Adding the Cluster Host Back to the Cluster

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

After you complete the upgrade and verify that the applications and services are running correctly, add the cluster host back to the cluster. Because the cluster host is still connected by cable to the existing network infrastructure, adding the cluster host back to the cluster requires you to start Network Load Balancing on the cluster host.

To add the cluster host back to the cluster, use Network Load Balancing Manager to start the Network Load Balancing service on the cluster host. In addition, configure the Default state of the Initial host state to match the setting that existed prior to the upgrade process. Configuring the cluster host in this manner ensures that the clients accessing the applications and services running on the cluster do not encounter problems when you restart the cluster host and return it to the cluster.

The reason to configure the cluster host with the same settings, instead of selecting Started, is that Network Load Balancing loads very early in the operating system boot process. The cluster host can join the cluster before other services are running. This means the cluster host might receive load before other services, such as IIS, are started. Allowing Network Load Balancing to start before other services could result in the denial of service to users until the service starts.

You can use management software, such as MOM, to monitor the services running on the host and to start Network Load Balancing when the appropriate services are running. Using management software to start Network Load Balancing is recommended to prevent users from experiencing outages in service.

For more information on performing a drainstop on the source cluster and changing the Initial host state of cluster host, see "Create and Manage Network Load Balancing Clusters" in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003.