Building an Ozeki NG SMS Gateway cluster on Windows Server 2012 R2
This guide gives information about how to build an Ozeki NG SMS Gateway cluster
on Windows Server 2012 R2. In this text a failover cluster is discussed which can
be used to prepare for hardware failures. If you setup a failover cluster your
system will provide better uptimes and better tolerance against hardware related errors.
Before we begin the configuration of Ozeki NG cluster using Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2,
I will show you our own Ozeki Cluster software product which
allows you to setup a cluster configuration easier than using Microsoft's solution.
Ozeki Cluster is responsible for protecting your service against
hardware failure and reach higher availability of your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software. Ozeki Cluster automatically
moves any service to another computer in case of a hardware failure. You can download it from
the following website: http://www.ozekicluster.com/
In the following part of this guide you will show how to configure your Windows Server 2012 R2.
The failover clustering will be working in the following way:
- The Ozeki NG SMS Gateway service will be running on one PC at the same time.
- The shared storage can be seen by only one computer at the same time (where the service is running).
- If the service will fail due to any reason, it will be restarted immediately on the same PC.
If the service will be restarted as many times as it was provided, in the specified period
(for example 5 times in 15 minutes), it will be restarted on the other PC after the next failure.
- If the computer will shutdown or there is a network failure, the service will be restarted on the other PC.
In order to setup failover clustering, you need the followings:
- Three Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems on three computers.
- On one computer, an iSCSI virtual disk will be created.
-
The two other computers will be connected to the virtual disk using iSCSI Initiator and the
two Ozeki NG SMS Gateway will be installed on the virtual disk.
-
Connect the two PCs to the same domain (without installing active directory).
After you have connected the PCs to the domain, you need to login to your Windows
operating systems using a domain user who is the member of the Domain Admins group.
If you do not want to use a domain admin user, follow the instructions on
the next page: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731002(v=ws.10).aspx.
In the next part of the guide you can get information about the followings:
I. Creating an iSCSI Virtual Disk on a remote Windows Server 2012 R2
First, create a new folder where the virtual disk will be stored.
Figure 1 - Creation of a new folder
Under Server Manager, select File and Storage Services.
Figure 2 - Selecting file and storage services
On the next page select iSCSI, and start the iSCSI Virtual Disk Wizard to
create a new virtual disk that will be used by the two nodes. The two Ozeki NG
SMS Gateway software products will be installed on this virtual disk.
Figure 3 - Creating an iSCSI virtual disk
In the next window, select the "Type a custom path", and provide the previously created folder.
Figure 4 - Providing the path of the virtual disk
Then provide a name for the Virtual Disk.
Figure 5 - Specifying a nem for the disk
The next step is to determine the size of the virtual disk. Type a value (for the size) that you would
like to use, and select Fixed size radio button.
Figure 6 - Specifying the disk size
Now you should specify a target name for the two nodes.
Figure 7 - Specifying a target name
Now you need to specify the IP addresses of your two nodes to access the virtual disk.
Figure 8 - Specifying the servers which can access the virtual disks
Select the last radio button and an IP address type. Then provide the ip address
of your Node 1. After that perform this action again to give access to Node 2 as well.
Figure 9 - Providing the two IP addresses where the two Ozeki NG
SMS Gateway will be installed
If you have added the two nodes, click on Next button.
Figure 10 - Verifying the list of IP addresses you have added
If you would like to setup authentication, you can choose from chap or pap on the next page. If you
do not want to set it up, just leave it blank, and click on next button. At the end of the process, click
on Create button.
Figure 11 - Confirmation of the selected options
Then wait for the end of the process while Windows is creating and clearing the
virtual disk.
Figure 12 - Waiting for the end of the process
II. Performing basic settings on the two nodes
Now, login to your two computers that will be the members of the cluster.
In this guide I am using two freshly installed Windows Server 2012 R2
without any modifications, features or roles.
In this step you need to perform the following:
- Provide a static IPv4 address to your network interfaces
- Give a unique name for the PCs (e.g. ng1 and ng2)
Figure 13 - Providing unique names and a static IP addresses
III. Connecting the two nodes to the same domain
Now you need to connect the two computers to the same domain.
First click on WORKGROUP button on both PCs in the Server Manager \ Local Server menu.
Figure 14 - Clicking on Workgroup
Then click on the Change button to change the membership of the operating systems.
Select Member of Domain and provide the domain name to where you would like to
connect the two computers.
Figure 15 - Changing the membership to domain
After that provide the name and the password of the Administrator on the domain and restart the
two computers.
Figure 16 - Entering the name and password with permission to join the domain
Then login to the two PCs with the admin user of the domain where you have connected
the two PCs.
Figure 17 - Logging in with the name to the two PCs
IV. Connecting the two nodes to the virtual disk using iSCSI Initiator
Now you need to connect the two nodes to the virtual disk that has been
created earlier. You need to perform the following steps in both computers.
Click on Tools button, and select iSCSI Initiator from the list.
Figure 18 - Selecting iSCSI Initiator
If the service is not running, click on Yes button.
Figure 19 - Clicking on Yes button
In the target textbox provide the IP address of the iSCSI virtual disk, and click on QuickConnect.
Figure 20 - Quick connection to the virtual disk
On the next window, you can see that the two computers connected to the virtual disk on the target
server successfully.
Figure 21 - Login succeeded
Under the Volumes and Devices tab click on Auto-configure.
Figure 22 - Selecting Volumes and Devices tab
As I said, the previous 5 steps have to be performed on the other PC, as well.
The following steps have to be performed only on one PC.
