High-Availability Cluster Environments

Consider the following information when planning to use Connect:Direct® for UNIX in a high-availability cluster environment.

Supported High-Availability Cluster Environments

Connect:Direct for UNIX is certified to operate in the following high-availability cluster environments:

  • IBM® high-availability cluster multiprocessing (HACMP) environment
  • Hewlett-Packard MC/Service Guard
  • SunCluster versions 2.2, 3.0, and 3.2
  • Veritas Infoscale Availability (formerly Veritas Cluster Server)
  • Red Hat High Availability Add-On

If you plan to install Connect:Direct for UNIX in a high-availability cluster environment, complete the following tasks:

  • Install the clustering software on each computer in the cluster, including setting up a logical host or application package.
  • Create a user with the same name and user ID on each cluster node.
  • Create a Connect:Direct subdirectory on a shared file system on a shared volume group.
  • Ensure that the shared file system is owned by the IBM Connect:Direct user.
  • Install IBM Connect:Direct on the shared file system.
  • Perform the procedures necessary to define the high-availability settings and configure the cluster environment.

Limitations of High-Availability Clusters

When running Connect:Direct for UNIX in a high-availability cluster environment, be aware of the following limitations:

  • If a failure occurs, all Processes being held will be restarted when IBM Connect:Direct is restarted. This includes Processes that are held by the operator as well as Processes held in error. This could cause a security risk.
  • When a IBM Connect:Direct ndmsmgr process associated with a IBM Connect:Direct Process is killed, the Process is not automatically restarted and is put in the Held in Error state. It must be manually restarted; otherwise, the IBM Connect:Direct Process is restarted when the cluster restart occurs.
Important: IBM offers standard support for Connect products that are installed according to the current documented installation instructions. Customers who encounter problems with a nonstandard installation, which cannot be reproduced in a standard environment, will be provided "best endeavor support". Offering best endeavor support, we will address questions and issues normally but if we determine the issue is due to a nonstandard installation environment you will be required to reinstall into a supported environment.