Configure Failover cluster without AD

Priya 211 Reputation points
2020-10-03T07:20:48.103+00:00

Hi All,

Good Morning.
I want to explore the option of configuring MS failover cluster without AD. Hence followed these steps
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/failover-clustering/whats-new-in-failover-clustering

However when i try to create a File Server role it errors out while enumerating the default file share ( the drive itself) and i could not add any more shares to the File server created. If there is a MS recommended way to accomplish the same, could you please share it.

Thanks
Priya

Windows Server Clustering
Windows Server Clustering
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Clustering: The grouping of multiple servers in a way that allows them to appear to be a single unit to client computers on a network. Clustering is a means of increasing network capacity, providing live backup in case one of the servers fails, and improving data security.
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  1. Xiaowei He 9,866 Reputation points
    2020-10-15T08:27:43.667+00:00

    Hi,

    I tested in my lab, after creating NFS share, and refresh the Cluster manager, the NFS share could show up immediately:

    32574-sn.png

    Thanks for your time!
    Best Regards,
    Anne

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  1. TimCerling(ret) 1,156 Reputation points
    2020-10-03T13:53:31.28+00:00

    Did you follow all of the instructions from https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/failover-clustering/workgroup-and-multi-domain-clusters-in-windows-server-2016/ba-p/372059 when building your cluster?

    Note from the above URL that though the File Server role is supported, it is not recommended. The file server role prefers to use Kerberos, which is not available in a non-AD cluster. That means configuring SMB to use some sort of security besides Kerberos, which can be tricky (and a pain to maintain).

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  2. Priya 211 Reputation points
    2020-10-03T14:13:53.833+00:00

    Thanks , i did follow https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/failover-clustering/workgroup-and-multi-domain-clusters-in-windows-server-2016/ba-p/372059.

    Yes, i understand, i was trying to authenticate using local users only.

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  3. Priya 211 Reputation points
    2020-10-05T17:24:11.72+00:00

    Hi,

    I have created a File Server role and NFS share is created on it. The share creation was fine, however i dont see the NFS shares shown in the FileServer role --> shares GUI. I could only see SMB shares.

    30196-image.png

    Am i missing something here.

    Thanks!


  4. Priya 211 Reputation points
    2020-10-12T17:50:05.583+00:00

    Thanks Tim and Alex.

    I did configure NFS as per the procedure in 2019 server and i still dont see the share shown in Shares Tab ( shown above in the screen), like how it is shown for each SMB share i create.

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