  Reliability and Complex Network Configurations? 
 The Question is:
 
I have 2 Alpha E45'S in an openvms cluster.
Each node has 6 ethernet interfaces.
2 x de602's with 2 ports each
2 x 1Gb ethernet adapters.
 
There is only one LAN, but I still want to configure for availaibilty and
 throughput.
 
My idea is to run SCS traffic primarily on one of the 2 1Gb ports and maybe 1
 each of the de602 ports, just by linking ports via ethernet cable, no decnet
 plus nor tcpip on those ports. SCS operates at a lower network layer than
 decnet &amp;ip.
 
Also I would like to isolate decnet plus to one ethernet port (just used for
 copies and monitoring to other decnet nodes on network).
In DECnet plus, what commands do I need for this?
 
The rest would probably run tcpip. I would configure that to be node1-1
 10.xx.xx.100, node1-2 10.xx.xx.101, node2-1 10.xx.xx.102 and node2-2
 10.xx.xx.103.
 
Would this work, is there a better way of configuring it?
 
thanks
Nigel
 
 The Answer is :
 
  Please allow OpenVMS to configure and to then operate the available
  NIC(s) and LAN segment(s) for networking and for clustering.
 
  For best overall availability, please keep the configurations simple
  and consistent.
 
  Please consider where the typical outages and typical failures actually
  occur, and the typical results of one (or more) of these failures.  If
  a PCI controller fails, OpenVMS will usually fail and (assuming a hard
  error) will reboot without reconfiguring the (failed) controller into
  the running system.  But quite commonly, human error is to blame for
  most of the outages -- either mistakes at the system management level,
  or by simply and manually disconnecting the LAN segment(s) or the system
  power or similar, or by deleting one or more critical data files.
 
  While obviously quite tempting, most attempts to partition clustering
  and networking traffic and networking protocols actually tend to reduce
  the overall configuration availability.  This reduction in addition to
  the resulting configuration complexities, and increased management
  difficulties.  In turn, these increasing complexities tend to increase
  the likelyhood of operator-induced (human) errors, and the resulting
  outages -- and increased times for restoration.
 
  Data BACKUP operations and (tested) data recovery plans are particularly
  vital.  Measuring and planning for system growth is also important.
  Forcing all IP routing over a particular LAN segment (for instance) is
  rather less critical, and -- if the LAN path fails -- more problematic.
 
  Put another way, plan for the common errors.
 
 Answer written or last revised on  18-DEC-2002 
