Category System Training

1. Preparing the Environment:

• Ensure that both servers meet the hardware and software requirements for Windows Server and DHCP.
• Assign static IP addresses to each server.
• Ensure that DNS is properly configured and that both servers can resolve each other’s names.

2. Installing the DHCP Server Role:

• Open Server Manager on both servers.
• Select “Add roles and features” and proceed with the installation wizard.
• Select “DHCP Server” as the role to install.
• Complete the DHCP Server installation wizard.

3. Configuring DHCP Failover:

• Open DHCP Manager on one of the servers.
• Right-click on the DHCP server name and select “Configure Failover.”
• Follow the wizard to configure DHCP failover.
• Choose the partner server, configure the shared secret, and set the mode (Load Balance or Hot Standby) and relationship (Primary or Secondary).

4. Installing the Failover Clustering Feature:

• Open Server Manager on both servers.
• Select “Add roles and features” and proceed with the installation wizard.
• Select “Failover Clustering” as the feature to install.

5. Creating the Cluster:

• Open Failover Cluster Manager on one of the servers.
• Click on “Create Cluster” and follow the wizard.
• Add both servers to the cluster.
• Configure cluster settings such as the cluster name and IP address.

6. Configuring DHCP Server Role in the Cluster:

• In Failover Cluster Manager, right-click on “Services and Applications” and select “Configure a Service or Application.”
• Select “DHCP Server” as the service to configure.
• Follow the wizard to add the DHCP server role to the cluster.

7. Testing Failover:

• Perform a failover test to ensure that the DHCP server cluster functions correctly.
• Use the Failover Cluster Manager to initiate a failover and verify that DHCP services remain available during the failover process.

8. Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Regularly monitor the DHCP server cluster using Failover Cluster Manager to ensure it remains healthy.
• Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as applying updates and patches, to keep the cluster secure and up-to-date.

Note: Ensure that you have sufficient IP address ranges and leases configured to handle the increased demand that comes with clustering. Additionally, testing failover in a controlled environment is crucial to ensure proper functioning in a production environment.

1. Preparing the Environment:

• Ensure that both servers meet the hardware and software requirements for Windows Server and Active Directory.
• Assign static IP addresses to each server.
• Ensure that DNS is properly configured and that both servers can resolve each other’s names.

2. Installing Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS):

• Open Server Manager on both servers.
• Select “Add roles and features” and proceed with the installation wizard.
• Select “Active Directory Domain Services” as the role to install.
• Complete the AD DS installation wizard, which will include promoting the server to a domain controller.

3. Configuring DNS:

• Ensure that DNS is installed on both servers.
• Configure DNS zones to replicate across all DNS servers in the domain.

4. Installing the Failover Clustering Feature:

• Open Server Manager on both servers.
• Select “Add roles and features” and proceed with the installation wizard.
• Select “Failover Clustering” as the feature to install.

5. Creating the Cluster:

• Open Failover Cluster Manager on one of the servers.
• Click on “Create Cluster” and follow the wizard.
• Add both servers to the cluster.
• Configure cluster settings such as the cluster name and IP address.

6. Configuring Active Directory as a Clustered Service:

• In Failover Cluster Manager, right-click on “Services and Applications” and select “Configure a Service or Application.”
• Select “Active Directory Domain Services” as the service to configure.
• Follow the wizard to configure AD DS as a clustered service.

7. Configuring Quorum:

• Configure a quorum witness to avoid split-brain scenarios. This can be done using a disk witness, file share witness, or cloud witness, depending on your environment and requirements.

8. Testing Failover:

• Perform a failover test to ensure that the cluster functions correctly.
• Use the Failover Cluster Manager to initiate a failover and verify that AD services remain available during the failover process.

9. Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Regularly monitor the cluster using Failover Cluster Manager to ensure it remains healthy.
• Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as applying updates and patches, to keep the cluster secure and up-to-date.

Following these steps will help you set up an Active Directory cluster for high availability and fault tolerance in your environment.