HP OpenVMS Systems

Gigabit (GbE) Ethernet and Clustering?

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The Question is:

 
We were under the impression from previous documentation (dated 1999) and
 conferences (from Compaq now HP) that Gigabit Ethernet and or FiberChannel
 would be supported for Cluster communication in VMS 7.3-1. I have just
 reviewed the QuickSpecs for OpenVMS
 for the new ES47 and the ES80 and they both state that the Gigabit Ethernet
 interface is not to be used as the cluster interconnect. The spec's for Unix
 do support the Gigabit interface. Was this just a pipe dream for OpenVMS or is
 it not physically poss
ible?
 

The Answer is :

 
  Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) works quite nicely as a cluster communications
  interconnect.
 
  Fibre Channel is not presently supported as a cluster communications
  interconnect.
 
  In the case of AlphaServer ES47 and AlphaServer ES80 series, there was
  a temporary restriction precluding (supported) use of the DEGXA series
  GbE adapters (DEGXA is a Broadcom 5703 Tigon3-based GbE NIC; though
  hardware support specifically requires the DEGXA controller) for OpenVMS
  Cluster communications that was in place until shortly after the systems
  shipped.  Network traffic was supported.  Qualification of cluster
  communications has been completed and the restriction has been lifted;
  both networking and OpenVMS Cluster communications are now fully
  supported over the DEGXA series GbE adapter.
 
  Updated QuickSpecs and Release notes are or will soon be available.
 
  The OpenVMS Wizard would strongly encourage you to install and to operate
  with the most current OpenVMS ECO kits available.
 
  Also please see topic (8783).
 

  

     

     
answer written or last revised on ( 7-JUL-2003 )
     
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