Setting up failover clustering

Question

I want to setup a failover cluster for node1 and node2 to be used for file server.

Do I need another server to create the failover cluster? Or I can setup in either node1 or node2 server?

Let say everything is done successfully.

What will happen is when node 1 is down the drive setup on the cluster will auto move to node 2? How about the ip address of node1 will it auto route to node 2? Let say I have mapped a shared folder from node1 for my client pc. Will my client pc able to view/access to the shared folder when node 1 is down?

Answer 1

Hi,

According to your description, you would like to set up file server cluster. To do that, please refer to the following steps, and from the steps, you may find your answers:

Step 1: Two Windows Server 2016 in domain environment, S1 & S2. One Windows Server for shared storage, S3.

Step 2: On S1 and S2, install failover cluster feature, and file server roles.

On S3, install ISCSI target

Step 3. On S1 and S2, create cluster, then S1 and S2 can call cluster node, node 1 and node 2.

Step 4: On ISCSI target server, create ISCSI target and virtual disk for S1 and S2, then S1 and S2 connect to the target, and then, on disk manager on S1 and S2, online the disk and format the disk with a volume drive.

Step5: Add the shared disk into the Cluster:

Step 6: In cluster manager, right click "Role", "Configure role". Click "File Server" > "File Server for general use", Enter the access point name for the role, and then choose the cluster disk to store data.

All creating, we will get the below. Client will access the file share with the IP address of the file server role. The IP address will register on the owner node's NIC, when node 1 downs, the ownership of the role will failover to node 2, and the IP address will also failover to node 2, it will re-register on node 2's NIC.

For client, they just know the IP address of the File server role.

Thanks for your time!
Best Regards,
Anne

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Answer 2

Hey,

You will need to have shared storage to create Failover Cluster. As mentioned, you can use MSFT iSCSI Target. Another option is to use StarWind VSAN, which will create replicated storage pool between your nodes and share it with hosts via iSCSI. In this scenario, in case any of your nodes fails file share will be available. Check the following guide for more information:
https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-virtual-san-for-hyper-v-2-node-hyperconverged-scenario-with-windows-server-2016/

Cheers,

Alex Bykovskyi

StarWind Software

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