Installing Exchange Server 2003 in a Clustered Environment

 < Day Day Up > 

Clusters ensure the highest possible availability of Exchange Server 2003 for users. This section deals with installing Exchange Server 2003 clusters in a new Exchange environment; upgrading Exchange Server 5.5 or Exchange 2000 Server clusters are discussed in Chapter 3. Exchange Server 2003 clusters use Windows Clustering service, a component of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise and Datacenter Editions. When Exchange Server 2003 setup executes on a node of a preexisting Windows cluster, a specially configured, cluster-enabled version of the software is installed.

graphics/note_icon.gif

It is important to note that the Standard Edition of Exchange Server 2003 does not support clustering; only the Enterprise Edition does.


Exchange Server 2003, Enterprise Edition supports up to eight-node active/passive clusters when installed on Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition or Datacenter Edition. When active/active clusters are implemented, two nodes are supported. Microsoft recommends that active/passive clusters be used for Exchange Server 2003. Active/active clusters occur when two servers are running Exchange using the same shared data files. Active/passive clusters enable a computer that is otherwise idle to take over if the active computer fails. Clustering in Exchange Server 2003 offers the following improvements over clustering in Exchange 2000 Server.

  • Volume mount point support

  • Better failover performance

  • Kerberos enabled by default

In a cluster environment, Exchange Server 2003 runs as a virtual, rather than a standalone, server. This is because any node within the cluster can take control of the Exchange virtual server. After the node hosting the Exchange Server 2003 virtual server suffers a fault, another node takes control. This enhances the availability of Exchange, which simply means that users should always be able to connect to the server. From the client's perspective, there is no difference between accessing an Exchange virtual server running on a cluster or accessing an Exchange Server 2003 system running on a single server. Exchange clusters are explored in greater detail in Chapter 7, "Managing, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting Exchange Server Computers."

Troubleshooting Exchange Server 2003 Installations in a Clustered Environment

As noted earlier in the chapter, Exchange Server 2003 will install on Windows 2000 Server if the server has been patched to Service Pack 3 or higher. The exception to this rule is if Exchange Server 2003 is going to be installed on a Windows 2000 Server cluster. In this case, the Windows 2000 servers in the cluster must be running Service Pack 4 or higher. If the nodes in the Windows 2000 cluster are running Service Pack 3, the installation will fail. Other than this, the same problems can occur when installing Exchange Server 2003 on a cluster that can occur installing Exchange Server 2003 on a standalone system. If account permissions are not correct or if the correct services are not installed, or if the AD environment has not been correctly prepared, the same problems will occur regardless of whether the host is a cluster or a standalone server.

     < Day Day Up > 


    Implementing and Managing Exchange Server 2003 Exam Cram 2 Exam 70-284
    MCSA/MCSE Implementing and Managing Exchange Server 2003 Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-284)
    ISBN: 0789730987
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2004
    Pages: 171

    flylib.com © 2008-2017.
    If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net