How to Manually Configure Cluster MAC Addresses in WLBS

ID: Q232454

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0
Windows NT Load Balancing Service 1.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to manually configure a cluster's media access control (MAC) address in Windows NT Load Balancing Service (WLBS).

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

By default, WLBS derives the cluster MAC address from the virtual IP (VIP) address that you type in the Primary IP Address field in the WLBS Setup dialog box. The MAC address automatically appears in the Network Address field and cannot be modified. When you configure the VIP address in cluster hosts, WLBS ensures all hosts use the same cluster MAC address.

To manually configure the cluster MAC address:

Set the IPToMACEnable registry value to 0.

NOTE: When this value is set to 1 (the default), WLBS automatically derives a MAC address from the VIP address.

At a command prompt, type wlbs stop.

At a command prompt, type wlbs reload to reload registry parameters.

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Network, and then click the Adapters tab.

Click WLBS Virtual NIC, and then click Properties.

Modify the MAC address, and then click OK.

Close Control Panel, and then restart the computer.

NOTE: When you manually configure a cluster's MAC address, make sure the MAC address is the same for all cluster hosts.

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q193601 Registry Parameters for Windows NT Load Balancing Service

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork
Version : winnt:1.0,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo