Chapter 2: Planning for Server Hardware

Chapter 2: Planning for Server Hardware

Chapter 2: Planning for Server Hardware

System RequirementsSystem Requirements

Use the Windows 2000 Server basic system requirements as a starting point from which to develop server computer specifications

Windows 2000 Server Hardware RequirementsWindows 2000 Server

Hardware RequirementsComponent Intel Processor Pentium 166 MHz or faster Display VGA or better Memory (RAM) 64 MB for five or fewer clients and 128 MB

for larger networks Hard disk space 685 MB for system files (2 GB

recommended)

Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Server

Windows 2000 Server Hardware RequirementsWindows 2000 Server

Hardware RequirementsComponent Intel

Floppy disk drive High-density 3.5-inch

CD-ROM drive Required for installations not performed

over the network (12X or faster)

Network interface card (NIC) Required to connect to the network

Mouse or pointing device and

keyboard

Required

Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Server

Windows 2000 Server Compatibility

Windows 2000 Server Compatibility

Check the Microsoft hardware compatibility list (HCL) before selecting computer hardware for a server

Hardware Listed in the HCL

Hardware Listed in the HCL

Single-processor computersMultiprocessor computersProcessor upgradesPCMCIA hardwareSCSI adapters and drivesVideo adapters

Hardware listed in the HCL

Hardware listed in the HCL

Network adaptersAudio adaptersModemsPrintersTape devicesUninterruptible power supplies (UPSs)

CPU SizingCPU Sizing

Select a fast processor Architectureclock speed

Pentium ComputersPentium Computers

Processor cache: A data storage area that is only used by the system processor.Level 1 (L1) cache, usually 8 - 64 KB,

built into the processorLevel 2 (L2) cache that supplements

L1 cache and is usually 256 KB to 1 MB.

L2 Cache in Different Pentium Processors

L2 Cache in Different Pentium Processors

Pentium processor: L2 cache is usually an SRAM chip on the mother boardPentium Pro: L2 cache is built into the chipPentium II and III: L2 cache is on a daughter boardCeleron processor: has no L2 cacheXeon processor: has special L2 caching for extra speed

Multiprocessor ComputersMultiprocessor Computers

Symmetric multiprocessor (SMP): employs two or more processors, including some computers that can support up to 32 processors

Clustering ComputersClustering Computers

Shared disk model: Linking two or more servers to operate as one and to equally share resources

Shared Disk ClusteringShared Disk Clustering

Hub

Server

Server

Disk

Disk

Disk

Disk

Tape drive

CD-ROMarray

Figure 2-1 Shared disk clustering modelFigure 2-1 Shared disk clustering model

Clustering ComputersClustering Computers

Shared disk nothing model: Linking two or more servers to operate as one, but with each owning particular disk, CD-ROM, and tape resources

Shared Nothing ClusteringShared Nothing Clustering

Figure 2-2Figure 2-2Shared nothing Shared nothing clustering modelclustering model

Hub

Server

Server

Disk

Disk

Disk

Disk

Tape drive

CD-ROMarray

Disk

Disk

Disk

Disk

Tape drive

CD-ROMarray

M ain connection

M ain connection

Backupconnections incase of server

fa ilure

Bus ArchitecturesBus Architectures

Industry Standard (ISA): 8-bit and 16-bit bus architecture dating to the early 1980sExtended Industry Architecture (EISA): 32-bit bus built on the ISA architecture with faster throughput by means of bus mastering

Bus Architectures (continued)

Bus Architectures (continued)

Micro channel Architecture (MCA): 32-bit bus proprietary to IBM computers and having a slightly faster transfer rate than EISAPeripheral Computer Interface (PCI): 32-bit and 64-bit bus with the fastest data transfer rate and local bus capability

I2O Architecture I2O Architecture

Intelligent input/output (I2O): A computer communications architecture that removes some of the I/O processing activities from the main processor to I2O processors on peripherals designed for I2O architectures, such as hard disks. I2O devices use one general device driver for all I2O-compliant devices.

I2O CommunicationsI2O Communications

OSKernel

O S ServicesM odule

Hardware DeviceM odule

I2O adatpter with CPU

Figure 2-3 IFigure 2-3 I22O communications O communications

architecturearchitecture

Plug and PlayPlug and Play

Plug and Play: Ability of added computer hardware, such as an adapter or modem, to identify itself to the computer operating system for installation

USBUSB

Universal serial bus: A bus standard that enables you to attach all types of devices to one bus port on a computer.Up to 127 devicesHot-swappableDeveloped to replace the traditional

serial and parallel bus technologies on computers.

