Creating 2 nodes cluster on Windows Server 2012

Requirements:
One machine Windows Server 2012 for the VHD shared disks.
2 Machines Windows Server 2012 (nodes) preferably using the same Vlan.
2 NICs per each node:
- 1 set as NonRouting0.
- 1 set as Any Vlan, i.e.: QE Main Vlan 580.
If you are deploying this environment on our lab, you can leave both NICs as DHCP.
Installing the Failover Cluster Feature on both nodes:
1. Go to Server Manager > Dashboard > Quick Start > and click on Add Roles and
features.






2. Click Next, select Role-based on feature-based installation and click Next.
3. Select Select a server from the server pool, select the target machine and click Next.






4. On the Server Roles click Next without selecting any option.
5. On Features select Failover Clustering, then click on Add Features and then click Next.












6. On the Confirmation section click Install, notice that is not necessary checking the Restart
the destination server automatically if required because the installation of the Failover
Clustering feature does not require a reboot.
7. On the Results section you will have the resume for the installation.





Note: Once the Failover cluster feature is installed, the Failover Cluster Manager interface is available
in the Tools category in the Menu bar.

Installing the required iSCSI target server role:
Since we will need Shared disks for the cluster nodes, we have to configure the required role in order to
create them on the third machine, follow the steps displayed below.
Note: You cannot configure VHD shared disks on any of the cluster nodes.
1. Go to Server Manager > Dashboard > Quick Start > and click on Add Roles and
features.





2. On the Installation type section, select Role-based or feature-based installation and click
Next.
3. On the Server Selection section, select Select a server from the server pool and click
Next.





4. On the Server Roles section, expand File And Storage Services (Installed), expand File and
iSCSI Services, select iSCSI Target Server, click Add Features and then click Next.







5. On the Features section just click Next.
6. On the Confirmation section click Install.






7. On the Results section review the summary and then click Close.














Creating VHD shared disk (Quorum & Data):
Note: You cannot configure the VHD shared disks on any of the cluster nodes.
Follow the bellow steps to create all the required VHD disks on the third machine:
1. Go to Server Manager > File and Storage Services > iSCSI > TASKS and select New iSCSI
Virtual Disk




2. In the iSCSI Virtual disk location section, browse the folder that will contain the VHD disks and
click Next.











3. In the iSCSI Virtual Disk Name section enter the name for the VHD disk name, i.e.: Quorum
and click Next.






4. In the iSCSI Virtual Disk Size section enter the size for the Quorum disk, i.e.: 1 GB.





5. In the iSCSI Target section select New iSCSI target and click Next.






6. In the Target Name and Access section enter the same as the Disk Name, i.e.: Quorum







7. In the Access Servers section click add, select both nodes and click OK.







8. In the Enable authentication ser section just pass it clicking Next.
9. In the Confirmation section check the summary and click Create.





10. Once the creation is complete, review the summary and then click Close.








Repeat the same steps for all the required VHD disks, when you complete the VHD disks creation you
have to bring them online, create the disk partition and then assign a letter for the created disks from
each cluster node and then you will have the disks listed as follows on the third machine:



Once you complete this, you have to use the iSCSI initiator, add the target portal (in this case the third
machine where the VHD disk where created) and then Connect the target disks, you have to this on
both nodes.







Changing the order for the Network Interfaces:
Since our Public Network Interface should be the first one to be used for the cluster communication
we have to change the order and put it on the first place for both nodes as follows:
1. Open Network and sharing Center console and click on Change adapter settings.



2. Go to Advanced tab, and click on Advanced Settings.




3. Put the Public connection on first place.



Validating the Cluster configuration:
Before you create the cluster you have to perform a validation for the cluster nodes, follow the below
steps.
1. Go to Local Server > Tools > Failover Cluster Manager.




2. On the Management section click on Validate Configuration and then click Next






3. Enter both node names and click Next






4. Click Run all tests (Recommended) and click Next.
5. Review the settings on the Confirmation and then click Next.






6. After the validation process ends, you can review the report generated in order to see the
results.












Creating the Cluster
1. Open the Failover Cluster Manager, click on Create Cluster and click Next.
2. In the Select Servers section browse and add the two nodes and click Next.






3. Enter the name for the cluster and click Next, notice that this name must accomplish the
Houston lab convention names.






4. Review the configurations and click Next.







5. After complete the cluster creation review the summary and click Finish.







After creating the cluster you have to create the DTC (Distributed Transaction Coordinator) role.
1. Open the Failover Cluster Manager, expand the cluster created, right click on Roles and
click Configure Role and then click Next.




2. Select Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC) and click Next.









3. Enter the name for the name for the DTC, i.e.: jalqeap929Dtc





4. Select the second VHD disk in this case disk T (Data) and click Next.





5. Review the confirmation and click Next.






6. After the DTC is created review the summary and click Finish.
7. Finally you will have something like displayed below for the cluster resources.