Solaris Cluster Open Hardware Program

Solaris Cluster Open Hardware Program is a program office created to enable Solaris Cluster (aka Sun Cluster) x64 configurations on 3^rd party hardware platforms.

You can send your request here. The program office will contact you.

The program is designed specifically to support x64 servers with Solaris Cluster (also known as Sun Cluster). Initially the configurations will be constrained to Sun branded HBA, NIC's etc. However, future plans are to include most, if not all components on the Solaris HCL compatibility matrix.

The Solaris Cluster Open Hardware Program increases choice and reduces risk by enabling well-tested deployments on servers from leading vendors. The program offers investment protection, joint interoperability matrix to design cluster architecture with consistency, Sun's seal of quality and last but not the least, a higher confidence in post sales support.

The Solaris Open Hardware Cluster Program's key objective is to offer joint interoperability, high availability solutions from Sun to customers that have x64 servers and blades supporting their data infrastructure.

Sun offers a spectrum of support services for mission critical deployment. TSANet is a non-profit, vendor-neutral, support alliance community that allows for cooperative support between its members. Sun is a member of TSANet. TSANet will facilitate the call transfer between Sun and the vendor. Additional information on TSANet is available on www.tsanet.org. As part of the program, Sun and the vendor will jointly support the configuration available on sun.com/software/cluster/ohp.

SunVIP Interop Support is included as a feature of SunSpectrum Platinum, Gold and Premium service plans. Additional information can be found at: http://www.sun.com/service/sunvip/.

Leading server vendors already engaged in the Open Storage program are actively working with Sun on this program.

The program has global scope. The joint solutions with the vendors are available to customers in all the regions i.e. Americas, APAC, and EMEA.

The configurations and specifics of a solution are defined jointly by the server vendor and Sun. The Solaris Cluster Open Hardware Program business office has a variety of tools and methods to scope out various configurations and joint solutions.

The Solaris Cluster Open Hardware Program allows server vendors to qualify their hardware with Solaris Cluster (also known as Sun Cluster) and thus leverage the rapid momentum of Sun Software. The program offers the presence on Sun's web-site, Sun branding and logo via the Solaris Ready Program. More information on Solaris Ready is available at http://www.sun.com/solarisready.

Server vendors can opt for the Solaris Ready RTU and certification logo as part of the program. This logo informs the joint customers on the proven interoperability and quality of joint solution. More information on Solaris Ready is available at http://www.sun.com/solarisready.

Additional information on Solaris Cluster can be found at sun.com/cluster.

A combination of Sun and HP support plans will be required.

From Sun:

• A Solaris operating system subscription service plan for each node in the Cluster. Information about the available options may be found on this page:
  http://www.sun.com/service/subscriptions/index.xml
• Premium software support service plans for all Solaris Cluster (aka Sun Cluster) products used in the solution. Please refer to this page for general information about Cluster support plans: http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/cluster/support.xml

Note that Sun Cluster licenses are a separate purchase and are required to purchase Cluster support plans. Each software product license requires the purchase of a Premium software support plan for that license. The base Cluster software requires a separate license for each server, while agents require a single license for each cluster.

From HP:

• The HP ProLiant standard hardware warranty support does not include onsite setup and installation service. If customer requires an onsite setup and installation service for the ProLiant server, customer needs to purchase the INSTALLATION service. Information for the Installation service can be found on the following page:
  http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cache/11181-0-0-225-121.html
  or call 1-800-277-8988

A Sun Cluster support plan helps you to manage your Cluster solution in a proactive manner. Sun software engineers maintain availability and performance at high levels because they solve problems swiftly and accurately in conjunction with HP hardware engineers. Premium-level plans are required for Cluster software running on HP servers to enable vendor interoperability support, as well as to offer that support 24x7. This support is available online or by telephone.

Please refer to the following URL for complete details: http://www.sun.com/service/serviceplans/software/overview.xml

Not at this time. Sun will continue to add validated non-Sun hardware to the Open Hardware Program (OHP) matrix.

