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Sun Cluster 2.2 Software Installation Guide

7.1 Preparing to Install Sun Cluster HA for Informix

Use the information in this section to prepare Sun Cluster nodes for Sun Cluster HA for Informix installation.

7.1.1 Selecting an Install Location for Sun Cluster HA for Informix

You can install the Informix binaries either on a physical host's local disks or on the shared multihost disks (logical host). Use Table 7-1, which shows the advantages and disadvantages of each install location, to determine the install location that best fits your needs.

Table 7-1 Informix Install Locations Comparison

Install Location 

Advantages 

Disadvantages 

Multihost Disks 

  • Eases administration - only one copy must be maintained

  • Sacrifices redundancy

  • In some cases, compromises availability

  • In cases of switchover or accidental removal of Informix binaries, may cause Informix to be unavailable

  • Requires a mirror, so disk space must be doubled

Local Disks 

  • Increases redundancy - each node is a copy

  • Increases administrative overhead - multiple copies must be maintained

7.1.2 Setting Up the /etc/nsswitch.conf File

On each node that can master the logical host running Sun Cluster HA for Informix, modify the /etc/nsswitch.conf file so that "group" lookups are directed to files first. For example:

...
 group: files nisplus
 ...

Sun Cluster HA for Informix uses the su informix command when starting and stopping the database server.

Adding this setting will ensure that the su informix command does not refer to NIS or NIS+ when the network information name service is not available due to a failure of the public network.

7.1.3 Setting Up Multihost Disks for Sun Cluster HA for Informix

If you are using Solstice DiskSuite, you can configure Sun Cluster HA for Informix to use UFS logging or raw mirrored metadevices. Refer to Appendix B, Configuring Solstice DiskSuite," for details about setting up metadevices.

If you are using Sun StorEdge Volume Manager, you can configure Sun Cluster HA for Informix to use VxFS logging or raw devices. Refer to your Sun StorEdge Volume Manager documentation for more information.