********************************************************************** Upgrading and Installing on Cluster Nodes Release Notes, Part 4 of 4 Beta 2 ********************************************************************** (c) 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. These notes support a preliminary release of a software program that bears the project code name Whistler. With Whistler Advanced Server, you can use clustering to ensure that users have constant access to important server-based resources. With clustering, you create several cluster nodes that appear to users as one server. If one of the nodes in the cluster fails, another node begins to provide service (a process known as failover). Mission critical applications and resources remain continuously available. Sections to read if you are upgrading: 1.0 Preparing for Upgrading or Installing Clustering 1.2 Options for Upgrading or Installing Clustering 2.0 Upgrading a Cluster from Windows 2000 to Whistler 2.1 How Rolling Upgrades Work 2.2 Restrictions on Rolling Upgrades 2.3 Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades 2.4 Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000 3.0 Upgrading Clusters from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition Sections to read if you are performing a new installation: 1.0 Preparing for Upgrading or Installing Clustering 1.2 Options for Upgrading or Installing Clustering 4.0 Installation on Cluster Nodes ====================================================================== 1.0 Upgrading or Installing Clustering ====================================================================== Before installing or upgrading clustering, you should familiarize yourself with the basic preparations needed and the options available for upgrading and installing. The following sections provide information on these topics. 1.1 Preparing for Upgrading or Installing Clustering ====================================================================== To prepare for installing or upgrading clustering, review the sections earlier in this text file series. As described in those sections, check the Hardware Compatibility List to ensure that all your hardware (including your cluster storage) is compatible with Whistler Advanced Server. In addition, check with the manufacturer of your cluster storage hardware to be sure you have the drivers you need in order to use the hardware with Whistler Advanced Server. Important: If your cluster storage uses SCSI, you can have two nodes in the cluster, but no more. If you want to have more than two nodes in the cluster, you must use Fibre Channel for the cluster storage. 1.2 Options for Upgrading or Installing Clustering ====================================================================== When installing or upgrading clustering, you can choose among several options. You can: * Upgrade the operating system on a cluster that is running Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Enterprise Edition. For a description of the ways you can do this, see "Upgrading Clusters from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition" later in this text file. * Upgrade a cluster that is running Windows 2000, possibly through a rolling upgrade. For more information, see "How Rolling Upgrades Work" and "Restrictions on Rolling Upgrades" later in this text file. * Perform a new installation of Whistler Advanced Server and install Cluster service at the same time. For important information about preparing for cluster installation, see "Installation on Cluster Nodes" later in this text file. Note: For cluster disks, you must use the NTFS file system and configure the disks as basic disks. You cannot configure cluster disks as dynamic disks, and you cannot use features of dynamic disks such as spanned volumes (volume sets). For more information about the limitations of server clusters, in Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Whistler Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. For information about reinstalling clustering on one of the cluster nodes, see Whistler Help and Support Services. ====================================================================== 2.0 Upgrading a Cluster from Windows 2000 to Whistler ====================================================================== If you are upgrading from Windows 2000 to Whistler on cluster nodes, you might be able to perform a rolling upgrade of the operating system. In a rolling upgrade, you sequentially upgrade the operating system on each node, making sure that one node is always available to handle client requests. When you upgrade the operating system, the Cluster service is automatically upgraded also. A rolling upgrade maximizes availability of clustered services and minimizes administrative complexity. For more information, see the following section, "How Rolling Upgrades Work." To determine whether you can perform a rolling upgrade and understand the effect that a rolling upgrade might have on your clustered resources, see "Restrictions on Rolling Upgrades" later in this text file. For information about ways to upgrade your cluster nodes if you cannot perform a rolling upgrade, see "Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000" later in this text file. If you are upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition to Whistler on cluster nodes, you cannot perform a rolling upgrade. For more information about how to perform an upgrade from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, see "Upgrading Clusters From Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition" later in this text file series. Important: If your cluster storage uses SCSI, you can have two nodes in the cluster, but no more. If you want to have more than two nodes in the cluster, you must use Fibre Channel for the cluster storage. 