FailOver Cluster – Create

Before creating you need to check all the prerequisites:

  • Make sure all the servers that will be added as cluster nodes are running the same version of Windows Server (if you create a 2016 Cluster, all the servers need to be 2016 Servers)
  • Make sure you have the storage created and all servers can access that storage (attached storage should contain multiple, separate disks (logical unit numbers – LUNs) that are configured at the hardware level. With this setup we’ve used the Virtual SAN Storage from Starwind. You can also use the Storage Space Direct from Microsoft.
  • Make sure that all servers are on the same AD domain and it’s recommended on the same OU (you can create a new OU for this cluster and add the computer nodes into the same OU)
  • Check the permissions for users managing the cluster and the nodes

First step will be to install FailOver Clustering features on all the nodes:

  • Open Server Manager -> Add Roles -> Select installation type -> Role-based or feature-based installation -> Select destination server -> Select server role -> Select features -> FailOver Clustering check box -> Add Features -> Install

Create the Failover Cluster:

  • Open FailOver Cluster Manager and under Management select Create Cluster. A new window will open, click Next on the first page (only information about the process) and go to second page where you need to Add Server Nodes.
  • Next step is the validation of the cluster, after all the servers were added as nodes.

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  • Next step is for Access Point for Administering the Cluster. You need to have the name created before in AD.
  • Next page is Confirmation page where you’ll review all the information you entered and if you see any errors just click on Previous and make the corrections. Click Next to create the Cluster.
  • Final page is the Summary if everything was OK or you can get some errors and you need to start over (click Finish and start from the beginning) to change the information that you entered.
  • The error above occurs because you entered the wrong cluster name, or the name doesn’t exist (you need to create it before start this process) or the cluster name is not disabled. To Disable the Cluster, open the AD Administrative Center, find the cluster (Search globally) and right click on the name and choose Disable.
  • After you Disable the cluster it will work fine. Click on “Add all eligible storage to the cluster” or you can Add the storage later, after the cluster is created.
  • Click Next and for the Cluster to finish the process.