MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Chapter Ten Configuring Windows Server 2008 for High Availability

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Objectives Discuss Windows Server 2008 high availability technologies Configure round-robin DNS Configure network load balancing Configure a failover cluster 2

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Windows Server 2008 High Availability Technologies High availability terms –Mean time between failures (MTBF) –Mean time to recover (MTTR) –Recovery point objective (RPO) –Recovery time objective (RTO) Fault tolerance –Ability of a server to recover from some type of hardware failure Redundant hardware –Two or more devices that perform the same task 3

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Component-Level Fault Tolerance Fault tolerance features present in most servers –ECC memory –RAID disk configurations –Hot-swappable disks Additional features present in more expensive servers –Redundant power supplies –Hot add/replace memory –Hot add/replace CPU 4

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Server-Level High Availability/ Fault Tolerance Windows Server 2008 provides three primary high availability technologies –Round-robin load balancing –Network load balancing (NLB) clusters –Failover clusters 5

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Round-Robin Load Balancing Multiple DNS records used to resolve the same host name to multiple IP addresses DNS server cycles through the duplicate host records –Returns a different IP address for each subsequent query Flaws –No recognition of a down server –Cached client records –All servers have equal priority 6

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 7 Table 10-1 DNS records for in round-robin load balancing scheme

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 8 Figure 10-1 Using DNS for round-robin load balancing ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-1: Install DNS and Create a New Zone Log on to your Windows Server 2008 computer as Administrator –If Server Manager doesn’t start, click the server icon in the Quick Launch toolbar In the left pane of Server Manager, click Roles Click Add Roles in the Roles Summary pane on the right –In the Before You Begin window, click Next In the Select Server Roles window, click to select the DNS Server check box, and then click Next 9

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-1: Install DNS and Create a New Zone (cont’d.) Read the information about the DNS Server role, click Next On the Confirm Installation Selections screen, click Install –When the installation completes, click Close Click Start, Administrative Tools, DNS Click to expand the DNS server node, click Forward Lookup Zones –Right-click Forward Lookup Zones, click New Zone, click Next 10

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-1: Install DNS and Create a New Zone (cont’d.) In the Zone Type screen, accept the default zone type of Primary, click Next In the Zone Name screen, type rrtest.local, click Next –Accept the default file name for the zone and click Next In the Dynamic Update screen, click Next to accept the default, and click Finish Keep DNS Manager open for the next activity 11

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-2: Configure DNS for Round-Robin Load Balancing Log on to your Windows Server 2008 computer as Administrator –Start DNS Manager if necessary In the left pane of DNS Manager, right-click the server node and click Properties –Click the Advanced tab By default, round-robin is enabled –If you want to disable round-robin, your would clear the check box –Click Cancel 12

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-2: Configure DNS for Round-Robin Load Balancing (cont’d.) Click to expand Forward Lookup Zones, if necessary and click rrtest.local –Right-click rrtest.local and click New Host (A or AAAA) In the New Host screen, type www in the Name box and type in the IP address box –Click Add Host, OK Repeat above two more times, using www for the name and and respectively for the IP addresses –Click Done 13

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-2: Configure DNS for Round-Robin Load Balancing (cont’d.) To test the round-robin configuration, open a command prompt, type nslookup and press Enter Make sure the server nslookup will query is your server by typing server and pressing Enter Type and press Enter –The DNS server should return all three IP addresses defined for host www –Type and press Enter again –You should see the order of the returned addresses has changed 14

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-2: Configure DNS for Round-Robin Load Balancing (cont’d.) If you continue to query for you should see the order of the returned addresses change with each query –Close the command prompt 15

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Network Load Balancing Server cluster –Group of two or more servers configured to respond to a single virtual IP address –Used to provide scalability and fault tolerance Servers share the load of incoming requests based on rules you can define A failed server can be removed from the cluster and another server can take its place Primary function is to efficiently handle large volume of client traffic 16

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 17 Figure 10-5 A logical depiction of network load balancing ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Installing Network Load Balancing Each server in the cluster should be configured with the same OS version Not recommended to use a domain controller as a server cluster Ideally, servers in an NLB cluster should be configured with two NICs –One used for communication with network clients –Other dedicated for communication among cluster members 18

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 19 Figure 10-6 NLB cluster – servers have two NICs ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 20 Figure 10-7 NLB topology ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-3: Install the Network Load Balancing Feature Log on to the NLB1 server as Administrator Open Network and Sharing Center and click Manage network connections –Rename Local Area Connection to NLBAdapter and Local Area Connection 2 to DedicatedAdapter Right-click NLBAdapter and click Properties –Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP) –Set the IP address to with a subnet mask of –Click Advanced and click the DNS tab 21

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-3: Install the Network Load Balancing Feature (cont’d.) –Click to uncheck the Register this connection’s address in DNS check box, and click OK On the DedicatedAdapter connection, set the IP address to with a subnet mask of –Close Network Connections and the Network and Sharing Center Open Server Manager and click Features –Click Add Features –Check the box next to Network Load Balancing –Click Next, Install 22

