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Sun Cluster 2.2 Software Installation Guide

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.

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

Setting Up the /etc/nsswitch.conf File

On each node that can master the logical host running Sun Cluster HA for Informix, the /etc/nsswitch.conf file must have one of the following entries for group. 


group:
group:		 	files
group:		 	files [NOTFOUND=return] nis
group:		 	files [NOTFOUND=return] nisplus

Sun Cluster HA for Informix uses the su user command when starting and stopping the database node. The above settings will ensure that the su user command does not refer to NIS/NIS+ when the network information name service is not available due to failure of the public network on the cluster node.

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 VERITAS Volume Manager (VxVM), you can configure Sun Cluster HA for Informix to use VxFS logging or raw devices. Refer to your VERITAS Volume Manager documentation for more information.