Deployment Guide

Configuring the failover cluster

You can perform these tasks on any one of the storage node servers that are in the cluster. You must

perform the tasks described in this section only once. Before proceeding, ensure you are logged in with a

domain account with administrative privileges.

NOTE: You must know the name of each storage node to include in the cluster.

Running a cluster test

1. Click Server Manager → Tools → Failover Cluster Manager.

In the Failover Cluster Manager window, select Validate Configuration.

2. In the Validate a Configuration Wizard window, add the names of the servers to be added in the

Validate a Configuration Wizard window.

3. Select Run All tests, and then click Next.

4. Allow the test to run. This procedure may take more than an hour to complete.

5. If any messages indicating warnings or failures are displayed, click View Report, and resolve the

issues before configuring the cluster.

6. If there are no failures, select the Create the cluster now using the validated nodes check box.

7. To begin creating a cluster, click Finish.

The Create Cluster Wizard window is displayed.

Creating a cluster

1. In the Create Cluster Wizard window, type the name of the cluster access point. Click Next.

2. When prompted, clear the Add all available storage to cluster check box.

NOTE: Adding all available storage to cluster at this time prevents the usage and management

of Clustered Storage Spaces from the Failover Cluster Manager.

3. In the Summary window, ignore any warnings regarding configuring a disk witness.

NOTE: While creating a cluster, a disk witness is also created. However, the process of creating

a disk witness is not described here because it is outside the scope of this document. For more

information about configuring a disk witness, see the Dell Storage with Microsoft Storage

Spaces Best Practices Guide available at Dell.com/dsmsmanuals.

Cluster network resources

Dell recommends you to configure your cluster with a network reserved static IP address specified in the

DNS server.