10.2 Clustering eDirectory Services on Windows

This section describes how to configure eDirectory 9.1 by using high availability clustering on Windows.

10.2.1 Prerequisites

  • Two or more Windows servers with clustering software

  • External shared storage supported by the cluster software

  • Virtual IP address

  • NetIQ eDirectory 9.1

10.2.2 Installing and Configuring eDirectory

  1. Install and configure eDirectory on the server you want to use as the primary cluster node. For more information on installation and configuration procedures, refer to the Installing or Updating eDirectory 9.1 on a Windows Server.

  2. Mount the shared volume by using the cluster manager.

  3. Back up all DIB files and NICI data before running the configuration utility.

  4. On the primary cluster node, open a terminal and navigate to the NDSCons.exe utility. The utility is located in the <eDirectory installation folder> folder by default.

  5. In the terminal, run the following command:

    NDSCons.exe
  6. In the NDSCons utility, click Shutdown to stop all eDirectory services.

  7. Click Yes to confirm.

  8. In the terminal, navigate to the location of the configuration utility, dsclusterconfig.exe. The utility is located in the <eDirectory installation folder> folder by default.

  9. Run the following command:

    dsclusterconfig.exe -s /<sharedfilesystem>

    Where <sharedfilesystem> is the location you want to use for the eDirectory shared cluster data.

    NOTE:

    • You can also run the utility in unattended mode by using -s with -u option.

    • You must specify a folder within a shared drive mounted on the primary cluster node. You cannot specify only a drive name. For example, instead of specifying E:, you must specify E:\Novell.

  10. After the utility verifies the cluster shared storage is valid, click y to continue with configuration on the cluster.

    The configuration utility moves the data in the directories above to the following locations on the shared file system:

    • <sharedfilesystem>/nici

    • <sharedfilesystem>/Files

    In addition to moving eDirectory data to the shared file system, the utility copies the eDirectory service registry key to the shared volume, saving the key as the file ndsConfigKey.

    The utility also changes the Startup Type of the NDS Server service on the primary node computer from Automatic to Manual.

  11. In the NDSCons utility, click Startup to start all eDirectory services.

  12. Verify that all eDirectory services are running, then use the NDSCons utility to stop services again.

  13. Close the NDSCons utility.

  14. Log in to the server you want to use as the secondary node of the cluster.

  15. Use the cluster manager to move the shared storage to the secondary node.

  16. Use the eDirectory installer to perform an unattended installation of eDirectory on the secondary node. Ensure that the mode of installation is install.

  17. In the terminal, navigate to the location of the configuration utility on the secondary node. The utility is located in the eDirectory installation folder by default.

  18. Run the following command:

    dsclusterconfig.exe -s /<sharedfilesystem>

    Where <sharedfilesystem> is the cluster shared storage. The path of the <sharedfilesystem> should be same as the path location specified when the primary node was configured.

  19. The dsclusterconfig utility updates registry on the secondary cluster node to the shared eDirectory data located on the shared cluster file system.

  20. After the configuration utility finishes configuring the secondary node, open the NDSCons utility.

  21. In the NDSCons utility, click Startup.

  22. Click Yes to confirm.

  23. When NDSCons starts all eDirectory services, verify eDirectory, then click Shutdown.

  24. Click Yes to confirm.

  25. To configure eDirectory in the Cluster Resource group, create a new resource in the Resource Group to be used for eDirectory.

    You must provide the following details:

    • Resource type - Generic Service

    • Dependent on - IP address and shared disk in the Resource Group

    • Service name - NDS Server0

    • No start parameters

    • Registry keys - SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NDS Server0

NOTE:Ideally, the cluster manager checks that the same DIB is not accessed by two or more nodes simultaneously. However, you must ensure that ndsd does not run from two or more cluster nodes simultaneously. This is because accessing the same DIB through two or more nodes leads to DIB corruption.

10.2.3 Configuring SNMP Server in Clustered Windows Environments

  1. On the primary cluster node, configure the master agent and set the startup type to automatic. For more information, see Installing and Configuring SNMP Services for eDirectory in the NetIQ eDirectory Administration Guide.

  2. Save the eDirectory password when it prompts for the password.

  3. Start the sub-agent.

  4. Perform Step 1 to Step 3 on the other nodes.