Step 11: Set Up Shared Storage for WCF Broker Nodes
Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
Use the following instructions to connect the servers that will be WCF broker nodes to networks and storage. This connection process is similar to the connection process that is used for the servers that function as the head node.
In the HPC clusters where you want to configure high availability for WCF broker nodes, we recommend that you use network topology 4. This topology connects your servers by multiple, distinct networks. If you use a network for iSCSI, create this network in addition to the other networks. For more information, see “Network infrastructure requirements” in Requirements for Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in Failover Clusters.
To connect the failover cluster servers to the networks and storage
Review the details about networks in the Hardware requirements section in Requirements for Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 in Failover Clusters.
Connect and configure the networks that the servers in the failover cluster will use.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for physically connecting the servers to the storage.
Ensure that the disks (LUNs) that you want to use in this failover cluster are exposed to the servers that will be in the failover cluster (and only those servers). For each active node that you plan to have in the failover cluster, you need to expose at least one disk (for the instance of Message Queuing that will run on each of the active nodes). If the failover cluster will have an even number of nodes, you also need to expose a disk for the disk witness.
You can use any of the following interfaces to expose disks or LUNs:
The interface that is provided by the manufacturer of the storage
If you are using iSCSI, an appropriate iSCSI interface
Microsoft Storage Manager for SANs (part of the operating system in Windows Server 2008 R2). To use this interface, you need to contact the manufacturer of your storage for a Virtual Disk Service (VDS) provider package that is designed for your storage.
If you have purchased software that controls the format or function of the disk, follow instructions from the vendor about how to use that software with Windows Server 2008 R2. Host bus adapters and multipath I/O software can be very version sensitive. If you are implementing a multipath solution for your cluster, you should work closely with your hardware vendor to choose the correct adapters, firmware, and software for Windows Server 2008 R2.
On a server that you want to include in the failover cluster, click Start, click Administrative Tools, click Computer Management, and then click Disk Management. (If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Yes.) In Disk Management, confirm that the cluster disks are visible and online.
If you want to have a storage volume larger than 2 terabytes, and you are using the Windows interface to control the format of the disk, convert that disk to the partition style called GUID partition table (GPT). To do this, back up any data on the disk and delete all volumes on the disk. Then in Disk Management, right-click the disk (not a partition), and then click Convert to GPT Disk.
We recommend that you format all the volumes with the NTFS file system. (If the cluster will have an even number of nodes, it will require a disk witness, which must use NTFS.)
If you will have more than one failover cluster that supports WCF broker nodes, repeat the process for each additional failover cluster.