In the previous installment of this article, we looked at how to install Cluster Service on Windows 2000 Advanced Server. The installation of Cluster Service can also be automated along with the installation of the operating system. If installing on multiple computers where the hardware is not identical, the process can still be automated by setting up a distribution server and creating an unattend.txt file. The text file is used to supply the answers that would otherwise require user input during the setup process.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server comes with a default text file that can be edited to meet your specific installation requirements, or a new answer file can be created. You can use Setup Manager to create a new answer file or use a text editor such as Notepad. In any case, once the answer file is created, it is included when running the WINNT command.

In order to automate the installation of Cluster Service using an unattend.txt file, you will need to add specific information to the text file. The Cluster components with the text file needs to be set to “ON”. This will install Cluster Service as well as the Administrative components. Placing the cluscgf.exe parameter under the GUIRUNONCE section of the text file will automatically launch the Cluster Service Configuration Wizard at first startup. You will also need to include a [Cluster] section within the answer file, specifying the parameters such as the NetBIOS name assigned to the cluster and the IP address.

Windows 2000 also comes with the System Preparation tool (Sysprep), which can be used in conjunction with third-party software to create a disk image of your installation. This toll can be used to create an image that will be deployed onto computers with similar hardware (the master computer and the target computer must have the same Hardware Abstraction layers and mass storage devices).

To deploy Cluster Service using this method, install Windows 2000 Advanced Server onto a test computer and then install Cluster Service either during the installation of the operating system or by using the Windows Components Wizard via the Add/Remove Programs Applet. The Sysprep tool can be used to duplicate the system.

Tags: diana huggins, cluster service, windows 2000 advanced server, scsi, fiber channel