Windows Clsutering

[admdev]

Hi all,

Hope somebody can help!

I am new to the clustering arena and I would like to know more about it as I would like to implemented on our system. I have been reading and as far as I understand, it works in a way so that if one server goes down the services running on this cluster will still be available. Similar to the RAID technology.

Has anybody implemented this? I would like to actually hear from somebody who has already implemented it.

How does it work?
Does it create any additional network trafic?
Do the servers need to be identical hardware configuration?
Does it create a virtual computer name for the combined ones?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SjrH]

Try forum737

[small]Listen to those who know, believe in those that do[/small]

 

[mrdenny]

How does it work?

The basics are there is a cluster service on both nodes. When a node is not active it watches the services that are defined as cluster resources on the active node. If those services stop, or the active machine crashes the pasive node sees that the services are down (or that the machine is down) and it starts the services up on it self.

Does it create any additional network trafic?

No. There is a private network that is setup between the nodes. All the heartbeat information is routed over the private network.

Do the servers need to be identical hardware configuration?

No, but they should be in order to ensure the same performance level when running on the pasive hardware.

Does it create a virtual computer name for the combined ones?

Yes. All connections to the clustered services should be made to the virtual name, not the physical host name.

There is a cluster forum as SjrH said where all the folks with clustering experience hang out forum737.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com