2.1 How Rolling Upgrades Work ====================================================================== This section describes rolling upgrades on server clusters. For information about methods, restrictions, and alternatives to rolling upgrades, see the following sections. There are two major advantages to a rolling upgrade. First, there is a minimal interruption of service to clients. (However, server response time might decrease during the phases in which one node handles the work of the entire cluster.) Second, you do not have to recreate your cluster configuration. The configuration remains intact during the upgrade process. A rolling upgrade starts with two cluster nodes that are running Windows 2000. In this example, they are named Node 1 and Node 2. Phase 1: Preliminary Each node runs Windows 2000 Advanced Server with the following software: * The Cluster service component (one of the optional components of Windows 2000 Advanced Server). * Applications that support a rolling upgrade. For more information, see the product documentation and "Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades" later in this text file. At this point, your cluster is configured so that each node handles client requests (an active/active configuration). Phase 2: Upgrade Node 1 Node 1 is paused, and Node 2 handles all cluster resource groups while you upgrade the operating system of Node 1 to Whistler Advanced Server. Phase 3: Upgrade Node 2 Node 1 rejoins the cluster. Node 2 is paused and Node 1 handles all cluster resource groups while you upgrade the operating system on Node 2. Phase 4: Final Node 2 rejoins the cluster, and you redistribute the resource groups back to the active/active cluster configuration. Important: If your goal is to have more than two nodes in the cluster, you must use Fibre Channel (not SCSI) for the cluster storage. Add the third or fourth nodes after completing the rolling upgrade. For cluster disks, you must use the NTFS file system and configure the disks as basic disks. You cannot configure cluster disks as dynamic disks, and you cannot use features of dynamic disks such as spanned volumes (volume sets). 2.1.1 Performing a Rolling Upgrade ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For an outline of the rolling upgrade process, see the preceding section, "How Rolling Upgrades Work." Important: For information about what resources are supported during Rolling upgrades, see "Restrictions on Rolling Upgrades" and "Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades" later in this text file. >>> To perform a rolling upgrade: 1. In Cluster Administrator, click the node that you want to upgrade first. 2. On the File menu, click Pause Node. 3. In the right pane, double-click Active Groups. 4. In the right pane, click a group, and then on the File menu, click Move Group. Repeat this step for each group listed. The services will be interrupted during the time they are being moved and restarted on the other node. After the groups are moved, one node is idle, and the other node handles all client requests. 5. Use Whistler Advanced Server Setup to upgrade the paused node from Windows 2000. For information about running Setup, see sections earlier in this text file. Setup detects the earlier version of clustering on the paused node and automatically installs clustering for Whistler Advanced Server. The node automatically rejoins the cluster at the end of the upgrade process, but is still paused and does not handle any cluster-related work. 6. To verify that the node that was upgraded is fully functional, perform validation tests on it. 7. In Cluster Administrator, click the node that was paused, and then on the file menu, click Resume Node. 8. Repeat the preceding steps for any remaining node or nodes. 2.2 Restrictions on Rolling Upgrades ====================================================================== There are several basic restrictions to the rolling-upgrade process. The most basic restriction is as follows: * You can perform a rolling upgrade only if you are upgrading from Windows 2000 on the cluster nodes. You cannot perform a rolling upgrade if you are upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition. For a description of the ways to upgrade from Windows NT 4.0, see "Upgrading Clusters from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition" later in this text file series. The remaining restrictions involve the beginning of Phase 3, in which you operate a mixed-version cluster: a cluster in which the nodes run different versions of the operating system. For a mixed-version cluster to work, the different versions of the software running on each node must be prepared to communicate with one another. This requirement leads to several basic restrictions on the rolling-upgrade process. * For a successful rolling upgrade, every resource that the cluster manages must be capable of a rolling upgrade. For more information, see "Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades" later in this text file. * During the mixed-version phase of a rolling upgrade, when the cluster nodes are running different versions of the operating system, do not change the settings of resources (for example, do not change the settings of a printer resource). If preceding restrictions cannot be met, do not perform a rolling upgrade. For more information, see "Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000" later in this text file. 2.2.1 Operation of New Resource Types in Mixed-Version Clusters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If a resource type that you add to the cluster is supported in one version of the operating system but not in the other, the operation of a mixed-version cluster is complicated. For example, Cluster service in Whistler (part of the Advanced Server and Datacenter Server products) supports the Generic Script resource type. However, older versions of Cluster service do not support it. A mixed-version cluster can run a Generic Script resource on a node running Whistler but not on a node running Windows 2000. Cluster service transparently sets the possible owners of new resource types to prevent these resources from failing over to a