Base Platform: Windows 2003 Server Enterprise SP1 and R2 installed
Note: Windows 2003 Standard does not support Clusters.
This assumes are you familiar with the basic clustering concepts and are proficient with Windows 2003 advance concepts and terminology.
To install the cluster do the following
1) Two NICs are required for each server. Perform the following on each.
a. Rename one NIC to Private and the other NIC to Public
b. Do not use DHCP, assign static IP Addresses
c. Configure the Private NIC with an internal IP address (that is not in use on the network*). Connect the NICs to a switch or via a cross-over cable to the second node.
i. Do NOT set a default gateway.
ii. Disable NetBios over TCP/IP.
iii. A switch is required if more than two nodes are in the cluster.
iv. Disable DNS registration
v. Do NOT configure DNS or WINS settings.
d. Configure the Public NIC with an internal routable IP address and connect to the internal network.
i. Configure DNS and WINS settings
ii. Set Default Gateway
e. Disable DHCP Media Sense via the registry.
i. Per KB258750 this is not needed on Windows 2003 Clusters
f. Adjust Network Binding order and place the Public NIC on top, then the Private NIC.
g. Manually set the speed and duplex mode for the Private and Public NICs to the same values and settings on each server.
2) Disable the Computer Browser service.
3) Add the computers to the Same Domain.
4) Create a Domain user account that will be used for the Cluster Service.
a. Check “User cannot change password”
b. Check “Password never expires”
5) Add this user account to the local Administrators group of every server in the cluster.
6) SAN Configuration
a. Configure and Zone all HBA’s on all servers as required in your environment.
b. Create a LUN (1GB or larger) for use as the Quorum drive.
c. Assign the Quorum drive to the FIRST Cluster node ONLY.
i. Do not assign this drive to the other nodes yet.
7) ALL DRIVES must be configured as follows (this includes the Quorum)
a. Basic Disk (Dynamic Disk are not supported)
b. One partition per disk
c. NTFS Formatted (FAT is not supported)
d. Be assigned a drive letter (mount points are not supported)
8) On the First Cluster Node
a. Logon as an Administrator
b. Partition, Format and assign a drive letter to the Quorum Drive.
i. Q: is usually used.
c. Start the Cluster Administrator
i. Select File…New…Cluster
ii. Follow the wizard
iii. Supply the Cluster Name
iv. Accept the local a computer name as the first node of the cluster
v. Supply the Cluster IP Address
vi. Supply the user name and password for the cluster service.
9) The Cluster has now been created with ONE Node
To add nodes to the cluster do the following
1) Assign the Quorum and all other disk resources to the new node.
2) Logon to the new node as an Administrator
3) Start the Cluster Administrator
a. Connect to the cluster name
i. Click OK
b. Select File...New…Node
c. Follow the Add Node Wizard
i. Click Add to add the names of servers to be added to the cluster
1. Click Next
ii. Wait for Analyzing Configuration
1. Click Next
iii. Enter the Cluster Service Password
1. Click Next
iv. Review Proposed Configuration
1. Click Next
v. Wait for Re-Analyzing Configuration
1. Warning errors (138f) are expected for cluster resources not located on other nodes.
2. Click Next
vi. Click Finish (There is no Back button)
4) If needed, move all groups to the new server to verify functionality
To add general (non-disk) resources (or groups of resources) to an existing cluster
1) Never add resources to the default “Cluster Group”
a. The resources in this group are for the cluster only.
2) From Cluster Administrator
a. Create a New Group
i. Type the name
ii. Type the description
iii. Select the preferred owner(s)
b. Create a New Resource
i. Type the name
ii. Type the description
iii. Select the Resource Type
iv. Select the Resource Group
1. Click Next
v. Adjust Possible Owners (if needed)
1. Click Next
vi. Select Resource Dependencies
1. Click Next
vii. Enter Resource Parameters
1. Click Finish
c. Repeat Create a New Resource as needed
To add New SAN Disk Resources to the cluster
1) Assign the SAN disk to the server that is currently hosting the Resource Group the disk will be added to.
2) ALL DRIVES must be configured as the following (this includes the Quorum)
a. Basic Disk (Dynamic Disk are not supported)
b. One partition per disk
c. NTFS Formatted (FAT is not supported)
d. Be assigned a drive letter (mount points are not supported)
3) Logon to the server the drive is assigned to.
a. Partition, Format and assign a drive letter to the drive.
b. From Cluster Administrator
i. Create a New Disk Resource
1. Type the name
2. Type the description
3. Select “Physical Disk” as the resource type
4. Select the Resource Group
a. Click Next
5. Adjust Possible Owners (if needed)
a. Click Next
6. Select Resource Dependencies
a. Click Next
7. Select the SAN Disk Drive
a. Click Finish
ii. Bring the Disk Resource online
4) Assign the same disk to the other nodes in the cluster.
5) Test failover to the other nodes if needed.
More Information:
How to configure MS DTC on a Windows Server 2003 cluster
KB301600
-The MS DTC may be created in the default cluster group on the Quorum drive as well.
*Not in use on the network: means that this IP address is currently not assigned on your internal network. For example if you use various 10.x.x.x ip addresses you should select either a 192.168.x.x or a 172.16.x.x ip address range that is not in use on your internal network.