How to Create File Shares on a Cluster

ID: Q224967

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Cluster Server, included with:
    • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SUMMARY

To create highly available file shares on a cluster, you should create them using either Cluster Administrator (Cluster.exe) or the cluster API set. When the share is placed in a group with other related resources (IP Address, Network Name, and a storage device), the share is available from whichever node in the cluster owns the group of resources. This article lists basic steps for creating a basic File Share resource.


MORE INFORMATION

To create a file share within the cluster, consider the following guidelines using Cluster Administrator:

  1. In an existing group that contains a disk resource, you need an IP Address resource and a Network Name resource. If these do not exist, create them before continuing with the next step.


  2. Create a folder on the disk resource using Windows NT Explorer or another method.


  3. Using Cluster Administrator (not Windows NT Explorer), assign file system permissions on the folder. Make sure that the Cluster Service account has full rights to the folder so that the share can be created.


  4. Create a File Share resource specifying the information requested by the wizard, making sure that the new resource has a dependency on the disk resource and the Network Name resource.


NOTE: In step 4, you can specify share-level permissions using the Permissions button on the Parameters tab. If you are using Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or later, an Advanced button is also available. For additional information about advanced File Share resource properties, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q194831 SP4 Cluster Shares Must Be Reset to Recognize Added Subdirectories
The share will change with the group of resources as ownership of the group changes from one node to the other, or on failover. Shares created by other means probably will not change properly between nodes.

For additional information, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q170762 Cluster Shares Appear in Browse List under Other Names

Additional query words: mscs

Keywords : kbenv diskmem
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: September 16, 1999
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