Cluster questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
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Guest

Hi,

I am wondering if someone can put me on the right track regarding this:

1) Can windows cluster have 2 or 3 computers?
2) Is it possible to add a computer to the cluster later? Let say, adding a 4th computer?
3) How the failover works? Any computer pickups the load when one goes down?

Thanks

Ata
 
The number of nodes depends on the O/S. Advanced Server can run 2 node
and DataCenter Server 4 nodes. Yes, you can add another node later bu
it must be capable of running the same O/S as the other node(s) alread
in the cluster.

A cluster nodes sends a "heatbeat" packet to the other node(s)in th
cluster at a specified interval. If the heartbeat is not receive
within that time the cluster services software intreprets this as
node failure. If there are only 2 nodes in the cluster the resource
failover the to other nodes.

For clusters with more than 2 nodes preferred "owners" (aka nodes
should be specified to notify cluster services which remaining node
may take possession of which resources.

You can also specify failback which is the process of moving th
resources back to the failed node once it rejoins the cluster. Failbac
can be specified to occur immediately or during a specific tim
period.

You will have to allocate static IP addresses as follows:

2 for each node - Public and Private (heatbeat is sent on private)

1 for Cluster IP

Depending on what kind of storage array you purchase there may b
additional addresses needed for accessing management software on th
array.

Hope this helps

jpugatsk
 
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