Microsoft KB Archive/264476

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Clustering Is Only Supported on HCL-Certified Systems

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Q264476

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

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SUMMARY
Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server all include the Cluster service.

Microsoft Product Support Services only supports clustering on hardware systems that are listed on the Cluster Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). In this context, &quot;Clustering&quot; applies to computers running the Cluster service. Network Load Balancing (NLB) and Windows Load Balancing Service (WLBS) do not have the same requirements as the Cluster service.

MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft does not provide support to users attempting to use Cluster service on non-HCL systems. In order to qualify for clustering support, the entire cluster system must appear on the Cluster HCL.

In order for a cluster system to be HCL-compliant, all of the following components in the solution must be on the Cluster HCL:


 * Each node in the cluster
 * The local Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)/redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller in each node
 * The shared SCSI/RAID controller in each node
 * The shared storage subsystem

Also, each node must contain two Peripheral Component Interconnect-based (PCI-based) network adapters.

To view the Cluster HCL, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

"http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/default.asp" Certified cluster solutions appear in the Cluster list.

Customers who upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition, to Windows 2000 products may continue to receive cluster support if the hardware platform appears on the Windows NT 4.0 Cluster HCL.

When Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition, is installed, the user is informed of this support policy. A dialog box with the following text appears, and the user must click I Agree to continue installation of Windows Clustering:

Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) is only supported if it is installed on a hardware configuration that has been tested for compatibility with the MSCS software.

A list of all validated hardware configurations can be found on http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/info/hwcompatibility.htm

Press I Agree to accept these conditions. When the Cluster service is installed on Windows 2000, the user is informed of this support policy. A dialog box with the following text appears, and the user must click I Understand to continue installation of the Cluster service:

Your hardware configuration must be tested for compatibility with the Cluster service.

Microsoft does not support hardware configurations other than those listed in the Cluster category of the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) located at

http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/hcl

To indicate that you understand that Microsoft does not support hardware configurations that are not listed in the Cluster category of the HCL, click I Understand. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server can only be purchased through Microsoft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the purchase of a complete hardware solution. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is only to be installed on machines with which it is purchased.

For additional information about the HCL and testing procedures, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q224971 Microsoft Cluster Server Hardware Compatibility List and Testing" For additional information about Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and support, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q265173 The Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product" Additional query words: support policy customer service mscs

Keywords : kbhw w2000mscs

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400xsearch kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000DataServ kbwin2000DataServSearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400xsearch kbwin2000Search kbWinAdvServSearch kbWinDataServSearch kbWinNTSEnt400SP6a