Designing the Cluster Network

  • Article

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

A network performs one of the following roles in a cluster:

  • A private network carries internal cluster communication.

  • A public network provides client systems with access to cluster application services.

  • A mixed network (public and private) carries internal cluster communication and connects client systems to cluster application services.

Figure 7.21 shows a typical four-node server cluster deployment with a public (intranet) and private network.

Figure 7.21   Four-Node Cluster Service Cluster with Private and Public Networks

Four-Node Cluster with Private and Public Networks

A network might have no role in a cluster; this is also known as disabling a network for cluster use. In the case of single quorum device clusters, the Cluster service will not use the network for internal traffic, nor will it bring IP Address resources online. Other cluster-related traffic, such as traffic to and from a domain controller for authentication, might or might not use this network.

Use these guidelines for designing the network segments of the server clusters:

  • You can provide fault tolerance in your network by grouping network adapters on multiple ports to a single physical segment. This practice is known as teaming network adapters and is described in "Eliminating Single Points of Failure in Your Network Design" later in this chapter.

  • You can use any network adapter that complies with Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS).

  • Use only network adapters that comply with specifications for the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus. Do not use network adapters compatible with an Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA) or Extended Industrial Standard Architecture (EISA) bus.

  • For each server cluster network, use only identical network adapters on all nodes (that is, the same make, model, and firmware version). This is not a requirement, but it is strongly recommended. Consider the loads on each type of adapter and plan accordingly; for example, the private network adapters can require 10 MB to 100 MB of throughput, although the public network adapters can require 1 gigabyte (GB) of throughput.