Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

24 Preparing Your Systems for Clustering
Configuring the Internet Connection Firewall
The Windows Server 2003 operating system includes an enhanced Internet
Connection Firewall that can be configured to block incoming network traffic to
a PowerEdge system. To prevent the Internet Connection Firewall from
disrupting cluster communications, additional configuration settings are required
for PowerEdge systems that are configured as cluster nodes in an MSCS cluster.
Certain network communications are necessary for cluster operations, for
applications and services hosted by the cluster, and for clients accessing those
services. If the Internet Connection Firewall is enabled on the cluster nodes,
install and run the Security Configuration Wizard and then configure access
for the cluster service and for any applications or services hosted by the
cluster and the operating system.
See the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles located at the Microsoft
Support website at support.microsoft.com for more information:
• KB883398 - Internet Connection Firewall
• KB832017 - Network ports used by the Windows Server 2003
operating system
Installing the Storage Connection Ports and Drivers
Ensure that an appropriate storage connection exists on the nodes before you
attach each node to the shared storage array. Also ensure that the cluster nodes
have a complimentary technology that enables proper interaction between
the nodes and shared Fibre Channel, SAS, or iSCSI storage array. You may
also require operating system drivers and Multipath Input/Output (MPIO)
drivers to ensure proper interaction between the cluster nodes and the shared
storage array.
For more information, see "Preparing Your Systems for Clustering" in the Dell
Failover Cluster Hardware Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for the
specific storage array on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.