Choosing NICsChoosing NICs

Network interface card: An adapter board designed to connect a workstation, server, or other network equipment to a network medium.

NIC ComponentsNIC Components

A connector for the network mediumA transceiverA controller for MAC protocol communications and addressingProtocol control firmware

NIC Duplex ModesNIC Duplex Modes

Half duplex: ability to send or receive signals, but not simultaneouslyFull duplex: capacity to send and receive signals at the same time

Setting the Duplex ModeSetting the Duplex Mode

Figure 2-4 NIC Duplex Mode settingFigure 2-4 NIC Duplex Mode setting

Memory Sizing GuidelinesMemory Sizing Guidelines

Operating system Processor type Memory

Windows 2000 Server for five or fewer users Intel 64 MB

Windows 2000 Server for over five users Intel 128 MB to 4GB

Windows 2000 Advanced Server Intel 128 MB to 64 GB

Windows 2000 Datacenter Intel 128 MB to 64 GB

Table 2-3 Memory Guidelines

Memory TypeMemory Type

Make sure that the memory used in a server is error checking and correcting (ECC)EEC: Memory that can correct some

types of memory problems without causing computer operations to halt

Min. 128 MBPreferably 256 MB

Disk CapacityDisk Capacity

Estimate disk capacity to include:Operating system filesSoftware filesData and database filesUser filesGeneral public filesUtility filesServer management files

Example Disk Capacity Calculation


Operating System Files EstimatedSize

Microsoft 2000 Server (depending on the accessories and servicesinstalled)

685 MB

Subtotal 685 MBApplication Software Estimated

SizeMicrosoft Office 150 MBMicrosoft Exchange 150 MBParadox database software 70 MBAccounting software 250 MBLegal time accounting software 200 MBClient databases 275 MBCourt forms 52 MBContracts forms 42 MBTax law forms 41 MBWills legal forms 45 MBBankruptcy legal forms 35 MBDatabase query software 72 MB

Subtotal 1,382 MB



User Directories EstimatedSize

Each user 100 MB * 22 2,200 MBSubtotal 2,200MB

Public Directories EstimatedSize

Shared directories containing word processing files, spreadsheets,and data

590 MB

Utility directories 50 MBSubtotal 640MB

Server Management Software EstimatedSize

Extra utilities for server and network management 175 MBSubtotal (175) MB

Total 5,082 MB

Disk Drive Design Issues That Affect Disk

Contention

Disk Drive Design Issues That Affect Disk

Contention

Speed of the individual disks Speed of the disk controllers Speed of the data pathway to the disksNumber of disk pathwaysDisk caching

Disk Drive InterfacesDisk Drive InterfacesIntegrated Device Electronics (IDE): An inexpensive hard disk interface that is used on Intel-based computers from the 80286 to Pentium computers Enhanced Small Device Interface (ESDI): An early device interface for computer peripherals and hard disk drives

Disk Drive InterfacesDisk Drive InterfacesSmall Computer System Interface (SCSI): A 32- or 64-bit computer adapter that transports data between one or more attached devices, such as hard disks, and the computer

Simple Disk Controller Architecture

Simple Disk Controller Architecture

Server

Disk Controller

D isk Drive

Figure 2-5 Disk controller connecting a disk driveFigure 2-5 Disk controller connecting a disk drive

SCSI ArchitectureSCSI Architecture

Figure 2-6 Figure 2-6 Ultra SCSI adapter connected to two disk drives and a tape driveUltra SCSI adapter connected to two disk drives and a tape drive

Ultra SCSI adapterp lugged in to main

server board

Contro ller andD isk D rive Unit

Contro ller andD isk D rive Unit

Contro ller and TapeUnit w ith SCSI Cable

Terminated on theContro ller Card

SCSI Cable

SCSI Interface Data Transfer Rates

SCSI Interface Data Transfer Rates

Interface Data Transfer Rate

SCSI-1 Up to 5 MBps

Narrow SCSI-2 Up to 10 MBps

Wide SCSI-2 Up to 20 MBps

Ultra SCSI Up to 20 MBps

Wide Ultra SCSI Up to 40 MBps

Ultra2 SCSI Up to 80 MBps

SCSI-3 (RISC) Up to 100 MBps

Table 2-5 SCSI Interface Data Transfer Rates

Troubleshooting TipTroubleshooting Tip

Omitting the cable terminator is a common problem when connecting several devices to one SCSI adapter. If you experience difficulty recognizing hard disk storage during the Windows 2000 Server installation, check to make sure the terminator is connected to the last device on the SCSI cable.

