Interview Questions.

Question 1. What Is Clustering. Briefly Define & Explain It ?

Answer :

Clustering is a technology, that is used to offer High Availability for undertaking crucial packages. We can configure cluster through installing MCS (Microsoft cluster service) issue from Add cast off programs, that can best available in Enterprise Edition and Data middle edition.

Question 2. Types Of Clusters ?

Answer :

In Windows we are able to configure two varieties of clusters:

NLB (network load balancing): cluster for balancing load between servers. This cluster will now not offer any excessive availability. Usually most effective at area servers like internet or proxy.
Server Cluster: This provides High availability through configuring lively-energetic or energetic-passive cluster. In 2 node active-passive cluster one node can be lively and one node may be stand by way of. When energetic server fails the software will FAILOVER to stand by server routinely. When the unique server backs we need to FAILBACK the software.
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Question three. What Is Quorum ?

Answer :

A shared storage want to offer for all servers which maintains facts about clustered software and session kingdom and is useful in FAILOVER state of affairs. This may be very crucial if Quorum disk fails whole cluster will fails.

Question 4. Why Quorum Is Necessary ?

Answer :

When community problems occur, they can intrude with conversation between cluster nodes. A small set of nodes might be capable of communicate together throughout a functioning part of a network, but won't be capable of communicate with a exceptional set of nodes in some other a part of the community. This can purpose extreme issues. In this “split” situation, at least one of the units of nodes must forestall going for walks as a cluster.

To save you the problems which might be caused by a split within the cluster, the cluster software requires that any set of nodes going for walks as a cluster need to use a vote casting algorithm to determine whether, at a given time, that set has quorum. Because a given cluster has a selected set of nodes and a selected quorum configuration, the cluster will know what number of “votes” constitutes a majority (that is, a quorum). If the quantity drops under the general public, the cluster stops jogging. Nodes will nevertheless listen for the presence of different nodes, in case some other node seems once more on the community, however the nodes will no longer start to function as a cluster till the quorum exists again.

For example, in a 5 node cluster this is using a node majority, don't forget what takes place if nodes 1, 2, and three can speak with each other but not with nodes 4 and five. Nodes 1, 2, and 3 represent a majority, and they keep walking as a cluster. Nodes four and five are a minority and stop strolling as a cluster, which prevents the issues of a “split” scenario. If node three loses communication with other nodes, all nodes prevent running as a cluster. However, all functioning nodes will hold to listen for conversation, so that after the community begins working again, the cluster can form and begin to run.

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Question 5. Different Types Of Quorum In Windows Server 2008 ?

Answer :

Node Majority :Used when Odd range of nodes are in cluster.
Node and Disk Majority :Even wide variety of nodes(however no longer a multi-web page cluster)
Node and File Share Majority : Even range of nodes, multi-website online cluster
Node and File Share Majority : Even quantity of nodes, no shared garage
Windows Administration Interview Questions
Question 6. Different Types Of Quorum In Windows Server 2003 ?

Answer :

Standard Quorum : As noted above, a quorum is truly a configuration database for MSCS, and is stored within the quorum log document. A preferred quorum makes use of a quorum log file that is placed on a disk hosted on a shared garage interconnect that is available via all members of the cluster.

Standard quorums are to be had in Windows NT four.0 Enterprise Edition, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition.

Majority Node Set Quorums : A majority node set (MNS) quorum is a unmarried quorum useful resource from a server cluster attitude. However, the statistics is surely stored by way of default at the gadget disk of each member of the cluster. The MNS resource takes care to ensure that the cluster configuration records saved on the MNS is kept consistent across the one of a kind disks.

Majority node set quorums are to be had in Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition.

Question 7. Explain About Each Quorum Type ?

Answer :

Node Majority: Each node that is available and in conversation can vote. The cluster capabilities best with a majority of the votes, this is, more than half.

Node and Disk Majority: Each node plus a designated disk within the cluster garage (the “disk witness”) can vote, whenever they're available and in communication. The cluster features best with a majority of the votes, that is, greater than half of.

Node and File Share Majority: Each node plus a designated record percentage created via the administrator (the “file proportion witness”) can vote, each time they're to be had and in verbal exchange. The cluster capabilities handiest with a majority of the votes, this is, greater than 1/2.