Yes. Sun and HP will only support hardware configurations that are on the OHP matrix. These systems have passed SCATE (Sun Cluster Automated Test Environment) testing which establishes the baseline interoperability level between the customer system, Solaris operating systems and Solaris Cluster. Sun will work towards problem resolution utilizing the Solaris operating system and Solaris Cluster running on reference platforms for qualified configurations listed at: http://www.sun.com/software/cluster/ohp/

These reference platforms may or may not be an exact match to customer hardware platforms, depending on availability of platforms and platform options. In the event that customer branded system is not available for problem replication, Sun reserves the right to troubleshoot on Sun systems or systems from other manufacturers.

For more information on Solaris and Sun Cluster running on ProLiant servers, please see the ProLiant server support matrix at: http://www.hp.com/wwsolutions/solaris

Also, for more information on HP's System Management support for Solaris and software/drivers, go to: http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/index.html

If it's a hardware, firmware or HP XP/EVA storage problem, please contact HP at http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact_us.html
or call 1-800-HP invent (1-800-474-6836)

If it's a Cluster software problem, please contact Sun for support:

• In the U.S.: Call 1-800-SUN-0404
• In other countries, please use the following list to obtain the phone number for your country:
  http://www.sun.com/contact/index.jsp?tab=5

If you are unsure about the root cause of a support issue, a call to either company can initiate a case and provide interoperability support between Sun and HP products. Sun and HP will use the Technical Support Alliance Network, available through the SunVIP Interop Support feature of your service plan, to engage each other and collaborate on your interoperability issues.

Not at this time. The supported HP storage are the XP and EVA arrays as shown on the OHP matrix.

Sun offers interoperability support via the SunVIP Interop Support feature of its SunSpectrum support plans. And, leverages its membership in the Technical Support Alliance Network (TSANet) to collaborate with other vendors, including HP. TSANet is a non-profit, vendor-neutral, alliance community that promotes cooperative technical support between its members. It provides a structure and processes that allow Sun and other vendors to provide seamless support for a mutual customer's solution. Additional information about TSANet is available at http://www.tsanet.org.

As part of the program, Sun and HP will jointly support the configurations specified on http://www.sun.com/software/cluster/ohp/.

To ensure the highest level of solution reliability and quality, Sun field personnel will install Solaris and Sun Cluster on HP servers. HP is responsible for ensuring Solaris is supported and certified on ProLiant servers. See
http://www.hp.com/wwsolutions/solaris

Customers should purchase the EIS (Enterprise Installation Standards) Cluster installation service from Sun. More information about the benefits of this service may be found on this page:
http://www.sun.com/service/install/suncluster-software.xml"

The EIS validation service for Cluster installations performed by non-Sun personnel (e.g., customer employees) is not available for these joint configurations. At this time, Sun is unable to offer support for such installations.

Sun reseller channel partners are not, at the current time, certified to install Solaris Cluster on HP hardware. Sun partner certification courses which enable this capability have not been modified to include HP servers. Partners will, however, be able to sell Sun's EIS installation service to their customers. It is our desire to expand the program and work towards partner certification at a future point in time.

To ensure a successful installation and make sure you have the support you require for your production environment, it's important to have a trained field personnel perform the installation. Please see question 8.

• In the U.S.: Call 1-800-SUN-0404
• In other countries, please use the following list to obtain the phone number for your country: http://www.sun.com/contact/index.jsp?tab=5

HP and Sun are working together to make sure you have a successful installation. HP personnel (or authorized representative) are responsible for preparing the server for Solaris installation. Sun field personnel will install Solaris and Sun Cluster on HP servers. Please see question 8.

Not at this time. The required qualifications and interoperability testing between various hardware and software components have not been completed.

At Sun:

• In the U.S.: Call 1-800-SUN-0404
• In other countries, please use the following list to obtain the phone number for your country:
  http://www.sun.com/contact/index.jsp?tab=5

At HP in the U.S.:

• http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact_us.html
  or call 1-800-HP invent (1-800-474-6836)
• HP Worldwide support:
  You can contact HP anywhere around the world by going to "Contact HP Worldwide" at http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/wwcontact.html, then select the country and language choice needed. That will lead you to a country web page that will have information to: Interact online with HP, E-mail HP, Call HP, or Find HP.