Under the Server Manager \ File and Storage Services, click on Disks
and bring the virtual disk online.
Figure 23 - Bringing online
Then click on "To create a volume, start the new Volume wizard".
Figure 24 - Starting the volume wizard
After that click on the OK button.
Figure 25 - Clicking on OK
The next step is to specify the size of the volume.
Figure 26 - Specifying the size
Now you need to specify the letter for the volume.
Figure 27 - Specifying a drive letter
The next step is to select NTFS type of the partition and provide a label.
Figure 28 - Selecting NTFS and a volume label
Finally, click on Create button and then you can see that the volume has been created.
Figure 29 - Verifying the new volume
Take the disk offline, to be able to configure it on the other PC.
Figure 30 - Take the disk offline
On the other PC take it online.
Figure 31 - Bringing the disk online on the second PC
And assign the same drive letter to it (letter "q").
Figure 31 - Changing the drive letter to "q"
Finally take offline again, and return to the first Node.
V. Installing Ozeki NG SMS Gateway on the nodes
If the disk is active on the Node 1 (do not forget to take it offline on Node 2!) install the Ozeki NG
SMS Gateway to Node 1 first, then on Node 2 (to install it on Node 2, first take it offline on Node 1,
and take it online on Node 2).
During the installation process, you need to change the installation path to Q drive.
Figure 32 - Installation of Ozeki NG SMS Gateway on "q"
Now Stop the Ozeki NG service on Node 1.
Figure 33 - Stop the service on Node 1
Then take the Disk offline again on Node 1.
Figure 34 - Taking the disk offline on Node 1
And take it Online on Node 2.
Figure 35 - Bringing it online on Node 2
Then install the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway on Node 2 to the same directory on drive Q.
Figure 36 - Installation of Ozeki NG SMS Gateway to "q" on Node 2
VI. Adding Failover Clustering role to the nodes
The next step is to add the Failover Clustering role to your two Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems.
Click on Manage and Add Roles and Features.
Figure 37 - Selecting Add Roles and Features
Under the Features list, select Failover clustering (on both Nodes)
and click on Next button and then on Install button.
Figure 38 - Enabling the checkbox of Failover Clustering
VII. Validating and creating a new failover cluster
After you have installed the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway software product on both Nodes and added
failover clustering role to your servers please open Failover Cluster Manager from the Tools menu.
Open it on that PC, where the shared disk is online at that moment.
Figure 39 - Selecting Failover Cluster Manager from Tools menu
Click on Create button to create a new cluster.
Figure 40 - Creating a new cluster
The next step is to specify the servers where you would like to use this cluster.
Figure 41 - Providing the IP addresses of the nodes
On the next page, the wizard can ask you to run the validation wizard.
Click on Next button, and select Run all tests option. Let it finish the
validation test.
Figure 42 - Validation test
If the test has completed successfully (it means there is no error), click
on Finish button to create your cluster.
Figure 43 - Validation report
Provide a name and an IP address to the cluster.
Figure 44 - Specifying a cluster name and IP address
At the end of the installation, click on Finish button.
Figure 45 - Cluster report
VIII. Adding Ozeki NG SMS Gateway to the cluster
After you have successfully created the cluster, you need to add Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
and the shared storage as resources to the cluster.
Right click on the name of the cluster, and click on Configure Role.
Figure 45 - Adding new role to the cluster
On the role list, select Generic Service and click on Next button.
Figure 46 - Selecting Generic service
From the list of services, select Ozeki NG SMS Gateway.
Figure 47 - Selecting Ozeki NG service from the list
Then provide a name and IP address where users can access this role.
Figure 48 - Specifying a name and IP addres to this role
Then follow the steps, and always click on Next button without any modification.
Now select Configure cluster quorum settings.
Figure 49 - Configur cluster quorum
Select the Select quorum wittness.
Figure 50 - Select the quorum wittness
Then select Configure a file share wittness.
Figure 51 - Selecting the file share wittness
And finally provide a file share path to this cluster and follow the steps (just click on Next buttons).
Figure 52 - Providing file share path
Then right click on the name of the role, and select Add storage button.
Figure 53 - Adding storage to the role
From the list, select the Q volume.
Figure 54 - Selecting q volume
Then right click on the name of the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway service and click on Properties (here you
can specify how many times the service can be restarted in the specified period).
Figure 55 - Selecting role properties
Under dependencies add a new dependency. This means that the service will be started when
the shared disk will be online on the PC.
Figure 56 - Dependencies
Under Policies tab, you can configure the maximum restart number in a specified period. In the
Period for restarts and Maximum restarts in the specified period textboxes
you need the specify the period in which the provided restart number will be allowed.
In this example 10 restarts will be allowed in 15 minutes. After the next failure, the service
will be restarted on the other node of the cluster.
Figure 57 - Policies
Now click with the right button on the name of the Role, and select Properties menu.
Figure 58 - Selecting Properties of the Role
On the next window, under the General tab, select both nodes, and move to the top of the list
the preferred node.
Figure 59 - Selecting preferred owners
Under the Failover tab, configure the maximum failures in the specified period to 1 and
the period (hours) to 0. This is not the same configuration that we have configured earlier.
Figure 60 - Failover tab
IX. Testing the cluster
Now we have finished the configuration of the failover clustering. You can test
the functionality in the following ways:
- If you shutdown the computer where Ozeki NG SMS Gateway is running, the other
computer will take over the control over the service and the shared storage.
- Manually you can simulate failure by right clicking on the name of the
service, select More actions and Simulate failures buttons.
Figure 61 - Simulating failure
If you have any other question, please send us an e-mail at info@ozekisms.com.
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