This is an in-depth course that focuses on two key areas, Linux high availability (HA) clustering and HA storage administration. Storage is integral to many HA clusters to make use of clustered storage technologies to enable active/active configurations.
Over the course of many in-depth lab exercises, each student will assemble a realistic three-node Linux cluster utilizing best practices. Each node has three network interfaces and each student's cluster has its own dedicated cluster VLAN.
The class contains a storage array for shared LUNs among the nodes. This enables students to perform very real world tasks in a real world setting, including multipathing, redundant ring communication, last man standing cluster, and shared storage scenarios. Course topics include: Cluster Architecture & Design, Pacemaker, Corosync, Fencing, Resource Management, Advanced Resource Management, Multipathing, Cluster LVM, Global File System v2.
Prerequisites
This course requires an advanced knowledge of Linux system administration. These skills are taught in the H7091S "Enterprise Linux Systems Administration" and U8583S "Linux Fundamentals".
Supported distributions
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Detailed course outline
Module 1: Introduction to Clustering and Storage Management
- Clustering Introduction
- Cluster Building Blocks
- Shared Storage
- Hardware and Software Requirements
- Network Considerations
- Split Brain Prevention with Fencing
- HA Components
- Clustered Resources
- Configuration Tools
- Red Hat Cluster Stack Roadmap
- Running Commands on Multiple Systems
- Lab Tasks
- Running Commands on Multiple Hosts
- Prepare System for Clustering
- Static Network Configuration
Module 2: Corosync and Quorum Management
- Vocabulary
- Network Topology
- Ethernet Bonding
- Communication Methods
- IPv6 Considerations
- Cluster Node Preparation
- Enable and Configure pcsd
- PCS & PCSD
- Cluster Quorum
- Advanced Quorum Techniques
- Corosync
- Corosync - Redundant Ring Protocol (RRP)
- Corosync Security
- Joining and Leaving the Cluster
- Quorum Administration • Upgrading
- Lab Tasks
- Install and Configure PCSD
- Setup a Two Node Cluster
- Setup a Three Node Cluster with PCS
- Totem RRP – PCS GUI
Module 3: STONITH and Fencing