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Configure cluster parameters

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

To configure cluster parameters

  1. Open Network Load Balancing Manager.

  2. If Network Load Balancing Manager does not already list the cluster, connect to the cluster.

  3. Right-click the cluster and choose Cluster Properties.

  4. Click the Cluster Parameters tab.

  5. On the Cluster Parameters tab, specify values for IP address, Subnet mask, Full Internet name, Cluster Operation Mode, Remote control, Remote password and Confirm password using information from the enabling and configuring checklist.

Important

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

  • To ensure that Network Load Balancing Manager is displaying the most recent host information, right-click the cluster and click Refresh. This step is necessary because the host properties that Network Load Balancing Manager displays are a copy of the host properties that were configured the last time Network Load Balancing Manager connected to that host. When you click Refresh, Network Load Balancing Manager reconnects to the cluster and displays updated information.

  • The Network Load Balancing remote control option presents many security risks, including the possibility of data tampering, denial of service and information disclosure. It is highly recommended that you do not enable remote control and instead use Network Load Balancing Manager or other remote management tools such as Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

    Firewall blocking remote control commands If you choose to enable remote control, it is vital that you restrict access by specifying a strong remote control password. It is also imperative that you use a firewall to protect the Network Load Balancing UDP control ports (the ports receiving remote control commands) in order to shield them from outside intrusion. By default, these are ports 1717 and 2504 at the cluster IP address. Use remote control only from a secure, trusted computer within your firewall. For more information on the remote control parameter, see Remote control in Network Load Balancing parameters. For more information about strong passwords, see Strong passwords.

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 a Command prompt. From the command window, type NLBMgr, and then press ENTER.

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

  • You only need to perform this procedure on a single host. All hosts will automatically inherit the cluster configuration from the initial host.

  • The parameters set in the properties dialog box are recorded in the registry on each host.

  • Changes to Network Load Balancing parameters are applied when you click OK in the properties dialog box. Clicking OK stops Network Load Balancing (if it is running), reloads the parameters, and then restarts cluster operations.

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
Connect to existing clusters from Network Load Balancing Manager using a single host
Configure host parameters
Configure Port Rules
Network Load Balancing parameters
Checklist: Enabling and configuring Network Load Balancing