Model 1: Single node server cluster configuration

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

Model 1: Single node server cluster configuration

Model 1 shows how you can use the virtual server concept with applications on a single node server cluster.

This cluster model does not make use of failover. It is merely a way to organize resources on a server for administrative convenience and for the convenience of your clients. The main advantage of this model is that both administrators and clients can readily see descriptively named virtual servers on the network rather than having to navigate a list of actual servers to find the file shares they need. You can also use this model to provide a platform for developing and testing cluster-aware applications.

Other advantages of this model include the following:

• The Cluster service automatically restarts the various application and dependent resources after a computer has been restored following a resource failure. This is useful for applications that benefit from an automatic restart function but do not have their own mechanisms for accomplishing it.

• You can cluster the single node with other nodes at a future time, and the resource groups will already be in place. After you configure failover policies for the groups, the virtual servers are ready to operate.

The following figure represents an example of a single-node cluster that does not make use of failover.

For example, you can use this model to locate all the file and print resources in your organization on a single computer, establishing separate groups for each department. When clients from one department need to connect to the appropriate file or print share, they can find the share as easily as they would find an actual computer.

Note

• Some applications, such as Microsoft SQL Server versions 6.5 and 7.0, cannot be installed on a single-node cluster.