Scaling Up the Solution by Adding System Resources

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

During the lab testing and pilot testing of your Network Load Balancing design, you might discover that the cluster hosts are not responding within the requirements for your solution. Also, as you anticipate the increase in growth that your design must support, the cluster hosts need to continue to respond in accordance with your solution requirements. When a cluster becomes unable to respond the client requests within a specified time, you can improve the performance by scaling up your solution.

Take the following actions to scale up your solution:

  • Increase system resources (such as processors, memory, disks, and network adapters) for the existing cluster host.

  • Replace the existing cluster host with another system that has greater resources.

Scaling up is appropriate in the following situations:

  • You want to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by including fewer, more powerful cluster hosts in your design.

  • The client response time is insufficient for a cluster host that is supporting the required number of users.

Scale up your solution by adding system resources by completing the following steps:

  1. Identify the applications or services running on the Network Load Balancing cluster.

  2. Identify the system resources that are consumed by the applications or services running on the cluster.

    Because Network Load Balancing requires only minimal system resources, the applications and services running on the cluster determine the system resources that are consumed first. For more information about the system resource requirements for services running on Network Load Balancing, see "Additional Resources for Deploying Network Load Balancing" later in this chapter.

  3. Verify the system resource estimates in your deployment lab.

  4. Modify the system resource requirements based on the data from your testing in the deployment lab.

  5. Document the system requirements in your design.

Note

  • You can reduce the system resource requirements for your cluster hosts and avoid scaling up by eliminating any unnecessary applications or services. For more information about the required applications or services in your solution, see "Additional Resources for Deploying Network Load Balancing" later in this chapter.