Upgrading Network Load Balancing

  • Article

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

Upgrading Network Load Balancing

Individual computers participating in a Network Load Balancing cluster can be dynamically upgraded to a newer version of Network Load Balancing without interrupting service on the cluster as a whole.

To upgrade a cluster host, simply upgrade the computer to the current version of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition. All settings are retained. It is therefore not necessary to reconfigure Network Load Balancing parameters after you upgrade. In addition, the host automatically rejoins the cluster when the upgrade is complete.

Network Load Balancing clusters can function successfully in a mixed environment of hosts running either Network Load Balancing for the Windows server 2003 family of products or Windows 2000, Windows NT Load Balancing Service (WLBS) for Windows NT 4.0, or Convoy Cluster Software for Windows NT 4.0. After upgrading to Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, you should run your cluster in a mixed environment for a period of time to ensure your cluster continues to operate as expected on your upgraded hosts. However, you will not be able to use the new Network Load Balancing features, such as virtual clusters, until all of your hosts are upgraded.

Note

  • Windows NT Load Balancing Service (WLBS) is the former name of Network Load Balancing in Windows NT 4.0. Convoy Cluster Software is the former name of WLBS.