Document revision date: 15 July 2002
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OpenVMS Cluster Systems


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1.4 Communications

The System Communications Architecture (SCA) defines the communications mechanisms that allow nodes in an OpenVMS Cluster system to cooperate. It governs the sharing of data between resources at the nodes and binds together System Applications (SYSAPs) that run on different Alpha and VAX computers.

SCA consists of the following hierarchy of components:
Communications Software Function
System applications (SYSAPs) Consists of clusterwide applications (for example, disk and tape class drivers, connection manager, and MSCP server) that use SCS software for interprocessor communication.
System Communications Services (SCS) Provides basic connection management and communication services, implemented as a logical path, between system applications (SYSAPs) on nodes in an OpenVMS Cluster system.
Port drivers Control the communication paths between local and remote ports.
Physical interconnects Consists of ports or adapters for CI, DSSI, Ethernet (10/100 and Gigabit), ATM, FDDI, and MEMORY CHANNEL interconnects.

1.4.1 System Communications

Figure 1-1 shows the interrelationships between the OpenVMS Cluster components.

Figure 1-1 OpenVMS Cluster System Communications


In Figure 1-1, processes in different nodes exchange information with each other:

1.4.2 Application Communications

Applications running on OpenVMS Cluster systems use DECnet or TCP/IP (transmission control protocol and internet protocol) for application communication. The DECnet and TCP/IP communication services allow processes to locate or start remote servers and then exchange messages.

Note that generic references to DECnet in this document mean either DECnet for OpenVMS or DECnet--Plus (formerly known as DECnet/OSI) software.

1.4.3 Cluster Alias

A DECnet feature known as a cluster alias provides a collective name for the nodes in an OpenVMS Cluster system. Application software can connect to a node in the OpenVMS Cluster using the cluster alias name rather than a specific node name. This frees the application from keeping track of individual nodes in the OpenVMS Cluster system and results in design simplification, configuration flexibility, and application availability.

1.5 System Management

The OpenVMS Cluster system manager must manage multiple users and resources for maximum productivity and efficiency while maintaining the necessary security.

1.5.1 Ease of Management

An OpenVMS Cluster system is easily managed because the multiple members, hardware, and software are designed to cooperate as a single system:

Figure 1-2 illustrates centralized system management.

Figure 1-2 Single-Point OpenVMS Cluster System Management


1.5.2 Tools and Utilities from Compaq

The OpenVMS operating system supports a number of utilities and tools to assist you with the management of the distributed resources in OpenVMS Cluster configurations. Proper management is essential to ensure the availability and performance of OpenVMS Cluster configurations.

OpenVMS and its partners offer a wide selection of tools to meet diverse system management needs. Table 1-1 describes the Compaq products available for cluster management and indicates whether each is supplied with the operating system or is an optional product. Table 1-2 describes some of the most important utilities and tools produced by OpenVMS partners for managing an OpenVMS Cluster configuration.

