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Set up TCP/IP for Network Load Balancing

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To set up TCP/IP for Network Load Balancing

  1. Open Network Connections.

    Important

    • These steps should be used to configure TCP/IP only if you choose not to use Network Load Balancing Manager to create your cluster. When configuring Network Load Balancing, you can use either Network Load Balancing Manager, or you can access the Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box through Network Connections as described in this procedure. Using Network Load Balancing Manager is the preferred method. For more information on using Network Load Balancing Manager to create a cluster, see "Enable Network Load Balancing" in Related Topics.

  2. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

  3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

  4. Click Use the following IP address, and then enter the host's dedicated IP address in the space for IP address.

  5. Enter subnet mask and default gateway information for your TCP/IP network.

  6. Save your settings by clicking OK.

  7. On the host you just added, return to Network Connections.

  8. Right-click the network adapter that is using Network Load Balancing and then click Properties.

  9. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

  10. Click Advanced, and then, under IP addresses, click Add.

  11. Enter the cluster IP address in the space for the IP address, followed by the appropriate subnet mask, and then click Add.

    This IP address corresponds to the cluster's primary IP address that you entered in the Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box under Cluster parameters when first enabling Network Load Balancing.

  12. If you need to configure additional default gateways or virtual IP addresses for your cluster, you can do so here, in the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box.

Important

  • It is essential that you enter the dedicated IP address first, in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box (not in the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box), so that all outbound connections made from this host (for example, Telnet or FTP) are initiated with this address.

  • TCP/IP is the only network protocol that should be present on the cluster adapter. You must not add any other protocols (for example, IPX) to this adapter.

  • Be aware that if you are using Network Load Balancing to load balance Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) servers, you must use two network adapters on each cluster host (although Network Load Balancing does not need to be installed on both adapters). When load balancing PPTP, the hosts can not have a dedicated IP addresses configured.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open Network Connections, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.

  • You should repeat this procedure for each network adapter on which you want to install Network Load Balancing.

  • Both the dedicated IP address and the cluster's primary IP address must be static IP addresses. They cannot be DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) addresses.

  • Regardless of the mode in which Network Load Balancing is operating (unicast or multicast), the steps described previously are the same.

  • Although unicast mode is preferable in many situations, the dedicated IP address, will not be addressable by the other cluster hosts unless multicast support has been enabled in the Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box under Cluster parameters.

  • If only one Local Area Connection icon is displayed in Network Connections, it means that you have only one network adapter installed on your computer. Additional network adapters are represented by additional Local Area Connection icons.

  • If you use two network adapters you should supply an IP address for the default gateway for only one of the adapters (the one with a route to the largest network, for example to the internet).

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Network Load Balancing parameters
Single network adapter
How Network Load Balancing works
Enable Network Load Balancing