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Add a Server to a Failover Cluster

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Before you add a server (node) to a failover cluster, we strongly recommend that you run the Validate a Configuration Wizard for the existing cluster nodes and the new node or nodes. The Validate a Configuration Wizard helps you to confirm the configuration in a variety of important ways. For example, it validates that the server to be added is connected correctly to the networks and storage and that it contains the same software updates.

Important

Microsoft supports a failover cluster solution only if the complete configuration (servers, network, and storage) can pass all tests in the Validate a Configuration wizard. In addition, all hardware components in the solution must be marked as "Certified for Windows Server 2008."

For information about the maximum number of servers that you can have in a failover cluster, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92091.

For more information about validation, see Validate the Nodes, Networks, and Storage for a Failover Cluster.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To add a server to a failover cluster

  1. Confirm that you have connected the networks and storage to the server you want to add. For more information, see Prepare Hardware Before Validating a Failover Cluster.

  2. Validate the hardware configuration, including both the existing cluster nodes and the proposed new node. For information about validation, see Validate the Nodes, Networks, and Storage for a Failover Cluster.

Important

Microsoft supports a failover cluster solution only if the complete configuration (servers, network, and storage) can pass all tests in the Validate a Configuration wizard. In addition, all hardware components in the solution must be marked as "Certified for Windows Server 2008."

  1. In the Failover Cluster Management snap-in, if the cluster you want to configure is not displayed, in the console tree, right-click Failover Cluster Management, click Manage a Cluster, and select or specify the cluster you want.

  2. Select the cluster, and then in the Actions pane, click Add Node.

  3. Follow the instructions in the wizard to specify the server to add to the cluster.

  4. After the wizard runs and the Summary page appears, if you want to view a report of the tasks the wizard performed, click View Report.

    To view the report after you close the wizard, see the following folder, where SystemRoot is the location of the operating system (for example, C:\Windows):

    SystemRoot**\Cluster\Reports\**

Additional considerations

  • To open the failover cluster snap-in, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Failover Cluster Management. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

Additional references