Hi All, I know that SharePoint will automatically load balance the application servers and WFE's will be load balanced by using the Windows NLB setup. Is there a way to get an Active/Passive behaviour for WFE's and App servers rather than the OOB Load Balance. I understand that I can install the application services on multiple nodes and turn them off for the desired passive node. But in case of failure the services will have to be manually started i guess, which is not the desired solution. Any Power Shell tricks to Affinitize the desired Active Server so that most of the requests go to it?

Would appreciate thoughts/suggestions....thanks!

Can I ask why you would need that setup? If you've got your capacity planning correct, then the number of servers and the load balancing would be utilised effectively. I don't see the point in having servers sitting there ready to go but not being used. I guess at the simplest of levels, script the joining of your server to the farm and the services to enable so that it's not even in the farm until required.Paul Turner http://redmanta.co.uk/blog Twitter: @RedMantaUK MCTS:WSS,MOSS,2010 MCITP:2010. Please remember to click "Propose As Answer" if a post solves your problem or "Vote As Helpful" if it was useful.

Thanks Paul, The passive server is primarily used for other workloads and I dont want to use it for SharePoint until the Primary SharePoint server fails. Basically trying to design HA for SharePoint WFE and apps and I am falling short of kit, so trying to reuse some existing server for being the SharePoint passive server. Appreciate your reply.

No problem, I would suggest again creating a powershell script to add the server and activate any services required to take away any interaction when needing to use the server in your farm.Paul Turner http://redmanta.co.uk/blog Twitter: @RedMantaUK MCTS:WSS,MOSS,2010 MCITP:2010. Please remember to click "Propose As Answer" if a post solves your problem or "Vote As Helpful" if it was useful.