NLB on a Windows Server 2008 Domain Controller

I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008 R2
domain controller, but no luck so far.

I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and want to
add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere that this isn't
supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if anyone here has any
experience of doing it or know of reasons why I can or shouldn't do it?

TIA

Charles

Hi Charles,

I personally think the AD DS role is not supported to be run on top of NLB.
If you want to achieve load balancing and fault tolerance for NIC/switches
why you don't use NIC teaming ?
Check this out for an example with Intel NICs ->
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...teaming_10.pdf

Regards
Ramazan

"Charles" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008 R2
> domain controller, but no luck so far.
>
> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and want to
> add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere that this
> isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if anyone here
> has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I can or shouldn't
> do it?
>
> TIA
>
> Charles
>
>

Hi Ramazan

Thanks for the reply. I will check the link, but the reason for the NLB is
several-fold. There is a web site sitting behind the virtual cluster IP, as
well as several server apps. Ideally, I would have a couple of low-end
servers to act as DCs, but I don't have even that luxury, unfortunately. I'm
trying to get the DC role off a Windows Server 2003 cluster so I can do an
upgrade (I know it shouldn't be there either, but it was the only way at the
time).

Charles


"RCan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:51AB59F8-BCE6-45AD-B274-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Charles,
>
> I personally think the AD DS role is not supported to be run on top of
> NLB. If you want to achieve load balancing and fault tolerance for
> NIC/switches why you don't use NIC teaming ?
> Check this out for an example with Intel NICs ->
> http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...teaming_10.pdf
>
> Regards
> Ramazan
>
> "Charles" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008 R2
>> domain controller, but no luck so far.
>>
>> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and want
>> to add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere that this
>> isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if anyone here
>> has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I can or shouldn't
>> do it?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>

Hello charles,

Even if it is supported i wouldn't cluster a DC. See here for details about
clustering DCs:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281662

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008
> R2 domain controller, but no luck so far.
>
> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and
> want to add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere
> that this isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if
> anyone here has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I
> can or shouldn't do it?
>
> TIA
>
> Charles
>

Hi Meinolf

I've seen that article, and I agree that one shouldn't cluster DCs.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a real choice when I did it some time ago, but
that is what I'm trying to change now.

The article, though, refers to putting a Windows Server Cluster onto DCs,
whereas in my post I'm talking about putting NLB onto DCs. This is quite a
different type of cluster, so that is why I'm asking whether it is ok and/or
supported to do it.

Regards

Charles


"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed). com...
> Hello charles,
>
> Even if it is supported i wouldn't cluster a DC. See here for details
> about clustering DCs:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281662
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> confers no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008
>> R2 domain controller, but no luck so far.
>>
>> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and
>> want to add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere
>> that this isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if
>> anyone here has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I
>> can or shouldn't do it?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Charles
>>
>
>

Hi Charles,

understand - haven't tested this but if you configure the NLB to listen on
specific ports (like 80/443) for your websites and leave the DC well known
ports unused in the NLB port range. But again, I'm unsure if this will work
smoothly and you should test this intensively before you it for business
critical apps/sites.

AND still unconfirmed if DS is supported on top of NLB ?

PS : really no other "good old" 512MB hardware available .... :-) ?

Regards
Ramazan

"Charles" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:#(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Meinolf
>
> I've seen that article, and I agree that one shouldn't cluster DCs.
> Unfortunately, I didn't have a real choice when I did it some time ago,
> but that is what I'm trying to change now.
>
> The article, though, refers to putting a Windows Server Cluster onto DCs,
> whereas in my post I'm talking about putting NLB onto DCs. This is quite a
> different type of cluster, so that is why I'm asking whether it is ok
> and/or supported to do it.
>
> Regards
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed). com...
>> Hello charles,
>>
>> Even if it is supported i wouldn't cluster a DC. See here for details
>> about clustering DCs:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281662
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>
>>> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008
>>> R2 domain controller, but no luck so far.
>>>
>>> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and
>>> want to add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere
>>> that this isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if
>>> anyone here has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I
>>> can or shouldn't do it?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> Charles
>>>
>>
>>

Hi Ramazan

The NLB will only be using a handful of ports, so it won't be a problem
leaving the DC ports alone. This is a test environment, so the right place
to be trying it out at least.

Unfortunately, the servers I'm doing this on are hosted, rack-mounted, and
so any additional hardware would have to be rack-mounted as well, and we'd
have to find space in the rack or get another rack. Not straightforward,
sadly.

Thanks for you help.

Cheers

Charles


"RCan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:6ED26542-739A-4708-B9B5-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Charles,
>
> understand - haven't tested this but if you configure the NLB to listen on
> specific ports (like 80/443) for your websites and leave the DC well known
> ports unused in the NLB port range. But again, I'm unsure if this will
> work smoothly and you should test this intensively before you it for
> business critical apps/sites.
>
> AND still unconfirmed if DS is supported on top of NLB ?
>
> PS : really no other "good old" 512MB hardware available .... :-) ?
>
> Regards
> Ramazan
>
> "Charles" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:#(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi Meinolf
>>
>> I've seen that article, and I agree that one shouldn't cluster DCs.
>> Unfortunately, I didn't have a real choice when I did it some time ago,
>> but that is what I'm trying to change now.
>>
>> The article, though, refers to putting a Windows Server Cluster onto DCs,
>> whereas in my post I'm talking about putting NLB onto DCs. This is quite
>> a different type of cluster, so that is why I'm asking whether it is ok
>> and/or supported to do it.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>
>> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed). com...
>>> Hello charles,
>>>
>>> Even if it is supported i wouldn't cluster a DC. See here for details
>>> about clustering DCs:
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281662
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Meinolf Weber
>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>>> confers no rights.
>>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>>
>>>> I'm searching for information about using NLB on a Windows Server 2008
>>>> R2 domain controller, but no luck so far.
>>>>
>>>> I have a 2-node NLB cluster on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers, and
>>>> want to add the Doman Controller role to them. I can't find anywhere
>>>> that this isn't supported, or that I shouldn't do it, but I wonder if
>>>> anyone here has any experience of doing it or know of reasons why I
>>>> can or shouldn't do it?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> Charles
>>>>
>>>
>>>