Initial Configuration Tasks

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Applies To: Windows Storage Server 2008 R2

The storage appliance from your vendor will have Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 preinstalled. But before you deploy the new server in your enterprise, some configuration may be required for networking, storage provisioning and other tasks. You complete these tasks from the Initial Configuration Tasks (ICT) window, which opens after you log on to the Windows operating system.

Initial Configuration Tasks window

Two versions of the ICT window are available for Windows Storage Server 2008 R2. These correspond to prepackaged storage appliance configurations. One ICT window lists the tasks for configuring a standalone storage appliance. The other ICT window lists the tasks for setting up and configuring a two-node failover storage cluster.

The standalone ICT window is displayed by default on all editions of Windows Storage Server 2008 R2. The two-node cluster ICT window is displayed only in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition and if the Failover Clustering feature is installed. The two-node cluster window supports configuring a failover cluster from a single console by using Windows Server 2008 R2 RemoteApp and Windows PowerShell remoting capabilities.

Warning

The Initial Configuration Tasks window is displayed upon each logon unless you select the Do not show this window at the next logon check box.

In the Initial Configuration Tasks window, you can perform the following tasks. Some of these tasks, such as activating Windows, may have been completed by your storage appliance vendor.

  • Activate the Windows operating system

  • Set the date and time zone of the server

  • Specify language and regional settings

  • Specify the computer (or failover cluster) name and domain name

  • Configure networking and view connection status

  • Enable automatic updating and feedback about the Windows operating system

  • Download and install Windows updates

  • Enable Windows Error Reporting

  • Configure a disk storage array

  • Provision a disk volume

  • Create and deploy a failover cluster

Two-node failover cluster tasks

For storage appliances to be used in a two-node failover cluster, the following wizards simplify the tasks of joining a domain and creating the failover cluster:

  • The Cluster Name and Domain Join Wizard

  • The Cluster Validation and Setup Wizard

Running the Cluster Name and Domain Join Wizard

The Cluster Name and Domain Join Wizard simplifies the task of joining dual storage appliances to an Active Directory domain. Following are the steps that the wizard guides you through:

  1. Specify the domain name that the cluster nodes will join

  2. Specify a domain user account (username and password)

  3. Specify the cluster management name

  4. Edit the first node and second node names as needed

  5. Specify other domain accounts to add to the local Administrators group

  6. Change the local Administrator password (the new password will be applied to each node)

  7. Review settings and complete the wizard to join the domain

  8. Prompt you to restart both cluster nodes

Running the Cluster Validation and Setup Wizard

The Cluster Validation and Setup Wizard performs a series of hardware validation tests that ensure your storage appliances and associated storage array are configured properly to support failover clustering. For example, the wizard verifies that at least one 50 MB (minimum) NTFS disk is available for quorum. The wizard also checks to see that an additional 50 MB (minimum) disk is available for file sharing.

Note

Validation testing can take several minutes to complete.

After all the validation tests pass, the wizard creates the failover cluster. It also creates a high availability (HA) file server. The wizard is run on the first node storage appliance only. However, the wizard takes similar steps and makes configuration changes to the second node also.

The wizard goes through the following steps:

  1. Generates a cluster management name—you can revise this name as needed

  2. Allocates IP address configurations for each cluster node network interface

Note

If a static IP address is detected, the wizard attempts to configure it by checking if the IP address is valid within the network and ensuring that no conflicts occur for DNS. Static IP addresses that cannot be automatically configured will be displayed in the wizard for you to configure manually.

  1. Generates a high availability file server name—you can revise this name as needed, or you have the option to not create a file server at this time

  2. Configures any IP addresses detected for the file server

Note

If a static IP address is detected, the wizard attempts to configure it by checking if the IP address is valid within the network and ensuring that no conflicts occur for DNS. Static IP addresses that cannot be automatically configured will be displayed in the wizard for you to configure manually.

  1. Allows you to review settings

  2. Creates the failover cluster (and a high availability file server, if applicable)