Two Servers... No Down time?

[mattloflin]

I have a question and i need to know where to start. I have a home made server for my corporation that's running DNS, File, Print, and permissions for our network. We just got a new Dell server that is a hoss and I want to make it the main an dhave the current server as a backup and to kick in if i'm gone and the server fails.

I want to implement it so that if the dell goes down then the backup runs without hesitation and without me having to do anything and no one ,but myself, notices the differences. Both servers will have about a terabyte of space and 8 gigs of ram. I just need to know where to start or how to do it. Also both running about 2.6 - 3.0 ghz

 

[mrdenny]

DNS and AD are easy. Setup DNS on it and make it a domain controller. Move what ever FSMO roles you want it to host to it.

The printing is also fairly easy. The printing and file shares are a little harder. You have to setup the file shares on both machines and use DFS to replicate the data between the machines. You then need to have everyone access the shares through the DFS root instead of the servername directly (\\yourdomain.local\share\folder).

I think the printers can be setup in basically the same method. If someone else can clarify that.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

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[mattloflin]

K I get everythign through a bit of research I can deploy everything but the Printers.

I was thinking printer pools but then I realized that if the server goes down so does the pool. So if I could get printer failover on server 2003 standard... That'd rock

 

[mrdenny]

That requires enterprise edition and clustering I believe.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

My Blog

 

[mattloflin]

no one knows any third party?

 

[markdmac]

Cluster the machines so they use the same disk and have one virtual IP. Map your printers via the shared IP and a share name. If one server goes down, the other will pick up the work.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[mattloflin]

i'm not going to spend money to get printers to do that. if I can use DFS to do my files and databases then I'mnot going to spend 1000 bucks for printers.

 

[markdmac]

Yes, but even with using DFS, you would need to make a change if a server went down. You just would need to change it in DFS and not at the clients. It will not be automatic.

If you cluster just the IPs (no hardware needed) you can map the printers by IP as I suggested (and do it in DFS too if you wanted) and the failover is automatic.

What you do depends on your true tolerance for down time. We've just established that your need is not so great to the company as I inferred from your original post. It would appear that the need is more for your convenience than a business need.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[mattloflin]

so you're telling me that the only way to have this automatic is clustering. There is no third party software or anything that can do it?

 

[mattloflin]

CORRECTION I believe one of my computers has Enterprise while the other has Standard. Can I cluster with that? Also how do I go about clustering with IPs? Anyone have a link on a HowTo?

 

[markdmac]

Use windows help, it has a walk through.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[mattloflin]

Hey mark just to inform you about something I found.

DFS can be automatic failover if it's done correct through active directory. It involves two servers that both host the data that is synchronized.

here is the link

http://help.globalscape.com/help/availl/Using_Microsoft_DFS_for_Failover.htm

 

[LawnBoy]

As far as 3rd party software, we use EMC Autostart 5.2 for mission-critical systems. It's expensive, though.


"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[mattloflin]

Thanks guys, i'm going to use a 3rd server for print server and DFS for fail-over on the two main servers.

Again thanks for everything