Installing Cluster Service


The Windows Server 2003 Cluster Service is installed by default. Because the service is already installed, creating a cluster does not require the installation media or a reboot. The Cluster Administrator utility can be used to create a new cluster and to manage existing clusters on local and remote nodes.

Both the GUI-based Cluster Administrator and the command-line utility Cluster.exe can be used to create and manage clusters. Both tools can effectively manage a cluster, but Cluster.exe allows an administrator to create an unattended, scripted cluster installation. Cluster.exe provides too many arguments and switches to be discussed in detail here, so refer to Help and Support from the Start menu and search for "cluster.exe." Alternatively, at a command prompt, type cluster.exe /?. Later in this chapter, in the "Installing the First Node in the Cluster" section, basic Cluster.exe commands will be outlined.

A recommendation for cluster nodes is to have multiple network cards in each node so that one card can be dedicated to internal cluster communication (private network) while the other can be used only for client connectivity (public network) or for both public and private communication (mixed network). Cluster nodes equipped with only one network card must run the card in Mixed Network mode.

During a cluster installation, if shared storage is discovered, Cluster Service will default to installing the quorum resource on the smallest basic partition on the device. If no shared storage is available, a local or an MNS quorum will be created.

Working Through the Cluster Pre-Installation Checklist

Be sure to check the following before installing Cluster Service:

1.

Gather the network name for the cluster.

2.

Gather all necessary IP addresses for the cluster and for each network card in the cluster node.

3.

Before booting up the first server, connect, configure, and turn on all external storage devices if any are being used. You should also have the appropriate drivers that may be required for this external storage device.

4.

If multiple network cards are being used, rename the connections using easily identifiable names, such as Cluster Private Nic and Cluster Mix Nic, similar to what is shown in Figure 31.3.

Figure 31.3. Multiple network adapter configuration.


5.

Create a Cluster Service account in the domain in which you are installing the cluster. It needs to be only a standard user account, but the password should never expire. During the cluster installation, the account will be given Local Administrator rights on the cluster nodes and will be given a few rights in the domain, such as Add Computer Accounts to the Domain.

6.

Choose your cluster configuration mode and choose the correlating quorum type during the cluster installation.

Installing the First Node in the Cluster

When a cluster is built, the first system to be built is considered the first node in the cluster. This system needs to be initially prepared as the primary system. When the primary system has been configured, additional nodes can be added to the cluster.

To install the first node in the cluster, follow these steps:

1.

Shut down both the cluster nodes and shared storage devices.

2.

Connect cables as required between the cluster nodes and shared storage devices.

3.

Connect each node's NICs to a network switch or hub using appropriate network cables.

4.

If a shared storage device is being used, power on the shared storage device and wait for the startup sequence to complete.

5.

Start the first node in the cluster. If a shared disk will be used, configure the adapter card's ID on each cluster node to a different number. For example, use ID 6 for node 1 and ID 7 for node 2.

6.

Log on with an account that has Local Administrator privileges.

7.

If the server is not a member of a domain, add the server to the correct domain and reboot as necessary.

8.

Configure each network card in the node with the correct network IP address information.

Network cards that will be used only for private communication should have only an IP address and subnet mask configured. Default Gateway, DNS, NetBIOS-related services (such as Client for Microsoft Networks), and WINS should not be configured. Also, uncheck the Register This Connection's Address in DNS box, as shown in Figure 31.4, on the DNS tab of the Advanced TCP/IP Settings page.

Figure 31.4. TCP/IP DNS configuration settings.


For network cards that will support public or mixed networks, configure all TCP/IP settings as they would normally be configured.

9.

If you're not already logged in, log on to the server using an account that has Local Administrator privileges.

10.

Click Start, Administrative Tools, Cluster Administrator, as shown in Figure 31.5.

Figure 31.5. Launching the Cluster Administrator utility.


11.

When the Cluster Administrator opens, choose the Create New Cluster action and click OK.

12.

Click Next on the New Server Cluster Wizard Welcome screen to continue.

13.

Choose the correct domain from the Domain pull-down menu.

14.

Type the cluster name in the Cluster Name text box and click Next to continue.

15.

Type the name of the cluster node and click Next to continue. The wizard defaults to the local server, but clusters can be configured remotely. The cluster analyzer analyzes the node for functionality and cluster requirements, as shown in Figure 31.6. A detailed log containing any errors or warnings that can stop or limit the installation of the Cluster server is generated.

Figure 31.6. Cluster analyzer utility operations.


16.

Review the log and make changes as necessary; then click Re-analyze or click Next to continue.

17.

Enter the cluster IP address and click Next.

18.

Enter the Cluster Service account name and password and choose the correct domain. Click Next to continue.

Note

The Cluster Service account needs to be only a regular domain user, but specifying this account as the Cluster Service gives this account Local Administrator privileges on the cluster node and also delegates a few user rights, including the ability to act as a part of the operating system and add computers to the domain.

19.

On the Proposed Cluster Configuration page, review the configuration and choose the correct quorum type by clicking the Quorum button, as shown in Figure 31.7.

Figure 31.7. Choosing the cluster quorum configuration.


  • To create an MNS cluster, click the Quorum button on the Proposed Cluster Configuration page, choose Majority Node Set, and click OK.

  • If a SAN is connected to the cluster node, the Cluster Administrator will automatically choose the smallest basic NTFS volume on the shared storage device. Make sure the correct disk has been chosen and click OK.

  • If you're configuring a single-node cluster with no shared storage, choose the Local Quorum resource and click OK.

20.

Click Next to complete the cluster installation.

21.

After the cluster is created, click Next and then Finish to close the New Server Cluster Wizard and return to the Cluster Administrator.

Alternatively, you can create a cluster by using Cluster.exe. You can use the following to create a cluster called cluster1 on the server named Server1. This example uses a Cluster Service account called clustersvc@companyabc.com, using the 192.168.100.10 IP address and a class C subnet mask. Also the network card is renamed Cluster Mix Nic at a command prompt. The command is as follows:

Cluster.exe /CLUSTER:cluster1 /CREATE /NODE:server1 /USER:clustersvc@companyabc.com /PASSWORD:password /IPADDRESS:192.168.100.10,255.255.255.0, "Cluster Mix Nic" 


Then press Enter to create the cluster.

Adding Additional Nodes to a Cluster

A cluster in Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition can support up to four nodes. After the first server is installed in a cluster, additional nodes can be added to the cluster.

To add more nodes to a cluster, do the following:

1.

Log on to the desired cluster node using an account that has Local Administrator privileges.

2.

Click Start, Administrative Tools, Cluster Administrator.

3.

When the Cluster Administrator opens, choose Add Nodes to a Cluster and type the name of the cluster in the Cluster Name text box. Click OK to continue.

4.

When the Add Nodes Wizard appears, click Next to continue.

5.

Type in the server name of the next node and click Add.

6.

Repeat the preceding steps until you've entered all the additional nodes you want in the Selected Computer text box. Click Next to continue. The cluster analyzer will then analyze the additional nodes for functionality and cluster requirements.

7.

Review the log and make changes as necessary; then click Re-analyze or click Next to continue.

8.

Enter the Cluster Service account password and click Next to continue.

9.

Review the configuration on the Proposed Cluster Configuration page and click Next to configure the cluster.

10.

After the cluster is configured, click Next and then click Finish to complete adding additional nodes to the cluster.

11.

Select File, Close to exit the Cluster Administrator.




Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed(c) R2 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed (R2 Edition)
ISBN: 0672328984
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 499

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