbuilder.com> wrote in message > news:%23G$4RxoAFHA.824@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl... >>I don't think EMC fully supports MPIO yet, but they are building a future >> version of PowerPath around it. I have a couple of CX-600s using McData >> switches and 4 Emulex HBAs per host node. Single-HBA zoning is the only >> way >> to get 16 pathways to work. We recently upgraded to the latest PowerPath >> to >> get StorPort support. Emulex had a bug where it didn't release the SCSI >> reservation on the bus if the host bluescreened. Clustering without >> failover isn't very fun. So far (60-90 days) there have been no >> problems. >> My counterpart here has a CX-700 with QLogic HBAs and hasn't had any >> problems with connectivity. Don't ask about DAE reliability and Clariion >> stability. I think they have the bugs out of the CX-700 line by now. At >> least he seems to be getting some sleep lately. >> >> -- >> Geoff N. Hiten >> Microsoft SQL Server MVP >> Senior Database Administrator >> Careerbuilder.com >> >> I support the Professional Association for SQL Server >> www.sqlpass.org >> >> "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message >> news:eGQczqoAFHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... >>> Ryan, >>> >>> thanks for that , good to hear someone using a similar config to ours is >> not >>> having probs. We are using McData switches. >>> >>> Hear you re Firmware / Drivers etc, we have been very careful in the >>> past >>> with this. >>> >>> One thing I didn't mention is that we use EMC Powerpath for MPIO with 2 >>> QL2340's in each host. We don't intend to use the Win2k3 MPIO. >>> >>> thanks again, >>> Andy. >>> >>> "Ryan Sokolowski [Avanade]" <ryan@newsgroups.avanade.com> wrote in >>> message >>> news:%23UC4K6kAFHA.2012@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl... >>> > Yes, I've done implementations with almost this exact config...QLogic >>> > 2340s and EMC CLARiiON...also combined it with Boot-from-SAN (but was >>> > on >>> > Dell servers). Everything worked very nicely; be sure to get the >>> > EMC-specific Storport drivers directly from the QLogic web site for >>> > best >>> > results. >>> > >>> > Also, make sure everything is up-to-snuff with your HBA firmware, >>> > server >>> > BIOSes, etc. You wouldn't believe how minor differences can make a >>> > difference sometimes... >>> > >>> > I didn't notice any performance issues with the combination - I've >> always >>> > liked the QLogic HBAs as well as the Emulex ones (bonus: you can save >> some >>> > money as the QLogic ones can be less expensive). Many times your >>> > performance issues can be resolved by ensuring that you know what you >> are >>> > doing with regards to SAN switch zoning, multipathing, cabling, etc. >>> > >>> > EMC preaches "Single HBA Zoning" and I subscribe to that philosophy. >> EMC >>> > has some great documents on their site around HBA / hardware >> compatibility >>> > testing, so check there...Brocade (if that's your switch vendor [and I >>> > hope for you that they are]) also has good information on their >>> > Brocade >>> > Connect site...good resources abound... >>> > >>> > Best of luck to you! >>> > >>> > -- >>> > Ryan Sokolowski >>> > MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, BCFP >>> > Avanade >>> > http://www.Avanade.com >>> > >>> > "A troubleshooter's best tool is the Event Viewer and understanding >>> > the >>> > events and messages contained therein." >>> > >>> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no >>> > rights. >>> > >>> > "Andy Ball" <ng@spamno77greenfell.com> wrote in message >>> > news:egc3v6GAFHA.1564@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... >>> >> Looking to do a Windows Server 2003 build for Exchange \ SQL Server >>> >> and >>> >> been researching about the new Storport driver model as per link >>> >> below. >>> >> >>> >> All sounds good, seems the best way to go but wondering if anyone >>> >> here >>> >> has real world experiences to share ? Number one concern is stability >>> >> obviously , but also would be interested to hear of any benchmark / >>> >> performance stuff. Aiming to do our own of course >>> >> >>> >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/technologies/storport/default.mspx >>> >> >>> >> What I know already : >>> >> >>> >> - Vendor Driver / Firmware / Match up / HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL HCL >>> >> :-) >>> >> - Check Vendor support. >>> >> - Test Test Test Test with realistic workloads. >>> >> - Operational Testing / failover etc. >>> >> - Hotfixes - >>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;883646 >>> >> >>> >> Environment is HP DL580/585 QLogic 2340 HBA's , EMC Clariion Cx700 >>> >> >>> >> cheers, >>> >> Andy. >>> >> >>> > >>> > >>> >>> >> >> > >
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