Preparing the Environment For NLB

• Request 2 NIC’s per server in your cluster.  Configure each NIC with static IP’s, but leave the default gateway blank for the NIC running NLB.  Rename this adapter to NLB. 
• Within the TCP/IP Properties of the NLB NIC, clear the checkbox to Register this connection in DNS

• Open a command prompt with administrative privileges and run the command netsh interface ipv4 set interface “NLB” forwarding=enabled.  This step is required on 2008 server due to IP forwarding now being disabled by default.  You can read more about this issue on the Microsoft Networking Team Blog.

• Edit the hosts file on each server that will be in your cluster.  Put an entry in the hosts file for the other server, and point it to the IP of the Non-NLB Network Adapter
• Log into each of the cluster nodes and run the command Servermanagercmd –install nlb

 

 

Creating the Cluster and adding the 1st Node

• Open NLB Manager from Start—>All Programs—>Admin Tools.  Under the Cluster Menu option select New

• Type in the name of the first server in your cluster and click Connect.  Select the NIC named NLB and click Next

• Leave the defaults on the Host Parameters screen and click Next

• Click Add and configure the Cluster IP Address.  You can also add any websites IP’s in this area.  Click Next when done.

• Type in a name to identify the cluster.  This is for reference only.  Click Next.

• Click Finish to accept the default Port Rules

 

• After a few minutes, the first cluster node should show a status of Converged

 

Adding Node 2 to the Cluster

• It is now time to add the 2nd host to the cluster.  Within NLB Manager, right click on the cluster name and select Add Host to Cluster

• Type in the server name for the 2nd node, click connect and select the network adapter named NLB.  Click Next.

• Leave the defaults at the Host Parameters screen and click Next.

• Again, accept the default Port Rules and click Next.

• After a few minutes, the 2nd node will be added and both nodes should show a status of Converged within NLB Manager