Re: Secondary DC

From: Mike Aubert (mikenews2_at_2000trainers.com)
Date: 02/17/04


Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:30:47 -0600

Hi TK,

For the type of fail over you describe take a look at Windows Clustering:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/clustering/default.mspx

However, be aware that clustering has special hardware requirements
(typically including shared storage) and also requires Windows Server 2003
Enterprise edition. So, there is a cost involved in using clustering.

There are other solutions for backing up files and redirecting clients, but
none of them provide the automatic, transparent, and fast failover that
clustering does.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Aubert
MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA
mikenews2@2000trainers.com

Note the "news2" in my email address is temporary and may be changed in the
future, remove it to email me at my Permanente address.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"TK" <sprdthword@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:euSfsMV9DHA.2404@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
> I posted this on the "setup" forum and got no answers. Maybe it's because
> that was not the right forum. So, I hope someone can help me here with
this
> or at least steer me in the right direction as we plan to do this next
week.
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Original Post:
> I am about to install windows 2003 server on a second computer which we
> purchased for the purpose of being our secondary DC. I trust the install
> will be as straight forward as the primary one was - if not can you give
me
> any tips or "look out for" advice?
> What I am really writing this for is the data files. It seems that AD
pretty
> much takes care of itself, but the reason for this backup server is
> so that if the primary goes down (which it has in the past) all the users
on
> the system (approx. 40) don't even notice a hickup and can keep working.
> A. Is that unrealistic to think that's how it will work?
> B. How do I make sure the data files, which are all stored on a different
> partition on the main server, are constantly mirrored and up to date on
the
> backup server?
>
> So, if the students are logged on to Server1 and working on their Word
> documents, and the Office is doing its thing, then Server1 crashes - we
want
> Server2 to kick in and everyone is still working on their files.
> I checked and checked and can't find anything about how to set up this
> scenario which partly leads me to believe it is not possible, but
realizing
> there must be many companies much bigger than us, and much more dependant
on
> their files than us, in the same boat - it must be possible.
> Thanks in advance for your help and any leads.
> TK
>
>



Relevant Pages

  • Re: IIS 6.0 Clustering vs. NLB
    ... MVP - Windows Server - Clustering ... Putting Windows was not a requirement. ... FTP in every host it was. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: Lookong for a failsafe solution
    ... Clustering may or may not be the way to go. ... MVP - Windows Server - Clustering ... > Maybe there is a way of replicating the domain controllers including the ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: HBA connection
    ... should your explantion work for windows 2000 server too? ... >cluster-managed disk. ... >Windows Clustering ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: Installing security updates in a cluster
    ... MVP - Windows Server - Clustering ... updates to. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • HA & Failover options
    ... instances for all the technology components (App Server, DB Server, ... Application Server 10g Release 3 and Oracle Database Release 2. ... Clustering features. ... how instantaneous is failover to the secondary site with data ...
    (comp.databases.oracle.server)