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Clustering 2 servers over a Wan - Automatic failover

Hi Guys,

We are looking for a solution for the following.

We have a server based at a clients site, its an ML350, with internal storage, the server acts as a DC and exchange server. The server is critical for the clients daily activities.

We have been asked to provide a automatic failover solution over a wan. (20Meg up and down at each site) We have an identical server based at a remote site.

If we run 2008 Server Enterprise can we cluster the two servers and internal storage over a wan? In the event of a server failure at the clients site could we automatically failover to the server at the remote site, and this be seemless to the client?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreicated?

Thanks.

vmwarun - Arun

Domain Controllers cannot be clustered using Microsoft Clustering Services or Network Load Balancing since they work based on multi-master replication concepts.
A single DC can hold all the FSMO roles or each DC can hold a FSMO role depening on the domain setup.
The best way for setting up redundancy for Active Directory is to setup additional DCs in the site and enable them to hold 1 or 2 roles accordingly.
Please note that MS Clustering requires 2 NICs (1 Private NIC for Heartbeats) and the other one for cluster functionality.
Would you be using Site-to-Site VPN between the 2 sites ?

sfabs

ASKER

Thanks for the info.

Yes we would be using Site-to-Site VPN between the 2 sites

Do you know of any 3rd party software that will allow a server to be replicated to remote site and automatically failover to this server in the event of a failure?

vmwarun - Arun

I am not certain whether the 3rd party software would help you to replicate as you are using Internal storage.
Clustering is possible only when Shared Storage is available.

sfabs

ASKER

We have started looking at XOsoft High Availability, which looks like it can replicated a server and offer automatic failover.

Any advice on this?

vmwarun - Arun

I have got no knowledge on this but it looks like a good product when I went through its features.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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sfabs

ASKER

One of a few software solution. A more expensive solution than we were hoping for. We also found other software solutions which came in cheaper but accept the software would have done the job required.