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-3: Install the Network Load Balancing Feature (cont’d.) On the Installation Results screen, confirm that Network Load Balancing was successfully installed –Click Close to return to Server Manager Log on to NLB2 as Administrator and repeat steps –Use values 20 and 21 respectively in the fourth octet of the IP addresses of NLBAdapter and DedicatedAdapter Stay logged on to both servers for the next activity 23

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster Creating an NLB cluster –Create a new cluster –Select a host and network interface to participate in the cluster –Configure the host priority/host ID –Set the cluster IP address –Set the cluster name and operation mode –Configure port rules –Add additional servers to the cluster 24

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster (cont’d.) Create a new cluster –Open Network Load Balancing Manager from Administrative tools on a server that has NLB installed –Right-click Network Load Balancing Clusters Option to create a new cluster or connect to an existing cluster Select a host and network interface to participate in the cluster –Type the name of the server from which you are running NLB Manager 25

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster (cont’d.) Configure the host priority/host ID –Each host is assigned a unique host ID –Represents host’s priority in the cluster –Priority value from 1 to 32 Set the Cluster IP Address –Address by which the cluster’s networking services are accessed by network clients –DNS host record should exist for the cluster name mapped to this address –May have to add address manually 26

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster (cont’d.) Set the cluster name and operation mode 27 Figure Cluster Parameters ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster (cont’d.) Configure port rules 28 Figure Default port rule ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Creating a Network Load Balancing Cluster (cont’d.) Add additional servers to the cluster –From Network Load Balancing Manager, right-click the cluster and click Add Host to Cluster –NLB feature must be installed on the server you wish to add –Must select network interface and assign a priority –Can assign port rules for the new server –Can change the load weight if necessary 29

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-4: Create an NLB Cluster Log on to the NLB1 server as Administrator Open Network Load Balancing Manager from Administrative Tools Right-click Network Load Balancing Clusters and click New Cluster –In the Host box, type nlb1 and click Connect –Once connected, the New Cluster: Connect screen shows the available interfaces for server nlb1 –Click NLBAdapter and click Next 30

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-4: Create an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) In the New Cluster: Host Parameters screen, Accept the default priority value of 1 –Click the listed IP address and click Remove –Click Next –Click Yes on the No Dedicated IP Addresses message On the New Cluster: Cluster IP Addresses screen, click Add –Type in the IPv4 address box –Type in the Subnet mask box –Click OK, Next 31

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-4: Create an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) On the New Cluster: Cluster Parameters screen type nlb.mydomain.local in the Full Internet name box –Leave the Cluster operation mode set to Unicast, and click Next On the New Cluster: Port Rules screen, read the Port rule description for the default port rule, and click Finish 32

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-4: Create an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) If you see errors in the log screen at the bottom of Network Load Balancing Manager, check your DNS configuration and network adapter IP address settings –If you see an error stating “The bind operation was successful but NLB is not responding to queries,” you will have to manually set the cluster IP address on the network interface Click to expand NLB Clusters if necessary –Right-click nlb.mydomain.local, click Add Host to Cluster 33

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-4: Create an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) In the Host box, type nlb2 and click Connect –Click NLBAdapter if necessary and click Next In the Add Host to Cluster: Host Parameters screen, leave the Priority at default value of 2 –Click the IP address listed in the Dedicated IP addresses section, and click Remove, Next, Yes In the Add Host to Cluster: Port Rules screen, click Finish 34

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Configuring an NLB Cluster Configuring cluster properties 35 Figure Cluster Properties: Cluster IP Addresses tab ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Configuring an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) Configuring port rules 36 Figure Port Rules tab ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 37 Figure Add/Edit Port Rule tab ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Configuring an NLB Cluster (cont’d.) Configuring host properties 38 Figure Configuring host properties ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 39 Figure Changing the load weight or handling priority ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Managing an NLB Cluster Options for controlling individual hosts or cluster as a whole –Start –Stop –Drainstop Host completes active NLB sessions and stops taking new sessions –Suspend Prevents server from handling new NLB traffic –Resume Resumes a suspended host and places it in stop state 40

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Failover Clusters Clustered application (service) –Application or service installed on two or more servers Cluster server –Windows 2008 server that participates in a failover cluster Active node (server) –Cluster member that is responding to client requests Passive node (server) –Cluster member that is in standby mode 41

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Failover Clusters (cont’d.) Standby mode –Cluster node that is not active Quorum –Configuration data that specifies status of each node Cluster heartbeat –Communication between cluster nodes –Lack of heartbeat informs cluster when a server is no longer communicating Witness disk –Shared storage to store cluster configuration data 42

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Failover Clusters (cont’d.) Failover clusters –Two or more servers that access common storage media –Typically storage is in form of a SAN Servers are connected to SAN device through secondary high-speed network connection One server considered active and others are passive –Active server handles all client requests –Others remain in standby mode 43

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 44 Figure Logical depiction of a failover cluster ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) How a Failover Cluster Works Client computers see the failover cluster as a single entity with a single name or IP address If active server fails, another server can take over the clustered application Quorum is used to determine when active server can no longer serve client requests Quorum models –Node majority, node and disk majority, node and file share majority, no majority: disk only 45

