6423 - Implementing and Managing Windows Server 2008 Clustering

This three-day instructor-led course introduces Windows Server 2008 clustering and provides students with the knowledge and skills to implement, maintain and troubleshoot clusters.

Module 1: Introduction to Clusters
This module provides an overview of cluster concepts and functionality.

Lessons
• Overview of Clusters
• Benefits of Using Clusters
• Overview of the Windows Server 2008 High Availability Solutions

Lab : Identifying Windows Server 2008 High Availability Solutions
• Exercise 1: Identifying solutions for Web servers
• Exercise 2: Identifying solutions for database servers
• Exercise 3: Identifying complex solutions

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Describe clusters.
• Describe the benefits of deploying a clustered solution
• Describe the Windows Server 2008 clustering options

Module 2: Introduction to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
This module describes key features and functionality of the Windows Server 2008 failover clusters.

Lessons
• Overview of Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
• Key Windows Server 2008 Failover Cluster Features
• Overview of the Windows Server 2008 Quorum Models

Lab : Identifying Windows Server 2008 Clustering Solutions
• Exercise 1: Identifying clustered scenarios

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Describe the Windows Server 2008 failover cluster terminology and concepts
• Briefly describe key features in Windows Server 2008 failover clusters
• Describe the Windows Server 2008 failover cluster scenarios
• Understand failover cluster components

Module 3: Preparing to Install a Failover Cluster
This module explains the prerequisite requirements and planning required to install a Windows failover cluster.

Lessons
• Overview of Requirements for Installing a Failover Cluster
• Planning the Failover Cluster Implementation
• Installing the Failover Cluster Feature and Validating the Cluster Configuration
• Installing the Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 Server Core

Lab: Preparing for a Cluster Installation
• Exercise 1: Installing the failover cluster feature
• Exercise 2: Validating the failover cluster

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Describe failover cluster requirements
• Describe the planning required to deploy a Windows failover cluster
• Install the failover cluster feature and verify requirements
• Install the failover cluster feature on Windows Server 2008 server core

Module 4: Overview of Failover Cluster Storage Requirements
This module explains storage fundamentals and how to plan and implement storage solutions for failover clusters.

Lessons
• Overview of Storage Technologies
• Introduction to Storage Area Networks
• Planning a Storage Solution for Failover Clusters
• Configuring an iSCSI Storage Connection

Lab: Identifying SAN Components
• Exercise 1: Identifying fibre channel SAN components
• Exercise 2: Identifying iSCSI SAN components
• Exercise 3: Configuring iSCSI storage connections

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Describe storage technologies
• Explain storage area networks
• Plan a storage solution for failover clusters
• Describe the process to configure an iSCSI storage connection

Module 5: Configuring a Failover Cluster
This module explains how to install and manage a failover cluster.

Lessons
• Creating a New Failover Cluster
• Managing a Failover Cluster
• Verifying Failover Functionality

Lab: Creating and Administering a Cluster
• Exercise 1: Creating a cluster
• Exercise 2: Managing a failover cluster

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Create a new failover cluster
• Manage a failover cluster
• Test failover functionality

Module 6: Configuring Cluster Resources and Server Roles
This module explains how to configure cluster resources and how to cluster common Window Server roles and applications.

Lessons
• Configuring Cluster Resources
• Implementing Failover Clusters for Server Roles Using Failover Cluster Management
• Clustering Server Roles Using Windows Server Core

Lab: Clustering Server Roles and Features
• Exercise 1: Configuring cluster resources
• Exercise 2: Clustering the print server role using failover cluster management
• Exercise 3: Clustering the file server role on Windows Server core
• Exercise 4: Testing cluster availability

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Configure cluster resources
• Describe how to cluster common server roles using the Graphical User Interface
• Describe how to cluster common server roles using the command line interface

Module 7: Maintaining Microsoft Failover Clusters
This module explains how to maintain and troubleshoot failover clusters.

Lessons
• Monitoring Failover Clusters
• Backing Up and Restoring Failover Clusters
• Troubleshooting Failover Clusters

Lab: Maintaining Failover Clusters
• Exercise 1: Monitoring failover clusters
• Exercise 2: Backing up a failover cluster
• Exercise 3: Restoring a failover cluster

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Monitor failover clusters
• Backup and restore failover clusters
• Troubleshoot failover clusters

Module 8: Implementing Geographically Dispersed Clusters
This module explains geographically dispersed clusters and the challenges that they present. In addition, this module describes how to implement a multi-subnet cluster using Windows Server 2008.

Lessons
• Overview of Geographically Dispersed Clusters
• Implementing Geographically Dispersed Clusters Using Windows Server 2008

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Define the use and challenges of geographically dispersed clusters
• Describe how to implement geographically dispersed clusters using Windows Server 2008

Module 9: Implementing Network Load Balanced Clusters
This module explains how to install and maintain network load balanced (NLB) clusters.

Lessons
• Overview of Network Load Balancing
• Configuring a Network Load Balanced Cluster
• Maintaining a Network Load Balanced Cluster

Lab: Implementing an NLB cluster
• Exercise 1: Preparing the NLB cluster nodes
• Exercise 2: Configuring an NLB cluster

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Describe how NLB clustering works
• Install an NLB cluster
• Maintain an NLB cluster

Before attending this course students must have:

• Experience with network load balancing
• Basic knowledge of clustering theory
• Experience in an enterprise environment managing applications and network topologies
• Basic troubleshooting skills