Windows 2000 node of a mixed-version cluster. In other words, when you view the possible owners of a new resource type, a Windows 2000 node will not be in the list, and you will not be able to add this node to the list. If you create such a resource during the mixed-version phase of a rolling upgrade, the resource groups containing those resources will not fail over to a Windows 2000 node. 2.3 Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades ====================================================================== Although Cluster service supports rolling upgrades, not all applications have seamless rolling-upgrade behavior. The following table describes which resources will be supported during a rolling upgrade. If you have a resource that is not fully supported during rolling upgrades, see "Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000" later in this text file. You cannot perform a rolling upgrade on a cluster running Windows NT. Only clusters running Windows 2000 support rolling upgrades to Whistler. RESOURCE ROLLING UPGRADE NOTES ------------- --------------------------------------------------- DHCP Supported during rolling upgrades. File Share Supported during rolling upgrades. IP Address Supported during rolling upgrades. Network Name Supported during rolling upgrades. NNTP Supported during rolling upgrades. Physical Disk Supported during rolling upgrades Time Service Supported during rolling upgrades. SMTP Supported during rolling upgrades. WINS Supported during rolling upgrades. Print Spooler The only Print Spooler resources supported during a rolling upgrade are those on LPR ports or standard monitor ports. See the following section, "Upgrades that Include a Print Spooler Resource." IIS Internet Information Server (IIS) 6.0 is not supported during rolling upgrades. For more information, see "Upgrades the include an IIS resource" later in this text file. MS DTC Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator is not supported during a rolling upgrade. However, you can perform a process similar to rolling upgrades. See "Upgrades that Include an MS DTC Resource" later in this text file series. MSMQ Microsoft Message Queuing is not supported during a rolling upgrade. To upgrade a cluster which includes MSMQ, see "Upgrades that Include an MSMQ Resource" later in this text file. Other resource See Read1st.txt and Readme.doc in the root types directory of the Whistler Advanced Server CD. Also see the product documentation that comes with the application or resource. 2.3.1 Upgrades that Include a Print Spooler Resource ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to perform a rolling upgrade of a cluster that has a Print Spooler resource, you must consider two issues. First, the Print Spooler resource only supports upgrades (including rolling upgrades or any other kind of upgrade) on printers on cluster-supported ports (LPR or Standard Monitor ports). For information about what to do if your printer is not supported, see "Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000" later in this text file. Second, when you operate a mixed-version cluster including a Print Spooler resource, note the following: * Do not change printer settings in a mixed-version cluster with a Print Spooler resource. * If you add a new printer, when you install the drivers for that printer, be sure to install both the driver for Windows 2000 and the driver for Whistler on all nodes. * If printing preferences or defaults are important, be sure to check them. Printing preferences in Whistler won't necessarily correspond to document defaults for the same printer in Windows 2000. This can be affected by differences in the drivers for the two operating systems. When the rolling upgrade is complete and both cluster nodes are running the updated operating system, you can make any modifications you choose to your printer configuration. 2.4 Alternatives to Rolling Upgrades from Windows 2000 ====================================================================== Certain resources are not supported during rolling upgrades, including: * Internet Information Server (IIS) * Microsoft Data Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC) * Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) Special procedures, described below, must be followed when performing an upgrade of a cluster that contains these resources. In addition to the three resource types above, you might also have other resources that are not supported during rolling upgrades. Be sure to read Read1st.txt and Readme.doc in the root directory of the Whistler CD, as well as the product documentation that comes with the application or resource. Note: You also cannot perform a rolling upgrade when upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition. For more information, see "Upgrading Clusters from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition" later in this text file. 2.4.1 Upgrades that Include an IIS Resource ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IIS 6.0 is not supported during rolling upgrades. With earlier versions of IIS, you could configure an individual Web site to fail over as a cluster resource. However, with IIS 6.0, the entire IIS service must fail over, not individual Web sites. If you have individual Web sites or the IIS service configured as a cluster resource, you must use the following procedure to upgrade to Whistler. >>> To upgrade from Windows 2000 on a cluster that includes an IIS resource: 1. Remove any individual Web sites that you have configured as cluster resources from their cluster group. You can no longer designate a single site as a cluster resource. 2. If you have the IIS service configured as a cluster resource, take this resource offline. To take the resource offline, follow the procedures described in "Upgrades for Other Non-Supported Resources" later in this text file. 3. Perform a rolling upgrade, as described in the procedure "To perform a rolling upgrade" earlier in this text file. 4. Once you have completed the upgrade, you can bring the IIS service back online. Important: With IIS 6.0, you can only configure the IIS service as a Cluster resource. You cannot configure individual Web sites as cluster resources. 