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Requirements for a Failover Cluster Identical or nearly identical server components Identical CPU architecture (x64 or x86) Components should meet the “Certified for Windows Server 2008” logo requirements Separate adapters for shared storage communication and network client communication A supported cluster-compatible storage technology –Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) –Fibre Channel –iSCSI 46

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Requirements for a Failover Cluster (cont’d.) For iSCSI, you must use a separate network adapter that is dedicated to cluster storage A minimum of two volumes, one of which will serve as the witness disk for the cluster Cluster servers must run the same edition of Windows Server 2008 Cluster servers must be members of a Windows domain All clustered applications or services must be the same version, and all cluster servers should have the same updates and service packs installed 47

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Requirements for a Failover Cluster (cont’d.) Cluster storage requirements –Clustered application’s data must be available to all cluster members –Shared storage is required on clusters that use the Disk Majority or No Majority: Disk Only quorum models –All components of the storage system should be Windows Server 2008 certified and use digitally signed device drivers 48

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Failover Cluster Installation Procedure for installing and creating a failover cluster –Install the Failover Clustering feature on all servers –Verify cluster server network and shared storage access Procedure depends on type of shared storage and network configuration –Run the cluster validation wizard –Create the cluster 49

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 50 Figure Failover Cluster Management console ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-5: Install the Failover Clustering Feature Log on to Server1 as the domain Administrator Open Server Manager if necessary Install the Failover Clustering feature using the Add Features wizard in Server Manager Repeat for Server2 51

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-6: Validate a Cluster Configuration Log on to Server1 as the domain Administrator Open Failover Cluster Management from Administrative Tools Click Validate a Configuration in the Actions pane to start the wizard –Read the Before You Begin screen and then click Next In the Select Servers or a Cluster screen, type Server1, click Add, type Server2, click Add again, click Next 52

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-6: Validate a Cluster Configuration (cont’d.) In the Testing Options screen, leave the default option of Run all tests selected, and click Next The confirmation screen reviews your validation settings, click Next The validation test will run and each test will report results as it runs –Summary screen allows you to review the validation report Click on View Report to get information about errors, click Finish 53

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-7: Create a Failover Cluster Log on to Server1 as the domain Administrator Open Failover Cluster Management from Administrative Tools, if necessary Click Create a Cluster in the Actions pane to start the wizard –Read the Before You Begin screen and then click Next In the Select Servers screen, type Server1 and click Add, type Server2, click Add again, and click Next 54

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-7: Create a Failover Cluster (cont’d.) Type Failover1 for the Cluster name in the Access Point for Administering the Cluster screen –Type for the address, and click Next Click Next after reviewing the settings on the Confirmation screen Click View Report to get information on warnings or errors reported –Click Finish Review cluster configuration in Failover Cluster Management 55

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-7: Create a Failover Cluster (cont’d.) Click Storage to see a summary of the cluster storage Click Networks to review the cluster networks Close Failover Cluster Management 56

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Configuring Failover Clustering Configuring the cluster networks –Each network adapter on your servers should be connected to a different subnet –Network adapters should be renamed to reflect the network function 57

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 58 Figure Cluster network properties ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 59 Figure Configuring Cluster Quorum ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) 60 Figure High Availability Wizard: Select a Service or Application ©Cengage Learning 2012

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-8: Create a File Server Failover Cluster Log on to Server1 as the domain Administrator Open Failover Cluster Management from Administrative Tools, if necessary Click to expand the cluster node in the left pane –Click Services and Applications to start the High Availability Wizard Read the information in the Before You Begin screen and click Next In the Select Service or Application screen, click File Server, Next 61

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-8: Create a File Server Failover Cluster (cont’d.) In the Client Access Point screen, accept the default name and click to assign an address –Assign and click Next Select the storage volume you want to use –Check the box next to Cluster Disk 2, click Next Review the information on the Confirmation screen, click Next Click View Report on the Summary screen to view and correct errors, click Finish 62

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-8: Create a File Server Failover Cluster (cont’d.) In Failover Cluster Management, click to expand Services and Applications and click FailoverFS –Review summary information for the clustered service To test your failover configuration, right-click Failover1FS under Services and Applications and click Move this service or application to another node and choose the server –Click Move FailoverFS to Server2 to confirm the action Close Failover Cluster Management 63

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Activity 10-8: Create a File Server Failover Cluster (cont’d.) High availability options –Preferred owner –Failover options –Failback options 64

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Summary Server high availability is accomplished using fault tolerance at the server or component level Round-robin load balancing uses multiple DNS records to resolve the same host name to multiple IP addresses NLB uses server clusters to provide scalability and fault tolerance A server cluster is a group of two or more servers configured to respond to a single virtual IP address 65

MCTS Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration (Exam # ) Summary (cont’d.) Configuring an NLB cluster involves cluster properties, host properties, and port rules A failover cluster consists of two or more servers that access common storage media –One server is considered active while others are passive All failover cluster servers have access to the application data –If the active server fails, another server takes over the clustered application 66