Implementing an array and load balancing design

Updated: February 1, 2011

Applies To: Unified Access Gateway

The following steps are required for implementing and managing an array and network load balancing (NLB) deployment:

  1. Configuring the array manager server─On the Forefront Unified Access Gateway (UAG) server that you want to designate as the array manager, run the Array Management Wizard to add potential array members to the array member list. In addition, specify the credentials that will be used when the array manager connects to the TMG storage, and when retrieving server-specific settings from the array members.

  2. Joining a server to an array─On each Forefront UAG server that you want to configure as an array member, run the Array Management Wizard to add the server to the array.

  3. Configuring NLB for a Forefront UAG array—Follow the steps required for configuring integrated NLB.

The following are optional steps that you may need to do during deployment and array management:

  1. Removing an array member from an array─The Array Management Wizard that runs automatically on array members when you start the Forefront UAG Management console can be used to remove a server from the array. After removal is complete, the server is configured as a single server and not as an array member. By default, it reverts back to its pre-array configuration and connects to the local TMG storage, or if required, you can import a specific configuration.

  2. Changing the array manager server─In some cases, you might want to specify a different array member as the array manager; for example, if the array manager is unavailable or taken out of service.

    To nominate a new array manager, do the following:

    1. Run the Array Management Wizard to set the new array manager.

    2. Set the array members to use the new array manager.

    3. Run the wizard on the new array manager to remove the original array manager from the array members list, and activate changes.

  3. Modifying credentials used by an array member─When you join a server to an array, you input the credentials that the server uses when connecting to the array manager server. If you need to update these credentials (for example, if the account expires), you must run the Array Management Wizard on all array members using those credentials.

  4. Modifying credentials used by the array manager─During initial configuration of the array manager server, you input the credentials that the array manager uses when connecting the TMG storage and to array members. If you need to update these credentials (for example, if the account expires), you must run the Array Management Wizard on the array manager to specify a new set of credentials.