2.4.2 Upgrades that Include an MS DTC Resource ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC) is not Supported during rolling upgrades. However, you can perform a process similar to a rolling upgrade. >>> To upgrade from Windows 2000 on a cluster that includes an MS DTC resource: 1. Take the MS DTC resource offline by using the Cluster Administrator and clicking the Resources folder. In the details pane, click the MS DTC resource, then on the File menu, click Take Offline. Caution: Taking a resource offline causes all resources that depend on that resource to be taken offline. 2. Configure the MS DTC resource so that the only allowable owner is the node it is currently on by using the Cluster Administrator and clicking the Resource folder. In the details pane, click the MS DTC resource. On the File menu, click Properties. On the General tab, next to Possible owners, click Modify. Specify Node 2 as an Available node, and if necessary, remove Node 1 from the Available nodes list. 3. Upgrade a node that does not contain the MS DTC resource from Windows 2000 to Whistler. For general information about Setup, review the sections earlier in this text file series. 4. Move the MS DTC resource to the upgraded nodes, following the procedures as described in step 1. 5. Configure the MS DTC resource so that the only allowable owner is the upgraded node, following the procedures as described in step 2. 6. Upgrade the remaining nodes from Windows 2000 to Whistler. 7. Configure the allowable owners for the MS DTC resource as appropriate for your configuration. 8. Manually restart all dependent services, and then bring the MS DTC resource back online by using the Cluster Administrator and clicking the Resources folder. In the details pane, click the MS DTC resource, and then on the File menu, click Bring Online. 2.4.3 Upgrades That Include an MSMQ Resource ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) does not support rolling upgrades. The MSMQ resource is dependent on the MS DTC resource, so be sure to follow the steps outlined in the preceding section "Upgrades that Include an MS DTC Resource." >>> To upgrade from Windows 2000 on a cluster that includes an MSMQ resource: 1. Upgrade the operating system of the nodes to Whistler. 2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Configure Your Server. 3. In Configure Your Server, click Finish Setup, and then click Configure Message Queuing Cluster Resources. 4. Follow the instructions that appear in the Configure Message Queuing Cluster Resources Wizard. 2.4.4 Upgrades for Other Non-Supported Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have other resources on your cluster that are not supported during a rolling upgrade, but are not described above, take those resources offline prior to performing the rolling upgrade. >>> To take a resource offline and perform a rolling upgrade: 1. Confirm that your systems are running Windows 2000. 2. Using the information in "Resource Behavior During Rolling Upgrades" earlier in this text file, list the resources in your cluster that are not supported during rolling upgrades. 3. In Cluster Administrator, click the Resources folder. 4. In the right pane, click the resource you want. 5. On the File menu, click Take Offline. 6. Repeat the preceding steps until you have taken offline all resources that do not support rolling upgrades. 7. Perform a rolling upgrade, as described in the procedure "To perform a rolling upgrade" earlier in this text file. 8. For each resource that you listed in step 2, follow the product's instructions for installing or reconfiguring the application so that it will run with Whistler. ====================================================================== 3.0 Upgrading Clusters from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition ====================================================================== You cannot perform a rolling upgrade directly from Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition to Whistler. You instead have two options. You can maintain cluster availability by performing an upgrade to Windows 2000 first, then to Whistler, or you can upgrade directly to Whistler. If you upgrade directly from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler, you cannot maintain cluster availability. 3.1 Upgrading from Windows NT 4.0 while Maintaining Cluster Availability ====================================================================== To maintain cluster availability when upgrading from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler, you must first upgrade to Windows 2000. >>> To perform an upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 while maintaining cluster availability: 1. Perform a rolling upgrade on one node from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 as documented in "To Perform a Rolling Upgrade" in the Windows 2000 documentation. However, do not repeat the process for the other nodes as documented in those instructions. Important: For step 1, be sure to follow the procedures in the Windows 2000 documentation, not the Whistler procedures, as the procedures are different for each version. 2. Perform an upgrade on all other nodes from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler. For more information, see "Performing a Rolling Upgrade" earlier in this text file. Follow the instructions, upgrading only Node 2, not Node 1. For general information about Setup, review the sections earlier in this text file series. 3. Perform an upgrade on the Windows 2000 node from Windows 2000 to Whistler. 