Configure Windows Server 2003 Clustering

The following procedures are required to configure Windows Server 2003 clustering for your Microsoft Provisioning System (MPS) database servers (MPSSQL01, MPSSQL02).

Tasks

  1. Create a Service Account on the Domain Controller

  2. Install a New Server Cluster

  3. Add Nodes to the Server Cluster

  4. Optimize Cluster Configuration

  5. Add MPSSQLService to the Local Administrators Group

Create a Service Account on the Domain Controller

You will need to create a service account for cluster communications.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.5: To create a service account on the domain controller

  1. Log on to AD01 using an account that is a member of the Domain Administrators group.

  2. Open Active Directory Users and Computers and expand fabrikam.com.

  3. Create a new user account MPSClusterAdmin, and set the password to never expire.

    Note

    The service account cannot have a blank password or a password that will expire.

Install a New Server Cluster

In this section you set up the Windows Server 2003 cluster on MPSSQL01. Note that MPSSQL02 must be shut off during this procedure.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.6: To install a new server cluster

  1. Ensure that MPSSQL02 has been shut down.

  2. Log on to MPSSQL01 using an account that is a member of the Domain Administrators group.

  3. Open the Cluster Administrator console from Administrative Tools.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create and configure a new cluster. During the process, you will be prompted to enter the cluster name (MPSSQLCluster), unique cluster address, and the cluster service account (MPSClusterAdmin) credentials.

Add Nodes to the Server Cluster

Next, you add the second node, MPSSQL02, to the cluster.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.7: To add nodes to the server cluster

  1. Turn on MPSSQL02. Wait for it to fully start.

  2. Open the Cluster Administrator console. Follow on-screen instructions to add the second node (MPSSQL02) to the cluster (MPSSQLCluster).

Procedure W03-DWSPV.8: To configure the public network connections for MPSSQL01 and MPSSQL02

  1. Open the Network Connections console.

  2. Rename your public network connection (for example, Public).

Procedure W03-DWSPV.9: To configure the private network connections for MPSSQL01 and MPSSQL02

  1. In the Network Connections console, rename your private network connection (for example, Private).

  2. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and Client for Microsoft Networks for the private network connection.

  3. Configure a static IP address and subnet mask for the connection. Ensure settings for Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server are left blank.

  4. Configure advanced TCP/IP settings. Verify the following information:

    • On the DNS tab, under DNS server addresses, in order of use, ensure that no addresses are listed.

    • On the DNS tab, ensure that the Register this connection's addresses in DNS check box is cleared.

    • On the WINS tab, ensure that Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP is selected.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.10: To configure the network connection order for MPSSQL01 and MPSSQL02

  1. In the Network Connections console, open the Advanced Settings page from the Advanced menu.

  2. On the Adapters and Bindings tab, under Connections, make sure that your connections appear in the following order:

    • Public

    • Private

    • Remote access connections

Optimize Cluster Configuration

In this procedure you specify what interfaces the cluster will use for cluster communication.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.11: To optimize cluster settings

  1. On MPSSQL01, open the Cluster Administrator console.

  2. Configure the Private network interface properties. Verify that Internal cluster communications only (private network) is selected.

  3. Configure the Public network interface properties. Verify that All communications (mixed network) is selected.

  4. Configure network priorities settings. Change the order of the interfaces so that the private interface is listed first.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.12: To create a Microsoft SQL Server service account on the domain controller

  1. Log on to AD01 using an account that is a member of the Domain Administrators group.

  2. Open Active Directory Users and Computers and expand fabrikam.com.

  3. Create a new user account MPSSQLService, and set the password to never expire.

    Note

    The service account cannot have a blank password or a password that will expire.

Add MPSSQLService to the Local Administrators Group

The MPSSQLService account needs to be an administrator on both cluster nodes. On each of the cluster nodes, use the Computer Managment Microsoft Management Console (MMC) to add the MPSSQLService user account to the Administrators group.

Procedure W03-DWSPV.13: To add MPSSQLService to the local Administrators group

  1. Log on to MPSSQL01 as a member of the domain administrators group.

  2. Open the Computer Management console and expand Local Users and Groups.

  3. Add MPSSQLService to the local Administrators group.

  4. Repeat these steps on MPSSQL02.