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Disable new traffic handling for specific ports and stop Network Load Balancing

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To disable new traffic handling for specific ports and stop Network Load Balancing

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using a command line

Using the Windows interface

  1. Open Network Load Balancing Manager.

  2. If Network Load Balancing Manager does not already list the cluster, connect to the cluster. For more information, see "Manage existing clusters from Network Load Balancing Manager" in Related Topics.

  3. Right-click a host or a cluster, and then point to Control Host or Control Hosts.

  4. Click Drainstop

Important

  • To start Network Load Balancing Manager, open a Command prompt. From the command window, type NLBMgr, and then press ENTER.

Notes

  • When using Network Load Balancing Manager, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the host that you are configuring, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. If you are configuring a cluster or host by running Network Load Balancing Manager from a computer that is not part of the cluster, you do not need to be a member of the Administrators group on that computer. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

  • To start Network Load Balancing Manager, open Command Prompt. From the command window, type nlbmgr.exe, and then press ENTER.

  • Performing this command at the cluster level performs the command on all hosts within the cluster. Performing this command at the host level performs the command on the specific host only.

  • This command disables all new traffic handling on the specified hosts. While draining, hosts continue to service opened connections and stop their cluster operations when there are no more active connections. Draining mode can be terminated by explicitly stopping cluster mode with the stop command or by restarting new traffic handling with the start command

  • While draining, hosts remain in the cluster and stop their cluster operations when there are no more active connections. To stop draining mode, explicitly stop cluster mode with the stop command, or restart new traffic handling with the start command.

Using a command line

  1. Open Command Prompt.

  2. Type nlb.exe drainstop.

    For more information about the parameters that you can use with this command, see "Nlb" in Related Topics.

Notes

  • To run nlb.exe from a remote computer, you must enable remote control on the host that is running Network Load Balancing. The Network Load Balancing remote control option presents many security risks, including the possibility of data tampering, denial of service and information disclosure. Only use remote control on a secure computer within your firewall. Because of the many security risks remote control presents, it is recommended that you do not enable the remote control feature. Instead, use other remote management tools such as Network Load Balancing Manager or Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

  • To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.

  • To run nlb.exe from a remote computer, you must enable remote control on the host that is running Network Load Balancing. The Network Load Balancing remote control option presents many security risks, including the possibility of data tampering, denial of service and information disclosure. Only use remote control on a secure computer within your firewall. Because of the many security risks remote control presents, it is recommended that you do not enable the remote control feature. Instead, use other remote management tools such as Network Load Balancing Manager or Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

  • This command disables all new traffic handling on the specified hosts. While draining, hosts continue to service opened connections and stop their cluster operations when there are no more active connections. Draining mode can be terminated by explicitly stopping cluster mode with the stop command or by restarting new traffic handling with the start command

  • This command can be performed on the whole cluster or remotely to a single host.

  • While draining, hosts remain in the cluster and stop their cluster operations when there are no more active connections. To stop draining mode, explicitly stop cluster mode with the stop command, or restart new traffic handling with the start command.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Connect to existing clusters from Network Load Balancing Manager using a host list
Nlb
Immediately stop handling all Network Load Balancing cluster traffic
Enable Network Load Balancing traffic handling for specific ports
Disable and block all Network Load Balancing traffic handling for specific ports
Restart handling Network Load Balancing cluster traffic
Nlbmgr