3 Day Course
Introduction
Elements of this syllabus are subject to change.
This three-day instructor-led course introduces Windows Server 2008
clustering and provides students with the knowledge and skills to implement,
maintain, and troubleshoot clusters.
Audience Profile
This course is intended for IT professional technical specialists
responsible for implementing and maintaining high availability solutions
utilizing clustering technologies.
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to implement,
maintain, and troubleshoot clusters in their enterprise environment
Prerequisites
Before attending this course,
students must have:
- Experience with network load balancing
- Basic knowledge of clustering theory
- Experience in an enterprise environment managing applications and
network topologies
- Basic troubleshooting skills
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Clusters
This module provides an overview
of cluster concepts and functionality.
Lessons
- Overview of Clusters
- Benefits of Using Clusters
- Overview of the Windows Server 2008 High Availability Solutions
Lab : Identifying Windows Server 2008 High Availability Solutions
- Exercise 1: Identifying solutions for Web servers
- Exercise 2: Identifying solutions for database servers
- Exercise 3: Identifying complex solutions
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Describe clusters.
- Describe the benefits of deploying a clustered solution.
- Describe the Windows Server 2008 clustering options.
Module 2: Introduction to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Failover
Clusters
This module describes key
features and functionality of the Windows Server 2008 failover clusters.
Lessons
- Overview of Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
- Key Windows Server 2008 Failover Cluster Features
- Overview of the Windows Server 2008 Quorum Models
Lab : Identifying Windows Server 2008 Clustering Solutions
- Exercise 1: Identifying clustered scenarios
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Describe the Windows Server 2008 failover cluster terminology and
concepts.
- Briefly describe key features in Windows Server 2008 failover
clusters.
- Describe the Windows Server 2008 failover cluster scenarios.
- Understand failover cluster components.
Module 3: Preparing to Install a Failover Cluster
This module explains the
prerequisite requirements and planning required to install a Windows failover
cluster.
Lessons
- Overview of Requirements for Installing a Failover Cluster
- Planning the Failover Cluster Implementation
- Installing the Failover Cluster Feature and Validating the Cluster
Configuration
- Installing the Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 Server Core
Lab : Preparing for a Cluster Installation
- Exercise 1: Installing the failover cluster feature
- Exercise 2: Validating the failover cluster
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Describe failover cluster requirements.
- Describe the planning required to deploy
a Windows failover cluster.
- Install the failover cluster feature and
verify requirements.
- Install the failover cluster feature on
Windows Server 2008 server core.
Module 4: Overview of Failover Cluster Storage Requirements
This module explains storage
fundamentals and how to plan and implement storage solutions for failover
clusters.
Lessons
- Overview of Storage Technologies
- Introduction to Storage Area Networks
- Planning a Storage Solution for Failover
Clusters
- Configuring an iSCSI Storage Connection
Lab : Identifying SAN Components
- Exercise 1: Identifying fibre channel
SAN components
- Exercise 2: Identifying iSCSI SAN
components
- Exercise 3: Configuring iSCSI storage
connections
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Describe storage technologies.
- Explain storage area networks.
- Plan a storage solution for failover clusters.
- Describe the process to configure an iSCSI storage connection.
Module 5: Configuring a Failover Cluster
This module explains how to
install and manage a failover cluster.
Lessons
- Creating a New Failover Cluster
- Managing a Failover Cluster
- Verifying Failover Functionality
Lab : Creating and Administering a Cluster
- Exercise 1: Creating a cluster
- Exercise 2: Managing a failover cluster
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Create a new failover cluster.
- Manage a failover cluster.
- Test failover functionality.
Module 6: Configuring Cluster Resources and Server Roles
This module explains how to
configure cluster resources and how to cluster common Window Server roles and
applications.
Lessons
- Configuring Cluster Resources
- Implementing Failover Clusters for
Server Roles Using Failover Cluster Management
- Clustering Server Roles Using Windows
Server Core
Lab : Clustering Server Roles and Features
- Exercise 1: Configuring cluster resources
- Exercise 2: Clustering the print server role using failover cluster
management
- Exercise 3: Clustering the file server role on Windows Server core
- Exercise 4: Testing cluster availability
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Configure cluster resources.
- Describe how to cluster common server
roles using the Graphical User Interface.
- Describe how to cluster common server
roles using the command line interface.
Module 7: Maintaining Microsoft Failover Clusters
This module explains how to
maintain and troubleshoot failover clusters.
Lessons
- Monitoring Failover Clusters
- Backing Up and Restoring Failover Clusters
- Troubleshooting Failover Clusters
Lab : Maintaining Failover Clusters
- Exercise 1: Monitoring failover clusters
- Exercise 2: Backing up a failover
cluster
- Exercise 3: Restoring a failover cluster
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Monitor failover clusters.
- Backup and restore failover clusters.
- Troubleshoot failover clusters.
Module 8: Implementing Geographically Dispersed Clusters
This module explains
geographically dispersed clusters and the challenges that they present. In
addition, this module describes how to implement a multi-subnet cluster using
Windows Server 2008.
Lessons
- Overview of Geographically Dispersed
Clusters
- Implementing Geographically Dispersed
Clusters Using Windows Server 2008
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Define the use and challenges of
geographically dispersed clusters.
- Describe how to implement geographically
dispersed clusters using Windows Server 2008.
Module 9: Implementing Network Load Balanced Clusters
This module explains how to
install and maintain network load balanced (NLB) clusters.
Lessons
- Overview of Network Load Balancing
- Configuring a Network Load Balanced Cluster
- Maintaining a Network Load Balanced Cluster
Lab : Implementing an NLB cluster
- Exercise 1: Preparing the NLB cluster nodes
- Exercise 2: Configuring an NLB cluster
After completing this module,
students will be able to:
- Describe how NLB clustering works.
- Install an NLB cluster.
- Maintain an NLB cluster
