Increasing Available Network Bandwidth to the Cluster

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

Other steps in improving client response time directly affect the cluster hosts themselves. However, even with a highly optimized cluster, inadequate network bandwidth between the clients and the cluster can increase client response times to unacceptable levels.

Increase the available bandwidth between clients and the cluster by completing the following steps:

1. Identify the intermediary network segments, routers, and switches between the clients and the clusters.

2. Calculate the aggregate bandwidth requirements for the maximum number of simultaneous users.

3. Determine the intermediary network segments, routers, and switches between the clients and the clusters that are unable to support the aggregate bandwidth requirements.

4. Modify your design to increase the available bandwidth, based on the information in Table 8.22.

   Table 8.22 Increasing Bandwidth Based on Network Infrastructure Limitations

   Available Bandwidth Limited By	Increase Bandwidth by One or More of These Methods
   Network segment available capacity	Increase the data rate of the network segment. (Upgrade from Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) to digital subscriber line (DSL) or T1.) Include additional network segments, and distribute the network traffic across the network segments.
   Switch capacity	Increase the data rate of the switch and the devices that are connected to the switch. (Upgrade from 10BaseT to 100BaseT or 1000BaseT.) Include additional switches, and distribute the computers that are connected to the original switch across the switches.
   Router capacity	Increase the data rate of the router and the devices that are connected to the router. (Upgrade from 10BaseT to 100BaseT or 1000BaseT.) Include additional routers, and create redundant routes to load balance the network traffic between the routers.