Exchange Clustering Prerequisites
| To cluster your Exchange 2003 implementation, you must meet some prerequisites. The most important concept is that clustering Exchange is a two-step process. You must have already created a Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 cluster before attempting to create an Exchange cluster. With that in mind, this section looks at some of the prerequisites for creating the initial cluster at the operating system level. Although it's not possible to go through all the potential clustering configurations you could possibly create, the information contained here should help you identify what you need to do to get a cluster up and running. The first requirement for clustering servers is that your current server hardware and configuration must support clustering. Because Exchange can leverage the clustering technology in Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, you will need to check the requirements for clustering each of these operating systems. Although the requirements are slightly different for the two operating systems, they do have some requirements in common. First, you need to have your cluster installed and configured before beginning your Exchange installation and clustering. If you currently do not have a cluster configured within your organization, a good place to start planning for clustering is determining the hardware compatibility with your existing servers or any new hardware you plan to buy.
Because the clustering hardware requirements are so precise, many manufacturers (such as Dell, IBM, and HP) sell preconfigured cluster packages. These are usually the easiest, fastest way to get a cluster up and running. If you choose to build your own cluster, check the clustering hardware compatibility list carefully before you purchase anything. In the initial stages of getting a cluster up and running, this is one of the areas where administrators run into the most trouble. A limited number of hardware configurations support clustering, and you will not be able to buy or recycle an existing server. HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY For more information on hardware compatibility, visit http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwtest/default.mspx. This should help you determine whether your existing or planned hardware meets the requirements for clustering. Also, if you attempt to set up a cluster, some hardware checking occurs during the initial installation stages. Second, you need to ensure that you are running the correct version of the operating system to support the type of cluster you want to implement. The supported server operating systems for clustering are as follows:
You also need to ensure that you have the latest service packs for all these operating systems. For Windows 2000 Server, you need to have either SP4 or SP3 with a hot fix 329938. CLUSTER NODES Also, keep in mind that Windows 2000 Advanced and Datacenter servers support up to two and four cluster nodes respectively, whereas Windows Server 2003 can support up to eight. When you are confident that you have met both the hardware and operating system requirements, you need to double-check that your network topology and configuration support clustering. DEFAULTS ON WINDOWS SERVER 2003 The clustering services are installed by default on the editions of Windows Server 2003 that support clustering; therefore, only minimal configuration is required to get a Windows Server 2003 cluster up and running. To start, you need to be running a domain, and all servers that are to be a part of the cluster must be members of that domain. You also need to be running WINS. In addition, you need a DNS server within the domain that supports automatic updates. If your server is not configured for automatic updates, you can manually add host records, but this is not recommended. |
PRECONFIGURED CLUSTERS
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