3.2 Upgrading from Windows NT 4.0 While Not Maintaining Cluster Availability ====================================================================== To upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler without the intermediate step of upgrading to Windows 2000, you must interrupt cluster availability. The steps you perform to upgrade while not maintaining cluster availability depend on the hardware you are using for your cluster: either a Fibre Channel bus or a SCSI bus. >>> To upgrade directly from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler when using a Fibre Channel bus: 1. As appropriate, notify users that you will be shutting down the applications they use on the cluster. 2. Stop the applications that are made available through the cluster. 3. To stop Cluster service on all nodes but one, in Cluster Administrator, click each node you want to stop, and then on the File menu, click Stop Cluster Service. 4. Shut down and turn off all nodes but one. Caution: Be sure that only one node is running before continuing. This prevents corruption of the cluster storage. 5. Upgrade the operating system on the node that is running. For general information about Setup, review the sections earlier in this text file series. 6. The cluster software will be upgraded automatically during the operating system upgrade. Note that you cannot make configuration changes such as configuring cluster disks as dynamic disks. For more information about the limitations of server clusters, see Whistler Help and Support Services. 7. On the node that is running, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Cluster Administrator. 8. Check to see that the cluster disks are online in Cluster Administrator. Caution: Be sure that that the cluster disks are online in Cluster Administrator before continuing to the next step. When the disks are online, it means that Cluster service is working, which means that only one node can access the cluster storage at any given time. This prevents corruption of the cluster storage. 9. Turn on the other node in the cluster and upgrade the operating system on that node. The node automatically rejoins the existing cluster. >>> To upgrade directly from Windows NT 4.0 to Whistler When Using a SCSI Bus: 1. Review the appropriate instructions for making sure that the SCSI bus is terminated or for putting Y-cables or TriLink cables in place. These instructions are in Cluster Administrator Help in Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, in the Index under "nodes, disconnecting." If you have used an alternative set of instructions from the Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition CD, in \Support\Books\Mscsadm5.doc, review these instructions. You will carry out the instructions in a later step. 2. As appropriate, notify users that you will be shutting down the applications they use on the cluster. 3. Stop the applications that are made available through the cluster. 4. To stop Cluster service on all nodes but one, in Cluster Administrator, click each node you want to stop, and then on the File menu, click Stop Cluster Service. 5. On Node 1, follow the appropriate instructions to make sure the SCSI bus is terminated, or that Y-cables or TriLink cables are in place. 6. Shut down and turn off all nodes but one, or bring them to a shut-down state appropriate to your method of termination. Caution: Be sure that only one node is running before continuing. This prevents corruption of the cluster storage. 7. Upgrade the operating system on the node that is running. For general information about Setup, review the sections earlier in this text file series. 8. The cluster software will be upgraded automatically during the operating system upgrade. Note that you cannot make configuration changes such as configuring cluster disks as dynamic disks. For more information about the limitations of server clusters, see Whistler Help and Support Services. 9. On the node that is running, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Cluster Administrator. 10. Check to see that the cluster disks are online in Cluster Administrator. Caution: Be sure that that the cluster disks are online in Cluster Administrator before continuing to the next step. When the disks are online, it means that Cluster service is working, which means that only one node can access the cluster storage at any given time. This prevents corruption of the cluster storage. 11. Turn on the other node in the cluster and upgrade the operating system on that node. The node automatically rejoins the existing cluster. Important: If your cluster storage uses SCSI, you can have two nodes in the cluster, but no more. If you want to have more than two nodes in the cluster, you must use Fibre Channel for the cluster storage. ====================================================================== 4.0 Installation on Cluster Nodes ====================================================================== The following sections provide important information about how to prepare for cluster installation, begin hardware installation for a cluster, and start Setup on the first cluster node. 4.1 Planning and Preparing for Cluster Installation ====================================================================== Before carrying out cluster installation, you will need to plan hardware and network details. Caution: Make sure that Advanced Server and Cluster service are installed and running on one node before starting the operating system on another node. If the operating system is started on multiple nodes before Cluster service is running on one node, the cluster storage could be corrupted. Once Cluster service is running properly on one node, the other nodes can be installed and configured simultaneously. Each node of your cluster must be running Advanced Server. In your planning, review the following items: * Cluster hardware and drivers. Check that your hardware, including your cluster storage and other cluster hardware, is compatible with Whistler Advanced Server. To check this, see the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) on the Whistler CD, in the Support folder, in Hcl.txt. For the most up-to-date list of supported hardware, see the Hardware Compatibility