No Majority: Disk Only: The cluster has quorum if one node is available and in verbal exchange with a particular disk inside the cluster garage.

Windows server 2008 Interview Questions
Question eight. How Is The Quorum Information Located On The System Disk Of Each Node Kept In Synch?

Answer :

The server cluster infrastructure ensures that all changes are replicated and up to date on all individuals in a cluster.

Question 9. Can This Method Be Used To Replicate Application Data As Well?

Answer :

No, that isn't always feasible on this version of clustering. Only Quorum information is replicated and maintained in a synchronized country by means of the clustering infrastructure.

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Question 10. Can I Convert A Standard Cluster To An Mns Cluster?

Answer :

Yes. You can use Cluster Administrator to create a brand new Majority Node Set aid after which, at the cluster houses sheet Quorum tab, trade the quorum to that Majority Node Set resource.

Question 11. What Is The Difference Between A Geographically Dispersed Cluster And An Mns Cluster?

Answer :

A geographic cluster refers to a cluster that has nodes in a couple of locations, whilst an MNS-primarily based cluster refers to the type of quorum assets in use. A geographic cluster can use both a shared disk or MNS quorum useful resource, even as an MNS-based totally cluster may be located in a unmarried website online, or span multiple web sites.

Windows 7 Interview Questions
Question 12. What Is The Maximum Number Of Nodes In An Mns Cluster?

Answer :

Windows Server 2003 helps eight-node clusters for each Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition.

Windows ninety five Interview Questions
Question thirteen. Do I Need Special Hardware To Use An Mns Cluster?

Answer :

There is not anything inherent inside the MNS architecture that calls for any unique hardware, aside from what's required for a standard cluster (as an instance, there ought to be at the Microsoft Cluster HCL). However, some situations that use an MNS cluster may additionally have precise necessities (together with geographic clusters), in which records should be replicated in actual time between web sites.

Question 14. Does A Cluster Aware Application Need To Be Rewritten To Support Mns?

Answer :

No, the usage of an MNS quorum requires no change to the software. However, some cluster conscious programs assume a shared disk (as an example SQL Server 2000), so at the same time as you do not want shared disks for the quorum, you do want shared disks for the utility. 

Question 15. Does Mns Get Rid Of The Need For Shared Disks?

Answer :

It relies upon on the application. For instance, clustered SQL Server 2000 requires shared disk for information. Remember, MNS simplest removes the want for a shared disk quorum.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Interview Questions
Question sixteen. What Does A Failover Cluster Do In Windows Server 2008 ?

Answer :

A failover cluster is a set of independent computer systems that paintings together to boom the provision of applications and services. The clustered servers (called nodes) are related by means of bodily cables and through software. If one of the cluster nodes fails, any other node starts to offer service (a manner referred to as failover). Users experience not less than disruptions in provider.

Question 17. What New Functionality Does Failover Clustering Provide In Windows Server 2008 ?

Answer :

New validation characteristic. With this selection, you could take a look at that your machine, storage, and network configuration is appropriate for a cluster.

Support for GUID partition desk (GPT) disks in cluster garage. GPT disks will have partitions larger than two terabytes and have built-in redundancy within the way partition information is stored, in contrast to master boot report (MBR) disks.

Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) Interview Questions
Question 18. What Happens To A Running Cluster If The Quorum Disk Fails In Windows Server 2003 Cluster ?

Answer :

In Windows Server 2003, the Quorum disk useful resource is required for the Cluster to feature. In your instance, if the Quorum disk unexpectedly have become unavailable to the cluster then each nodes could immediately fail and no longer be capable of restart the clussvc.

In that mild, the Quorum disk changed into a unmarried point of failure in a Microsoft Cluster implementation. However, it became typically a fairly brief workaround to get the cluster again up and operational. There are normally two solutions to that form of problem.

Determine why the Quorum disk failed and restore.
Reprovision a brand new LUN, present it to the cluster, assign it a drive letter and format. Then begin one node with the /FQ transfer and via cluadmin designate the new disk useful resource because the Quorum. Then prevent and restart the clussvc commonly after which carry online the second node.
Windows Administration Interview Questions
Question 19. What Happens To A Running Cluster If The Quorum Disk Fails In Windows Server 2008 Cluster ?

Answer :

Cluster preserve to paintings however failover will no longer manifest in case of any other failure inside the active node.