Step by Step–Two Node File Server Cluster (Part 01)

In this blog post, we will look at creating a Two Node File Server Cluster

Step 01 – Prepare your storage and Networks. In this demonstration I’m using Two Windows Server 2012 R2 Virtual Machines. I have two networks on each VM. One network for client communication and the other for cluster communication. I’m using iSCSI shared storage for this environment.

Step 02 – Next step would be for us to install Failover Cluster Features on both nodes. I’m using below mentioned Powershell Commends for installing Failover Cluster features locally and and also remotely.

  • Installing Failover Cluster Features locally

Powershell : Install-WindowsFeature –Name Failover-clustering –IncludeManagementTools

image

  • Installing Failover Cluster Features remotely

Powershell : Install-WindowsFeature –Name Failover-clustering –IncludeManagementTools –Computername Nameofthe2ndNode

 

image

Step 03 – Next step would be for us to go ahead and validate this cluster to see if it meets all cluster requirements

Open failover Cluster Manager.

image

Right click on Failover Cluster Manager and select Create Cluster

image

Next on welcome wizard

image

Select servers which are going to be a part of this cluster

image

Cluster Validation Welcome Wizard

image

select all tests. it’s also possible for us to run specific tests if we need to when running Cluster Validation

image

Summary

SNAGHTML393ef5e

Cluster validation running against the selected nodes

image

Validation completed and a report is presented to us with all details regarding the Cluster Validation

image

Next Post we will look at creating a cluster

Nirmal Thewarathanthri

Nirmal Thewarathanthri