List by visiting the Microsoft Web site at: http://www.microsoft.com/ You must have a separate PCI storage host adapter (SCSI or Fibre Channel) for the shared disks. This is in addition to the bootdisk adapter. Also check that you have the drivers you need in order to use the cluster storage hardware with Whistler Advanced Server. (Drivers are available from your hardware manufacturer.) Review the manufacturer's instructions carefully before you begin installing cluster hardware. Otherwise, the cluster storage could be corrupted. If your cluster hardware includes a SCSI bus, be sure to review carefully any instructions about termination of the SCSI bus and configuration of SCSI IDs. To simplify configuration and eliminate potential compatibility problems, consider using identical hardware for all nodes. * Network adapters on the cluster nodes. In your planning, decide what kind of communication each network adapter will carry. Note: To reduce the risks with having a single point of failure, plan on having two or more network adapters in each cluster node, and connecting each adapter to a physically separate network. The adapters on a given node must connect to networks using different subnet masks. The following table shows recommended ways of connecting network adapters: ADAPTERS PER NODE RECOMMENDED USE -------- ----------------------------------------------------------- 2 One private network (node-to-node only), plus one mixed network (node-to-node plus client-to-cluster). 3 Two private networks (node-to-node), plus one public network (client-to-cluster). With this configuration, the adapters using the private network must use static IP addresses (not DHCP). or One private network (node-to-node), plus one public network (client-to-cluster), plus one mixed network (node-to-node plus client-to-cluster). The following list provides more details about the types of communication that an adapter can carry: * Only node-to-node communication (private network). This implies that the server has one or more additional adapters to carry other communication. For node-to-node communication, you will connect the network adapter to a private network used exclusively within the cluster. Note that if the private network uses a single hub or network switch, that piece of equipment becomes a potential point of failure in your cluster. The nodes of a cluster must be on the same subnet, but you can use virtual LAN (VLAN) switches on the interconnects between two nodes. If you use a VLAN, the point-to-point, round-trip latency must be less than 1/2 second and the link between two nodes must appear as a single point-to-point connection from the perspective of the operating system. To avoid single points of failure, use independent VLAN hardware for the different paths between the nodes. If your nodes use multiple private (node-to-node) networks, the adapters for those networks must use static IP addresses (not DHCP). * Only client-to-cluster communication (public network). This implies that the server has one or more additional adapters to carry other communication. * Both node-to-node and client-to-cluster communication (mixed network). If you have only one network adapter per node, it must carry both these kinds of communication. If you have multiple network adapters per node, a network adapter that carries both kinds of communication can provide backup for other network adapters. * Communication unrelated to the cluster. If a clustered node also provides services unrelated to the cluster, and there are enough adapters in the cluster node, you might want to use one adapter for carrying communication unrelated to the cluster. Consider choosing a name for each connection that describes its purpose. The name will make it easier to identify the connection whenever you are configuring the server. * Cluster IP address. Obtain a static IP address for the cluster itself. You cannot use DHCP for this address. * IP addressing for cluster nodes. Determine how to handle the IP addressing for the cluster nodes. Each network adapter on each node will need IP addressing. You can provide IP addressing through DHCP, or you can assign each network adapter a static IP address. If you use static IP addresses, the addresses for each linked pair of network adapters (linked node-to-node) should be on the same subnet. Note: if you use DHCP for the cluster nodes, it can act as a single point of failure. That is, if you set up your cluster nodes so that they depend on a DHCP server for their IP addresses, temporary failure of the DHCP server can mean temporary unavailability of the cluster nodes. When deciding whether to use DHCP, evaluate ways to ensure availability of DHCP services, and consider the possibility of using long leases for the cluster nodes. This will help ensure that they always have a valid IP address. * Cluster name. Determine or obtain an appropriate name for the cluster. This is the name administrators will use for connections to the cluster. (The actual applications running on the cluster will typically have different network names.) The cluster name must be different from the domain name, from all computer names on the domain, and from other cluster names on the domain. * Computer accounts and domain assignment for cluster nodes. Make sure that the cluster nodes all have computer accounts in the same domain. Cluster nodes cannot be in a workgroup. * Operator user account for installing and configuring the Cluster service. To install and configure Cluster service, you must log on to each node with an account that has administrative privileges on those nodes. * Cluster service user account. Create or obtain the Cluster service user account. This is the name and password under which Cluster service will run. You will need to supply this user name and password during cluster installation. The Cluster service user account should be a new account. The account must be a domain account; it cannot be a local account. The account also must have local administrative