Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Bible

Configuring Clustering

Although clustering Windows would normally be undertaken by the Systems Administration team, you may have to do this if you work in a small shop. It is also good to have an awareness of how to cluster Windows Server because it can help you with troubleshooting efforts in the event of an issue.

Configuring Windows Server 2008/2008R2 for Clustering

The process to configure Windows Server 2008/2008R2 clustering involves initial preparation steps such as setting up the right network configuration, installing required server roles and role services, and installing necessary server features.

Network Configuration

To ensure that cluster communications are not interrupted, you configure two networks. One network will be used for all public traffic and the other network for private internal communications. The private network should be configured to be nonroutable and have a unique IP address. If your domain network is not the first bound network on your server you may get a warning during setup. If this happens refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd391967(WS.10).aspx for adjusting the network binding order.

Server Role and Services Installation

To configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008R2 for Clustering, first, you need to add the Application Server Role and required Server Role Services by following these steps:

1. Open Server Manager. Right-click Roles section, and select Add Roles. The Add Roles Wizard screen opens. Click Next. ...