Design TipDesign Tip

One method to significantly increase performance on a server two or more hard disk drives on different

adapters.

Setting Up Multiple Disk Pathways

Setting Up Multiple Disk Pathways

Server

U ltra SCSI adapterContro ller anddisk drive unit

Contro ller anddisk drive unit

SCSI Cable

U ltra SCSI adapter

Figure 2-7Figure 2-7Using two SCSI adapters to create separate data paths for hard disk drivesUsing two SCSI adapters to create separate data paths for hard disk drives

Fibre ChannelFibre Channel

For disk intensive applications, consider using Fibre Channel as an alternative to SCSI. Fibre Channel is a high-speed method for

connecting computer peripherals, such as disk drives, to servers and other host computers through copper and fiber-optic cable. Current implementations of Fibre Channel in Windows 2000 servers provide data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps.

Disk Mirroring Disk Mirroring

Disk mirroring: A fault tolerance method duplicating data from a main disk to a

backup disk.

Disk Mirroring ArchitectureDisk Mirroring Architecture

Disk Disk

Primary driveM irrored drive

Contro ller oradapter

Figure 2-8 Disk mirroringFigure 2-8 Disk mirroring

Disk DuplexingDisk Duplexing

Disk duplexing: A fault tolerance method duplicates data to second disk on a

different controller

Disk Duplexing Architecture

Disk Duplexing Architecture

Primary drive

M irrored drive

Disk

Disk

Figure 2-9 Disk duplexingFigure 2-9 Disk duplexing

RAID Fault ToleranceRAID Fault Tolerance

RAID level 0: Disk striping with no redundancyRAID level 1: Disk mirroring or duplexingRAID level 2: Disk striping across an array of disks in which all disks store error-correction data in case of a disk failure

RAID Fault ToleranceRAID Fault Tolerance

RAID level 3: Similar to RAID level 2, but error-correcting data is stored on only one diskRAID level 4: Similar to RAID level 2, but an added feature is checksum verification data stored on one diskRAID level 5: Similar to RAID level 4, but error-correction and checksum data are spread over all disks

RAID Supported by Windows 2000

RAID Supported by Windows 2000

RAID level 0RAID level 1RAID level 5

Features of the Windows 2000 Disk Management

Snap-in

Features of the Windows 2000 Disk Management

Snap-inStatus information about drivesAbility to create and format partitionsAbility to change drive letter assignmentsSupport for FAT and NTFS drivesAbility to create mirrored, striped, RAID-5, and spanned volumes

Disk Management Snap-inDisk Management Snap-in

Figure 2-10 Windows 2000 Disk Management snap-inFigure 2-10 Windows 2000 Disk Management snap-in

Issues Affecting Disk Fault Tolerance Selection

Issues Affecting Disk Fault Tolerance Selection

Importance of the dataTolerance for down time when a failure occursAmount of data that must be storedHow fast the data must be accessedBudget for equipment purchases and support

Software RAID and Hardware RAID Compared


Hardware RAID is more expensiveHardware RAID is generally faster for read and write accessAbility to place boot and system files on all configurations of hardware RAID



Hardware RAID can include the ability to “hot swap” disksHardware RAID generally has more setup and configuration options

Planning TipPlanning Tip

Purchase hardware RAID from a vendor that does not use all proprietary components so you can use disk drives, cables, and various parts from other vendors.

Backup MediaBackup Media

Plan your server so that it can be backed up using removable media Tapes, Zip/Jaz disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs,

and CD-RWs.

Design TipDesign Tip

Attach tape backup systems to adapters or controllers that do not also have disk storage attached.

Tape Drive ArchitectureTape Drive Architecture

Server

U ltra SCSI adapter

SCSI Cable

U ltra SCSI adapter

Contro ller

RAID unit

Contro ller

Tape drive unit

Figure 2-11 Connecting a tape drive to a separate adapterFigure 2-11 Connecting a tape drive to a separate adapter

CD-ROM DriveCD-ROM Drive

Equip your server with a fast CD-ROM drive from which to load the Windows 2000 Server operating system, device drivers, and application softwareImplement a CD-ROM “jukebox” in situations where users will access CD-ROM resources over the network

Example CD-ROM JukeboxExample CD-ROM Jukebox

Figure 2-12 CD-ROM “jukebox”Figure 2-12 CD-ROM “jukebox”

Implementation TipImplementation Tip

Fully set up and test all server componentsAllow for a “burn-in” period

The End

Chapter 2: Planning for Server Hardware

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