Step 3: Set Up Failover Clustering and File Services for Servers that Will Run the Head Node

Applies To: Microsoft HPC Pack 2012, Microsoft HPC Pack 2012 R2

This section describes how to set up your failover cluster and prepare it to work with HPC Pack:

1. Install the File Services role service

2. Install the Failover Clustering feature

3. Validate the failover cluster configuration

4. Create the failover cluster

5. Verify the configuration of the shared storage

6. Configure networks for communication within the failover cluster

Install the File Services role service

The File Services role service (called the File Services role in Windows Server 2008 R2) is required to set up a failover cluster with HPC Pack. Use the Add Roles and Features Wizard or equivalent procedures for your version of Windows Server to add the File Services role service on the servers that will run head node services.

Install the Failover Clustering feature

In this step, you install the Failover Clustering feature. Use the Add Roles and Features Wizard or equivalent procedures for your version of Windows Server to add the Failover Clustering feature on the servers that will run head node services.

Validate the failover cluster configuration

Before you create a failover cluster, we strongly recommend that you validate your configuration. Validation helps you confirm that the configuration of your servers, network, and storage meets a set of specific requirements for failover clusters. You can use the Validate a Configuration Wizard in Failover Cluster Manager to do this. Use an account that has local administrator rights on both servers. For information, see Validate Hardware for a Failover Cluster.

Create the failover cluster

To create a failover cluster, you run the Create Cluster Wizard in Failover Cluster Manager on one of the servers, or use equivalent procedures for your version of Windows Server. Use an account that has local administrator rights on both servers. For example, see Create a Failover Cluster.

Verify the configuration of the shared storage

In this step, you confirm that the shared storage is accessible to the failover cluster and that the failover cluster quorum is configured properly.

To verify the configuration of the shared storage for the failover cluster that will run head node services

1. In Failover Cluster Manager, expand the failover cluster that you created.

2. Click Storage. You should see that the shared storage is added to the Storage container. If not, in the Action pane, click Add a Disk and add the appropriate disks. (If you do not see your disks in the resulting dialog box, rerun the storage validation tests.)

3. If necessary, configure the failover cluster quorum so that it includes a witness resource. The exact configuration will depend on the version of Windows Server that you use for the failover cluster. For information about quorum settings in Windows Server 2012, see Configure and Manage the Quorum in a Windows Server 2012 Failover Cluster.

Configure networks for communication within the failover cluster

In this step, you configure the networks for communication within the failover cluster to ensure that they provide client access.

To configure the networks for communication within the failover cluster that will run head node services

1. In Failover Cluster Manager, select Networks. In the Cluster Use column, if a network that you want the failover cluster to use for communication with other computers is not listed as “Enabled,” right-click the network, click Properties, and then make sure that Allow cluster network communication on this network and Allow clients to connect through this network are selected.

   

   Important

   Ensure that you configure each network that is used by the HPC cluster to provide client access. The networks that are in use are determined by the network topology selected for the HPC cluster.

Additional references

Step 4: Configure a Clustered File Server for the HPC Pack Head Node