Windows Cluster Interview Questionsand Answers
Here are some windows cluster Interview Questionsand Answers for windows
administrator
What is Clustering? Briefly define & explain it?
Clustering is a technology, which is used to provide High Availability for mission critical
applications. We canconfigure cluster by installing MCS (Microsoft cluster service) component
from Add remove programs, which can onlyavailable in Enterprise Edition and Data
center edition.
Types of Clusters?
In Windows we can configure two types of clusters
1. NLB
(network load balancing) cluster for balancing load between servers. This cluster will not
provide any highavailability. Usually preferable at edge servers like web or proxy.
2. Server Cluster:
This provides High availability by configuring active-active or active-passive cluster. In 2
nodeactive-passive cluster one node will be active and one node will be stand by. When active
server fails the applicationwill FAILOVER to stand by server automatically. When the
original server backs we need to FAILBACK theapplication
What is Quorum ?
A shared storage need to provide for all servers which keeps information about
clusteredapplication and session state and is useful in FAILOVER situation. This is very
important if Quorum disk fails entirecluster will fails.
Why Quorum is necessary ?
When network problems occur, they can interfere with communication between cluster nodes.
A small set of nodesmight be able to communicate together across a functioning part of a
network, but might not be able to communicate
with a different set of nodes in another part of the network. This can cause serious issues. In
this “split” situation, at
least one of the sets of nodes must stop running as a cluster.To prevent the issues that
are caused by a split in the cluster, the cluster software requires that any set of nodesrunning as
a cluster must use a voting algorithm to determine whether, at a given time, that set has
quorum. Becausea given cluster has a specific set of nodes and a specific quorum
configuration, the cluster will know how many
“votes” constitutes a majority (that is, a quorum). If the number drops below the majority, the
cluster stops running.
Nodes will still listen for the presence of other nodes, in case another node appears again
on the network, but thenodes will not begin to function as a cluster until the quorum exists again.
For example, in a five node cluster that is using a node majority, consider what happens if
nodes 1, 2, and 3 cancommunicate with each other but not with nodes 4 and 5. Nodes 1, 2, and
3 constitute a majority, and they continuerunning as a cluster. Nodes 4 and 5 are a minority and
stop running as a cluster, which prevents the problems of a
“split” situation. If node 3 loses communication with othe
r nodes, all nodes stop running as a cluster. However, allfunctioning nodes will continue to listen
for communication, so that when the network begins working again, thecluster can form and
begin to run.
Different types of Quorum in Windows server 2008 ?
1.Node Majority
–
Used when Odd number of nodes are in cluster.2.Node and Disk Majority
–
Even number of nodes(but not a multi-site cluster)3.Node and File Share Majority
–
Even number of nodes, multi-site cluster4.Node and File Share Majority
–
Even number of nodes, no shared storage
Different types of Quorum in Windows server 2003?
Standard Quorum :
As mentioned above, a quorum is simply a configuration database for MSCS, and is stored
inthe quorum log file. A standard quorum uses a quorum log file that is located on a disk hosted
on a shared storageinterconnect that is accessible by all members of the cluster.Standard
quorums are available in Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition, Windows 2000 Advanced Server,
Windows2000 Datacenter Server, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Windows
Server 2003 Datacenter Edition.
Majority Node Set Quorums:
A majority node set (MNS) quorum is a single quorum resource from a server
clusterperspective. However, the data is actually stored by default on the system disk of each
member of the cluster. TheMNS resource takes care to ensure that the cluster configuration
data stored on the MNS is kept consistent acrossthe different disks.Majority node set quorums
are available in Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003Datacenter
Edition.
Explain about each Quorum type?
Node Majority: Each node that is available and in communication can vote. The cluster
functions only with a majorityof the votes, that is, more than half.Node and Disk Majori
ty: Each node plus a designated disk in the cluster storage (the “disk witness”) can vote,
whenever they are available and in communication. The cluster functions only with a majority of
the votes, that is,more than half.Node and File Share Majority: Eac
h node plus a designated file share created by the administrator (the “file sharewitness”) can
vote, whenever they are available and in communication. The cluster functions only with a
majority of
the votes, that is, more than half.
No Majority: Disk Only: The cluster has quorum if one node is available and in communication
with a specific disk inthe cluster storage.
How is the quorum information located on the system disk of each node kept in synch?
The server cluster infrastructure ensures that all changes are replicated and updated on
all members in a cluster.
Can this method be used to replicate application data as well?
No, that is not possible in this version of clustering. Only Quorum information is replicated and
maintained in asynchronized state by the clustering infrastructure.
Can I convert a standard cluster to an MNS cluster?
Yes. You can use Cluster Administrator to create a new Majority Node Set resource and then,
on the clusterproperties sheet
Quorum
tab, change the quorum to that Majority Node Set resource.
What is the difference between a geographically dispersed cluster and an MNS cluster?
A geographic cluster refers to a cluster that has nodes in multiple locations, while an MNS-
based cluster refers to thetype of quorum resources in use. A geographic cluster can use either
a shared disk or MNS quorum resource, whilean MNS-based cluster can be located in a single
site, or span multiple sites.
What is the maximum number of nodes in an MNS cluster?
Windows Server 2003 supports 8-node clusters for both Enterprise Edition and Datacenter
Edition.
Do I need special hardware to use an MNS cluster?
There is nothing inherent in the MNS architecture that requires any special hardware, other
than what is required fora standard cluster (for example, there must be on the Microsoft Cluster
HCL). However, some situations that use anMNS cluster may have unique requirements (such
as geographic clusters), where data must be replicated in real timebetween sites.
Does a cluster aware application need to be rewritten to support MNS?
No, using an MNS quorum requires no change to the application. However, some cluster aware
applications expect ashared disk (for example SQL Server 2000), so while you do not need
shared disks for the quorum, you do needshared disks for the application.
Does MNS get rid of the need for shared disks?
It depends on the application. For example, clustered SQL Server 2000 requires shared disk
for data. Remember,MNS only removes the need for a shared disk quorum.
What does a failover cluster do in Windows Server 2008?
A failover cluster is a group of independent computers that work together to increase the
availability of applicationsand services. The clustered servers (called nodes) are connected by
physical cables and by software. If one of thecluster nodes fails, another node begins to provide
service (a process known as failover). Users experience aminimum of disruptions in service.
What new functionality does failover clustering provide in Windows Server 2008?
New validation feature. With this feature, you can check that your system, storage, and network
configuration issuitable for a cluster.Support for GUID partition table (GPT) disks in cluster
storage. GPT disks can have partitions larger than twoterabytes and have built-in redundancy
in the way partition information is stored, unlike master boot record (MBR)disks.
What happens to a running Cluster if the quorum disk fails in Windows Server 2003
Cluster?
In Windows Server 2003, the Quorum disk resource is required for the Clusterto function. In
your example, if the Quorum disk suddenly became unavailableto the cluster then both nodes
would immediately fail and not be able torestart the clussvc.In that light, the Quorum disk was a
single point of failure in a MicrosoftCluster implementation. However, it was usually a fairly quick
workaround toget the cluster back up and operational. There are generally two solutionsto that
type of problem.1. Detemrine why the Quorum disk failed and repair.2. Reprovision a new LUN,
present it to the cluster, assign it a driveletter and format. Then start one node with the /FQ
switch and throughcluadmin designate the new disk resource as the Quorum. Then stop
andrestart the clussvc normally and then bring online the second node.
What happens to a running Cluster if the quorum disk fails in Windows Server 2008
Cluster?
Cluster continues to work but failover will not happen in case of any other failure in the active
node.HP System Management port no : 2381
