Building a Failover Cluster With Server Core

8/12/2019 Building a Failover Cluster With Server Core

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Building a Failover Cluster with Server Core Part 1During the Dutch Launch event I presented about Windows Failover clustering and I also prepared some demo's. I

build a failover cluster on top of a Server Core. In Part I will briefl! e"plain the s!sprep process because I had torebuild all m! #$ with the %&$ version of Windows Server (().

So first I wanted to create a new set of base vhd's which I will use to install all m! #$'s from* this ma+es the install process much faster.I started with the installation of a Windows Server (() ,, to create m! first base vhd. -fter the installation I addeda few tools* changed some registr! +e!s to ma+e sure some of the tools are running when logging into the bo".

ow with Windows Server (() the S!sprep tool is included within the S!stem/ director!. &o s!sprep !ou'remachine !ou need to run the s!sprep tool and select the following options0

-fter the s!sprep process is done the #$ will shutdown automaticall!. ow +eep this #1D as a base for all !ournew #irtual $achines.

In m! case I needed to start with the installation of a DC and I've used the #1D 2ase* this is what !ou will see when!ou boot a s!sprepped vhd file0
http://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCore_E95/image_2.png


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Select the correct regional settings.
http://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCore_E95/install-sysprepped1_2.jpg


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Fill in the product +e!.
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Fill in the server name and clic+ start to configure the server* after a while !ou will need to change the password ofthe local -dministrator account.

&he server is now read! to be configured* in m! case I will configure the networ+ing and add the -ctive Director!Domain Services role and finali3e with a dcpromo.

&he ne"t step in this little pro4ect is to install two Windows Server (() ,nterprise ,ditions 5 Server Core. I alsocreated a base vhd for this and used them to create SCCL6( and SCL6( .

7nce the base 7S is installed I've configured the server as described in one of m! previous posts * in Part I wille"plain how to configure the iSCSI shared storage and assign it to a server core. In part I will install the clusterand configure a high available file sharing infrastructure

ote0 &his is one wa! how to create !our base #1D's another option is to use those base #1D files and createdifferencing dis+s pointing to the base vhd for each additional #$ !ou need in !our environment.
http://blogs.technet.com/aralves/archive/2008/01/19/configuring-windows-server-2008-server-core.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/aralves/archive/2008/02/01/windows-server-2008-server-core-change-default-prompt.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCore_E95/install-sysprepped4_2.jpghttp://blogs.technet.com/aralves/archive/2008/02/01/windows-server-2008-server-core-change-default-prompt.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/aralves/archive/2008/01/19/configuring-windows-server-2008-server-core.aspx


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Building a Failover Cluster with Server Core Part 2In m! previous post I've tal+ed about how to use base images to 8uic+l! deplo! new servers in m! 1!per5#environment. In this post we will configure the shared storage based on the microsoft iSCSI target software* in a reallife environment !ou could use either a Windows Storage Server or another iSCSI or FC based storage environment.

2efore actuall! digging into the failover clustering installation I want to briefl! e"plain what I have setup so far to be able to build a cluster in the first place.

First I have created a Domain Controller and installed the iSCSI target software to be able to emulate a sharedstorage environment. I've created two dis+s one which is (($2 in si3e and will be used as a witness dis+ 9used to

be called :uorum dis+; and I have a second dis+ which is is


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-gain perform this on both machines. ow the $icrosoft iSCSI initiator service is configured and will start upduring boot time.

Step /0 Connecting the Server Core bo"es to the iSCSI storage bo"

1ere are all steps !ou should ta+e on both Server Core bo"es to connect to the storage.

. iSCSIcli :-dd&argetPortal =Storage 2o"* Portal IP -ddress>%e8uired to refresh the new target built*

. iSCSIcli List&argets?ou should see the i: of the target created

/. iSCSIcli :login&arget =&arget I: >?ou should see a connection and session id

@. iSCSIcli PersistentLogin&arget =targetAi8n> & B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B (

7&,0 &here are spaceE BE?ou do this so !ou can survive a reboot

. iSCSIcli ListPersistent&argets?ou should see a target
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G. iSCSIcli %eport&arget$appings

?ou should see the target and a L6 " mapping for ever! L6 defined in the target

-t this stage !ou have assigned both dis+s to the server core machines the ne"t step will be to configure the dis+s

Step @0 Configuring the clustered dis+s

2! being


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create part pri!arselect part 1assign letter"S

e$it

Format each dis+ b! t!ping format "0 H8 where is !our drive letter and don't provide an! label name.

&he servers are now completel! configured to form a Windows Failover Cluster* this process will be e"plained inPart III of this post.
http://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCorePa_EB28/image_4.png


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Building a Failover Cluster with Server Core Part %In the two previous parts of this topic we created the Server Core $achines* connected them to the storage andadded the Failover Clustering Feature. In this last part we are going to configure the Windows Failover Clusteringfeature and form a ode cluster. For doing this !ou have two options one is using the cluster.e"e command linetool and do ever!thing from the command line or b! using the %S-& tools and remotel! create the cluster. I'vechosen for the second and easiest option.

Step 0 7pen Failover Cluster $anagement Console and #alidate the configuration

In m! case I will open up the mmc from m! Domain Controller but with the %S-& tools !ou can now also remotel!manage failover clusters from an Windows #ista SP bo".

&he first action that needs to be performed prior building the cluster is running the validation tool. &his is not neededfor a test environment but if !ou want to get support from $icrosoft !ou need to run this and +eep the report* !oualso need to run the validation tool each time !ou ma+e changes to the cluster infrastructure* changes li+e adding an12- re8uires a new validation report.

&he #alidation tool will run tests to determine whether !our s!stem* storage* and networ+ configuration is suitable
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for a cluster. &hese tests include specific simulations of cluster actions* and fall into the following categories0S!stem Configuration tests* etwor+ tests and Storage tests.

Clic+ on &'alidate a Configuration& in the action pane.

-dd both nodes to be validated.

%un the tests needed for support and to +now if the cluster config is correct.
http://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCorePa_DE86/image_4.pnghttp://blogs.technet.com/blogfiles/aralves/WindowsLiveWriter/BuildingaFailoverClusterwithServerCorePa_DE86/image_8.png


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-fter all tests have completed !ou will be able to review the report b! clic+ing onto the report button or if !ou wantto open it afterwards we store all reports in the following director!0 Jc0KwindowsKclusterKreportsJ

If the validation tool completes successfull! then !ou can go on with the creation of the cluster. Let's assumeever!thing is fine and perform the actual cluster creation wi3ard.


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Fill in all nodes that will be part of this cluster* this is a huge difference comparing to Windows Server ((/clustering because now the setup wi3ard is going to configure all nodes at once.


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&he cluster is now read!.

&he ne"t step !ou need to perform is that the correct Witness dis+ has been used in m! configuration it was not thecase and I had to change Witness dis+ config.

?ou can do that as follows0

In the action pane clic+ on more action and then select the JConfigure Cluster :uorum SettingsJ as can be seen inthe picture below.


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In the following Wi3ard !ou are able to change the :uorum configuration model or change the details of the current:uorum.

In m! case I 4ust clic+ed on ne"t and in the screen that follows !ou will be able to change the dis+ configuration ofthe Witness dis+.


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&hat is what I've done and now m! cluster is up and running and I can start clustering Services or -pplications

I hope that these three blogposts will help !ou to create a Windows Failover Cluster on a Server Core.
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Documents

Building a Failover Cluster With Server Core