Create a Cluster

This topic describes how to create a failover cluster.

Before you begin

Install Failover Cluster Manager on the iSCSI initiator nodes. Refer to steps 1-4 in Configure iSCSI Initiator.

About this task

You can perform these steps on either Node1 or Node2. Suppose you perform these steps on Node1, they are automatically applied to Node2.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the iSCSI initiator node.
  2. Go to Start > Administrative Tools > Failover Cluster Manager.
  3. In Failover Cluster Manager, select Validate a Configuration.
    Before starting to create a cluster of nodes, you should validate whether the nodes that you are adding to the cluster are compatible with the cluster hardware requirement. For more information, refer to the Microsoft documentation.
  4. Complete Validate a Configuration Wizard with these options:
    Section What To Do
    Before You Begin Skip to the next section.
    Select Servers or a Cluster Browse and locate the servers you want to add to the cluster. Refer to Add Server Nodes for Validation.
    Testing Options Select Run all tests (recommended).
    Confirmation Review the list of tests run on the selected servers. The number of tests run are based on the roles installed on the server nodes.
    Validating This process may take several minutes depending on your network infrastructure, and the number of server nodes selected for validation.
    Summary
    1. Select View Report.
    2. Review Failover Cluster Validation Report and fix any failed validations. You can ignore expected warnings. The validation report should be free of any errors, otherwise the cluster setup will not be successful.
    3. Select Finish.
  5. In Failover Cluster Manager, select Create a Cluster.
  6. Complete Create Cluster Wizard using these options:
    Section What To Do
    Before You Begin Skip to the next section.
    Select Servers Nodes were already added during validating the configuration process.
    Validation Warning Select No.
    Access Point for Administering the Cluster Enter a unique name for your cluster. For example, hauaacluster
    Confirmation Clear the check box for Add all eligible storage to the cluster.
    Creating New Cluster This process may take a while as there are several checks that must be run, and tests that are conducted while the system is configured.
    Summary Select Finish.