Pop Quiz
Pop Quiz: Windows 2008 Clustering (Exam 70-646)
Figuring out quorum configuration.
Question: You're configuring a failover cluster for a Web server. You're assigning four nodes to the cluster. All nodes have access to a SAN and there's adequate space available. Which of the following options should you choose for your quorum configuration?
a. Node Majority
b. Node and Disk Majority
c. Node and File Share Majority
d. No Majority: Disk Only
Answer
B. Node and Disk Majority is the most common for failover clusters that have an even number of nodes with plenty of shared storage.
With Node and Disk Majority clusters, the cluster uses a witness disk as the tiebreaker node and the cluster runs as long as there's a majority of nodes online and available.
A witness disk used with Windows Server 2008 clustering is a shared volume that contains a copy of the cluster-configuration database. The quorum configuration determines the number of node failures that a failover cluster can sustain before the cluster should stop running.
Tip: The No Majority: Disk Only quorum configuration requires that only a single node and its storage remain online.
Tech Reference: "What's New in Failover Clusters in Windows Server 2008," TechNet Library.
About the Author
Andy Barkl, MCT/MCITP/MCSA, A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA has been studying technology for 30 years. Of the last 15 years, he has spent much of his time parting the knowledge and experience he has gained through IT exams, over 300, to help others be prepared and successful. He teaches classes in Phoenix, Ariz. where he has lived most of his life. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].