Article ID: 288778
Article Last Modified on 6/27/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
This article was previously published under Q288778
SUMMARY
This article describes the maximum number of supported nodes that are permitted in a cluster.
MORE INFORMATION
The server clusters feature of Windows Clustering supports a certain maximum number of servers in a cluster. Servers in a cluster are also called nodes. The maximum number of nodes varies depending on the version of the operating system. Microsoft does not recommend that you run a cluster with mixed operating system versions on the nodes. For example, Microsoft does not recommend that you run a cluster with one node running Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and the other node running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This configuration should only occur during a rolling upgrade.
Microsoft only supports mixed-mode clusters that are one operating system version apart. For example, you can run a Windows NT 4.0 node and a Windows 2000 node in the same cluster, or you can run a Windows 2000 node and a Windows Server 2003 node in the same cluster. Microsoft does not support running a Windows NT 4.0 node and a Windows Server 2003 node in the same cluster.
The following table outlines the maximum number of nodes that are supported in a cluster and the required shared disk configuration.
| Operating System | Number of nodes | Storage |
| Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition Windows 2000 Advanced Server |
1-2 | SCSI |
| Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition Windows 2000 Advanced Server |
1-2 | Fibre Channel |
| Windows 2000 Datacenter Server | 1-4 | Fibre Channel |
| Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition |
1-8 | Fibre Channel, iSCSI, or SAS |
| Windows Server 2008, Enterprise x64 Edition Windows Server 2008, Datacenter x64 Edition |
1-16 | Fibre Channel, iSCSI, or SAS |
If you are running a mixed-mode cluster, the maximum number of supported nodes is that of the most restrictive node. For example, if you have a three-node Windows Server 2003 cluster (whose maximum number of nodes is eight), and you add a single Windows 2000 Datacenter Server node, the maximum number of nodes is reduced to four.
Additional query words: mscs w2000mscs
Keywords: kbinfo kbenv kbclustering KB288778