Table 1-1 System Management Tools
Tool Supplied or Optional Function
Accounting
VMS Accounting Supplied Tracks how resources are being used.
Configuration and capacity planning
LMF (License Management Facility) Supplied Helps the system manager to determine which software products are licensed and installed on a standalone system and on each of the computers in an OpenVMS Cluster system.
Graphical Configuration Manager (GCM) Supplied A portable client/server application that gives you a way to view and control the configuration of partitioned AlphaServer systems running OpenVMS.
Galaxy Configuration Utility (GCU) Supplied A DECwindows Motif application that allows system managers to configure and manage an OpenVMS Galaxy system from a single workstation window.
SYSGEN (System Generation) utility Supplied Allows you to tailor your system for a specific hardware and software configuration. Use SYSGEN to modify system parameters, load device drivers, and create additional page and swap files.
CLUSTER_CONFIG.COM Supplied Automates the configuration or reconfiguration of an OpenVMS Cluster system and assumes the use of DECnet.
CLUSTER_CONFIG_LAN.COM Supplied Automates configuration or reconfiguration of an OpenVMS Cluster system without the use of DECnet.
Compaq Management Agents for OpenVMS Supplied Consists of a web server for system management with management agents that allow you to look at devices on your OpenVMS systems.
Compaq Insight Manager XE Supplied with every Compaq NT server Centralizes system management in one system to reduce cost, improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and minimize system down time. You can use Compaq Insight Manager XE on an NT server to monitor every system in an OpenVMS Cluster system. In a configuration of heterogeneous Compaq systems, you can use Compaq Insight Manager XE on an NT server to monitor all systems.
Event and fault tolerance
OPCOM message routing Supplied Provides event notification.
Operations management
Clusterwide process services Supplied Allows OpenVMS system management commands, such as SHOW USERS, SHOW SYSTEM, and STOP/ID=, to operate clusterwide.
Availability Manager Supplied From either an OpenVMS Alpha or a Windows node, enables you to monitor one or more OpenVMS nodes on an extended local area network (LAN). Availability Manager collects system and process data from multiple OpenVMS nodes simultaneously, then analyzes the data, and displays the output using a native Java GUI.
DECamds Supplied Collects and analyzes data from multiple nodes simultaneously, directing all output to a centralized DECwindows display. The analysis detects resource availability problems and suggests corrective actions.
SCACP (Systems Communications Architecture Control Program) Supplied Enables you to monitor and manage switched LAN paths.
DFS (Distributed File Service) Optional Allows disks to be served across a LAN or WAN.
DNS (Distributed Name Service) Optional Configures certain network nodes as name servers that associate objects with network names.
LATCP (Local Area Transport Control Program) Supplied Provides the function to control and obtain information from the LAT port driver.
LANCP (LAN Control Program) Supplied Allows the system manager to configure and control the LAN software on OpenVMS systems.
NCP (Network Control Protocol) utility Optional Allows the system manager to supply and access information about the DECnet for OpenVMS (Phase IV) network from a configuration database.
NCL (Network Control Language) utility Optional Allows the system manager to supply and access information about the DECnet--Plus network from a configuration database.
OpenVMS Management Station Supplied Enables system managers to set up and manage accounts and print queues across multiple OpenVMS Cluster systems and OpenVMS nodes. OpenVMS Management Station is a Microsoft Windows and Windows NT based management tool.
POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility (PCSI) Supplied Provides rapid installations of software products.
Queue Manager Supplied Uses OpenVMS Cluster generic and execution queues to feed node-specific queues across the cluster.
Show Cluster utility Supplied Monitors activity and performance in an OpenVMS Cluster configuration, then collects and sends information about that activity to a terminal or other output device.
SDA (System Dump Analyzer) Supplied Allows you to inspect the contents of memory as saved in the dump taken at crash time or as it exists in a running system. You can use SDA interactively or in batch mode.
SYSMAN (System Management utility) Supplied Enables device and processor control commands to take effect across an OpenVMS Cluster.
VMSINSTAL Supplied Provides software installations.
Performance
AUTOGEN utility Supplied Optimizes system parameter settings based on usage.
Monitor utility Supplied Provides basic performance data.
Security
Authorize utility Supplied Modifies user account profiles.
SET ACL command Supplied Sets complex protection on many system objects.
SET AUDIT command Supplied Facilitates tracking of sensitive system objects.
Storage management
Backup utility Supplied Allows OpenVMS Cluster system managers to create backup copies of files and directories from storage media and then restore them. This utility can be used on one node to back up data stored on disks throughout the OpenVMS Cluster system.
Mount utility Supplied Enables a disk or tape volume for processing by one computer, a subset of OpenVMS Cluster computers, or all OpenVMS Cluster computers.
Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS Optional Replicates disk data across multiple disks to help OpenVMS Cluster systems survive disk failures.

1.5.3 System Management Tools from OpenVMS Partners

OpenVMS Partners offer a wide selection of tools to meet diverse system management needs, as shown in Table 1-2. The types of tools are described in the following list:

Table 1-2 System Management Products from OpenVMS Partners
Business Partner Product Type or Function
BMC Perform and Predict Performance and capacity manager
  Patrol for OpenVMS Event manager
  ControlM Console manager
Computer Associates Advise IT Performance manager
  Command IT Console manager
  Schedule IT Schedule manager
  Watch IT Event manager
  Unicenter TNG Package of various products
Fortel ViewPoint Performance manager
Global Maintech VCC Console manager
Heroix RoboMon Event manager
  RoboCentral Console manager
ISE Schedule Schedule manager
Ki NETWORKS CLIM Console manager
ORSYP Dollar Universe Schedule manager
RAXCO Perfect Cache Storage performance
  Perfect Disk Storage management
TECsys Development Inc. Console Works Console manager

For current information about OpenVMS Partners and the tools they provide, visit the following web site: http://www.openvms.compaq.com/openvms/system_management.html

1.5.4 Other Configuration Aids

In addition to these utilities and partner products, several commands are available that allow the system manager to set parameters on HSC, HSJ, HSD, HSZ, HSG, and RF subsystems to help configure the system. See the appropriate hardware documentation for more information.


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