Creating a Microsoft Windows Cluster with Windows 2008 R2

Windows Cluster Setup and Configuration with Windows 2008 R2

1. I have created a shared Quorum Drive via iSCSI on both my windows cluster nodes named SQL1 and SQL1. My Quorum drive has a drive letter of E:


Microsoft Windows Cluster
2. I have added 3 network adapters to each of my cluster nodes: LAN, iSCSI and Heartbeat. Lan will be used for client connections, iSCSI for storage and Heartbeat for private heartbeat communication between the windows cluster nodes. Each Network adapter is in a separate vlan.


Microsoft Windows Cluster
3. I have also set the following adapter order. Lan being number 1, followed by Heartbeat and lastly iSCSI.


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4. Now we need to install the Failover Clustering Feature on both servers, SQL1 and SQL2. Enter into Server Manager, click on Features and tick Failover Clustering.


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5. Click Install.


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6. Installation is successful, click Close.


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7. On SQL1, click Start and select Failover Cluster Manager under Administration Tools.


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8. Click on Validate a Configuration and the wizard will begin. click Next.


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9. I will enter in the name sql1 and click Add, then enter in the name sql2 and click Add. click Next.


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10. Select Run all tests and click Next.


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11. A summary of your servers that will be tested. Click Next.


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12. The test has completed successfully. Click Finish.


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13. Right click on Failover Cluster Manager and select Create a Cluster.


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14. The Create Cluster Wizard begins, click Next.


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15. I will type in sql1 and click Add followed by typeing in sql2 and clicking Add. Click Next.


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16. Type in a name for your cluster. This will be a Netbios name and registered in your Active Directory DNS. Enter in an IP address for the Windows Cluster. Click Next.


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17. All the information is gather and you are ready to create your Windows Cluster. Click Next.


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18. The Windows Cluster has been created successfully. Click Finish.


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19. You can see both sql1 and sql2 nodes in the cluster, along with the Networks.


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20. Click on Cluster Network 1, this is my Lan network.


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21. Right click on Cluster Network 1 and select properties. Change the name to Lan and make sure Allow cluster network communication on this network and Allow clients to connect through this network are ticked. Click Ok.


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22. Select Cluster Network 2. This is my Heartbeat or cluster communications network.


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23. Right click on Cluster Network 2 and select properties. Change the name to Heartbeat and make sure the only option that is selected is Allow cluster network communication on this network. Click Ok.


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24. Click on Cluster Network 3. This is my iSCSI network.


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25. Right click on Cluster Network 3 and select properties. Make sure the only option that is ticked is Do not allow cluster network communication on this network. Click Ok.


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26. Click on Storage and you can see the Cluster Quorum Disk E: listed. Your Windows Cluster is now setup and ready to go.


Microsoft Windows Cluster
Disclaimer:
All the tutorials included on this site are performed in a lab environment to simulate a real world production scenario. As everything is done to provide the most accurate steps to date, we take no responsibility if you implement any of these steps in a production environment.

2 Comments

  1. Are you sure you require a dedicated heartbeat NIC in Windows 2008 ?
    I am not sure you need to do this anymore.

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