This week in my Windows 2008 Server class, I had the assignment to create a share folder with a quota. But while restarting my server, it crashed and had to be reinstalled.So, I couldn't finish my task. I wonder if I were a network administrator how I could avoid getting fired for that. Then I thought I about the figure in the 4th page of the book "Hands-On Microsoft Windows Server 2008" by Micheal Palmer, ISBN: 9781423902384, the figure is about CLUSTERING SERVER. I then immediately realized how beautiful and relaxing is it to cluster my network. In fact, the Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS)is a software included in the Windows Server Enterprise that will allow you to connect two servers together, as you can see in the figure. That will the second one to take over instantly in case of a failure on Server one. This process calls FAILOVER. In order for the standby server to take over, it has to know when the main server is down. The standby Server must synchronize its state with the state of the failed server. There are basically three different approaches to synchronization: 1- Transaction log which is a periodic update of the standby with the active server. 2- Hot standby is a copy immediate of the active server before the crash by the standby one. 3- Shared storage is when both servers are active at the same time in the same database. Either one of those three methods will allow your standby server to be backing up automatically a crash is occur. I hope this post will bring new idea to you about how to avoid your system entirely down.
As an important tool to save money and time on installation desired on a network, Windows Deployment Services (WDS) can be installed in a very simple way. Whether you are have its successor: Remote Installation Services (RIS) installed and willing to deploy Windows Vista or older Windows versions on your network, this step by step tutorial will guide you to a successful and happy deployment.
If you have Windows 2003 with PS2 with RIS installed but configured yet, to install Windows Deployment Services, click it from Add/Remove Windows Components. When the installation is completed, restart the server. It will a few minutes to complete the installation.
Now that the installation is complete, you need to configure the server following these steps:
1)On the Start menu, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Deployment Services.
2)In the left pane of the Windows Deployment Services MMC snap-in, expand the server list. If there is not a server listed under the Servers node, right-click the Servers node and click Add Server to add the local computer.
3)Right-click the server that you want to manage, and click Configure Server. If the server is not in the servers list, right-click the Servers node to add a server.
4)At the Welcome page, click Next.
5)At the Remote Installation Folder Location page, do one of the following:
a.If this is a new installation of Windows Deployment Services (that is, if the server has not been running RIS), click Next to accept the default location of C:\RemoteInstall.
b.If the server has been running RIS (that is, if you are moving from Legacy to Mixed modes) you should specify the location of your existing RemoteInstall folder. However, note that the location should not be on the system partition.
6)If the Microsoft DHCP service is on the server that is being configured as a Windows Deployment Services server, set DHCP Option 60 to PXEClient and set Windows Deployment Services to Do not listen on Port 67.
7)On the PXE Server Initial Settings page, select how you want the server to respond to clients. Known client computers are computers that have been created (prestaged) in Active Directory before the operating system is installed. For more information, see the PXE Boot chapter at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=81031.
8)Click Finish to complete the configuration.
9)Clear the Add images to Windows Deployment Services now check box, then click Finish.
10)If you want to modify any of the settings of the server, right-click the server in the MMC-snap in, and clicking Properties.
Now you're done configuring the server, all you have left is to add images. One of the most popular pieces of software used to make the process smooth is the Norton Ghost. Although, there is many on the market that you can choose from, I would recommend the Norton Ghost.