privileges on all of the cluster nodes. Be sure to keep the password from expiring on the account (follow your organization's policies for password renewal). * Volume for important cluster configuration information (checkpoint and log files). You need to plan to set aside a volume on your cluster storage for holding important cluster configuration information. This information makes up the quorum resource of the cluster, needed when a cluster node stops functioning. The quorum resource provides node-independent storage of crucial data needed by the cluster. The recommended minimum size for the volume is 500 MB. You should use a different volume for the quorum resource than you use for user data. * List of storage devices or disks attached to the first server on which you will install clustering. Unless the first server on which you will install clustering has relatively few storage devices or disks attached to it, you should make a list that identifies the ones intended for cluster storage. This makes it easy to choose storage devices or disks correctly during cluster configuration. Note: When planning and carrying out disk configuration for the cluster disks, configure them as basic disks with all partitions formatted as NTFS. Do not configure them as dynamic disks, and do not use Encrypting File System, volume mount points, spanned volumes (volume sets), or Remote Storage on the cluster disks. The following section describes the physical installation of the cluster storage. 4.2 Beginning the Installation of the Cluster Hardware ====================================================================== The steps you carry out when first physically connecting and installing the cluster hardware are crucial. Be sure to follow the hardware manufacturer's instructions for these initial steps. Important: Carefully review your network cables after connecting them. Make sure no cables are crossed by mistake (for example, private network connected to public). Caution: When you first attach your cluster hardware (the shared bus and cluster storage), be sure to work only from the firmware configuration screens on the cluster nodes (a node is a server in a cluster). On a 32-bit computer, use the BIOS configuration screens. On a 64-bit computer, use the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) configuration screens. The instructions from your manufacturer will describe whether these configuration screens are displayed automatically or whether you must, after turning on the computer, press specific keys to open them. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for completing the BIOS or EFI configuration process. Remain in the BIOS or EFI, and do not allow the operating system to start during this initial installation phase. 4.2.1 Steps to Carry Out in the BIOS or EFI ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Complete the following steps while the cluster nodes are still displaying BIOS or EFI configuration screens before starting the operating system on the first cluster node. * If you have a SCSI bus, make sure you understand and follow the manufacturer's instructions for termination of the SCSI bus. * If you have a SCSI bus, make sure that each device on the shared bus (both SCSI controllers and hard disks) has a unique SCSI ID. If the SCSI controllers all default to the same ID (often it is SCSI ID 7), change one controller to a different SCSI ID such as SCSI ID 6. If there is more than one disk that will be on the shared SCSI bus, each disk must also have a unique SCSI ID. In addition, make sure that the bus is not configured to reset SCSI IDs automatically during startup (otherwise the IDs will change from the settings you specify). * Ensure that you can scan the bus and see the drives from both cluster nodes (while remaining in the BIOS or EFI configuration screens). 4.3 Completing the Installation ====================================================================== After the BIOS or EFI configuration is completed, start the operating system on one cluster node only, and carry out the installation of Cluster service. Before starting the operating system on another node, make sure that Whistler Advanced Server and Cluster service are installed and running on that node. If the operating system is started on multiple nodes before Cluster service is running on one node, the cluster storage could be corrupted. 4.4 Installation on the First Cluster Node ====================================================================== It is important that you work on one node (never two nodes) when you exit the BIOS or EFI configuration screens and allow the operating system to start for the first time. Caution: Make sure that Whistler Advanced Server and Cluster service Are installed and running on one node before starting the operating system on another node. If the operating system is started on multiple nodes before Cluster service is running on one node, the cluster storage could be corrupted. 4.4.1 Completing the Installation on the First Cluster Node ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have not already installed Whistler Advanced Server on the first cluster node, install it now. For information about decisions you must make, such as decisions about licensing and about the components to install, see the sections earlier in this text file series. When Whistler Advanced Server is installed, use the following procedure to obtain specific information about how to complete the installation of the cluster. >>> To obtain additional information about how to install and configure Cluster service: 1. With Whistler Advanced Server running on one cluster node, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 2. Click Enterprise Technologies, and then click Windows Clustering. 3. Click Server Clusters. 4. Click Checklists: Creating Server Clusters, and then click Checklist: Creating a server cluster. 5. Use the checklist to guide you through the process of completing the installation of your server cluster.