NLB hosting Web Sites - windows 2008
- We have setup an Two-Node NLB cluster using Windows 2008. We are not sure how to setup the websites under this configuration. Is there any documentation on how to do this correctly? We are assuming we can point all websites to the common IP address within the NLB cluster. How does data/scripts/website information get automatically replicated between both nodes. Any information would help at this point.
All Replies
Hi,
NLB just provides a mechanism to distribute incoming load to different NLB nodes based on rules configured. It does not ensure data replication between different nodes. Applications that are compatible with NLB must have the following features: if client data that resides on one of the hosts changes as a result of a client transaction, applications must provide a means of synchronizing data updates if that data is shared on multiple instances across the cluster. When applications do share and change data (require interclient state), the changes need to be properly synchronized. Each host can use local, independent copies of databases that are merged offline as necessary. Alternatively, the clustered hosts can share access to a separate, networked database server. A combination of these approaches can also be used. For example, static Web pages can be replicated among all clustered servers to ensure fast access and complete fault tolerance. However, database requests would be forwarded to a common database server that handles updates for the multiple cluster hosts.
For more information, please refer to the following link:
How Network Load Balancing Technology Works
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc756878(WS.10).aspx#w2k3tr_nlb_how_fxmm
To install web farm with NLB, please refer to the following link. Although it is written for Windows Server 2003, it still applies for Windows Server 2008.
Web Farming with the Network Load Balancing Service in Windows Server 2003
http://www.west-wind.com/presentations/loadbalancing/networkloadbalancingwindows2003.asp
Hope it helps.
Tim Quan - MSFT
- Marked As Answer byTim Quan - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorFriday, October 23, 2009 3:28 AM
- Unmarked As Answer byTim Quan - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, October 29, 2009 9:30 AM
- Sabo_e
we use DFSR to relicate the web sites to multiple web servers and ftp server it works great i would suggest give it a try.
Will
William Bressette, Network Architect, Horn IT Solutions, http://wpjsplace.spaces.live.com/blog- Proposed As Answer byWPJB Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:15 AM
- Marked As Answer byTim Quan - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorFriday, October 23, 2009 3:28 AM
- Unmarked As Answer byTim Quan - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, October 29, 2009 9:30 AM
We are still not clear on how to setup websites on the nodes.
Do we do the following:
1st - setup website on first node
2nd - setup website on second node
But it is not clear how clients will be able to get to these sites. Can we use http://www.iis.net/extensions/WebDeploymentTool to replicate the data between the two nodes. If we would use DSFR, is that secure. Is there any documentation on Windows 2008 on how this can be all accomplished.- We got the web sites to work but we are having trouble with the FTP site, does anyone know of any documentation on this, FTP wants us to use the IIS 6 snapin to manage it.
- sabo
you use iis 6 manager for the ftp site config, you bind the ftp site to the nlb ip address then make sure that the ftp is added to the nlb config
William Bressette, Network Architect, Horn IT Solutions, http://wpjsplace.spaces.live.com/blog- Proposed As Answer byWPJB Saturday, October 31, 2009 8:27 PM
- We installed FTP 7.5 on both nodes - this allows you to use the IIS 7, but MS changed FTP and we cannot figure out how to get the FTP site to work.
We one a plain FTP site (port 21) restricted to just one domain group
We been working for a couple of days on this. - sabo
on 2008R2 you cna use iis manager and then add a new site, this time it will be an FTP site and not the default site, FTP is not added by default when you add the feature.
Will
William Bressette, Network Architect, Horn IT Solutions, http://wpjsplace.spaces.live.com/blog- Proposed As Answer byWPJB Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:55 AM
- We got this to work it was a problem at the NLB level with passive FTP ports.
- Our next hurdle is getting the data to replication from each node.
- Sabo
we use DFSR to replicate to all nodes
William Bressette, Network Architect, Horn IT Solutions, http://wpjsplace.spaces.live.com/blog
