What’s in This Version

Benefits

Manageability is one of the key considerations in cluster technology. ClusterPack V2.4 provides several benefits to system management.

Reduces time and effort spent on repetitive tasks
Reduces overhead associated with maintaining system configurations, software updates, and user management
Maintains similar or identical configurations of nodes (or groups of nodes) in a cluster
Provides proactive problem detection
Provides flexibility and extensibility

Platforms Supported

ClusterPack V2.4 is available on HP Integrity Servers running HP-UX 11i v2 Technical Computing Operating Environment (TCOE) as the management server and compute servers. It supports industry-standard Ethernet and InfiniBand, as well as HyperFabric2 as the cluster interconnect. It also provides console management via the on-board management processor on HP Integrity Servers.

Features

New features for ClusterPack V2.4 include:

New command line utility for cluster power management (clpower)
New command line utility to manage system file customizations on Compute Nodes (clsysfile)
Integration with HP system management tools
Flexible configurations
Utilities to preserve system file customizations during cloning
Support for non-intrusive Compute Node addition and deletion
Removal of key configuration restrictions
Easy upgrade path from prior ClusterPack versions.
Improvements to the online tutorial

New command line utility for cluster power management (clpower)

This utility performs multiple power operation on Compute Nodes using the Management Processor interface. System administrators will be able to use this utility to turn the power on and off, turn the indicator lights on and off, and inquire about the power status of Compute Nodes.

New command line utility to manage system file customizations on Compute Nodes (clsysfile)

This utility creates and manages customizations to system files for installation on Compute Nodes. This allows system administrators to preserve customizations across Golden Image cloning operations.

Integration with HP system management tools

ClusterPack configures and performs basic integration with HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM) if it is installed on the Management Server.

ClusterPack also continues to provide integration for HP Service Control Manager (SCM) if it is installed on the Management Server.

Flexible configurations

The following services are now optional:

NIS
Integration with other HP system management tools
Secondary DNS servers

Utilities to preserve system file customizations during cloning

This utility packages files for installation on Compute Nodes during a cloning operation. Files are created on the Management Server, and packaged into an SD bundle. The resulting file bundle can be associated with a Golden Image. During a cloning operation, the file bundle will be automatically installed on the Compute Nodes. Multiple file bundles can be maintained, for use with multiple Golden Images. The file bundles can be manually installed on a given Compute Node. Removing the file bundle will restore the original files to the Compute Node.

Support for non-intrusive Compute Node addition and deletion

The Compute Nodes in the cluster that are not candidates for addition or removal will not be touched during these operations. Jobs can continue to run on those nodes while these operations are being performed.

Removal of key configuration restrictions

ClusterPack now has the ability to configure cluster networking with just the management LAN. It also now works in NIS and non-NIS environments.

Easy upgrade path from prior ClusterPack versions

ClusterPack V2.4 supports the upgrade for existing customers using either ClusterPack V2.3 or ClusterPack V2.2. Customers that currently use ClusterPack V2.2 have HP-UX 11i Version 1.6 TCOE installed on the HP Integrity servers. Customers with HP-UX 11i Version 1.6 TCOE can upgrade their servers to the HP-UX 11i Version 2 TCOE and preserve the cluster configuration settings when deploying ClusterPack V2.4. ClusterPack V2.4 provides a mechanism to retain the configuration settings from a ClusterPack V2.3 cluster.

“Upgrading from V2.2 to V2.4” for detailed instructions on how to upgrade from V2.2 to V2.4.

See “Upgrading from V2.3 to V2.4” for detailed instructions on how to upgrade from V2.3 to V2.4.

Improvements to the online tutorial

The ClusterPack online tutorial now includes a QuickStart Installation Guide for experienced HP-UX system administrators. Comprehensive installation instructions are also provided with detailed directions for installation and for the use of Golden Images.