Step 1: Install Windows Server 2008 R2 on Multiple Servers

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Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2

To begin the process of deploying Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in a failover cluster, install an operating system that meets the relevant requirements (listed in Requirements for Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in Failover Clusters) on the following servers:

  • Two servers for the failover cluster that will run head node services.

  • One server to run a standalone instance of SQL Server 2008 RP1, or multiple servers to run a SQL Server failover cluster. This instance of SQL Server supports the head node.

  • If your planned configuration includes WCF broker nodes, two or more servers for the failover cluster or clusters that will run those nodes.

Note

We strongly recommend that you perform a clean installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 before installing HPC Pack 2008 R2.

To install Windows Server 2008 R2 on the servers that will be part of the configuration

  1. Manually install an x64-based version of Windows Server 2008 R2 on the selected servers from a distribution DVD or from a network installation location. As described in the software Requirements section in Requirements for Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in Failover Clusters, for failover clustering, you need to use the Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise or Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter operating system.

  2. Verify that the network interfaces on the servers are recognized, have the necessary drivers, and have been assigned the appropriate IP addresses. You can do this in either of two ways:

    • From Server Manager, click View Network Connections, and verify that each network interface is working properly and that the drivers have been correctly installed.

    • From Server Manager, in the Navigation pane, expand Diagnostics, and then select Device Manager. In the Device Manager view pane, expand Network adapters, right-click each adapter, and then select Properties to verify that each network interface is working properly and that the driver has been correctly installed.

  3. Verify that the binding order of the network adapters on the two servers that will run head node services is the same, and also that the first network adapter on each server connects to the public network. To do this, from Server Manager, click View Network Connections. Then, press the Alt key, click Advanced, and then click Advanced Settings. You can verify or change the binding order on the Adapters and Bindings tab.

    Important

    If the binding order of the network adapters on the two servers is not configured properly and identically, deployment of Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in a failover cluster could fail.

  4. Join the servers to an appropriate Active Directory domain (this domain must be part of the public network).

  5. Restart the servers.

  6. From Server Manager, verify that no server roles are configured on the servers.

Additional references

Step 2: Set Up Shared Storage for Servers for the Head Node