Hi, Can anyone describe a simple way to test a Network Load Balancing Cluster? I've just created a Cluster with two 2008 Servers (no external share drives or anything yet). I just want to verify that the cluster is working. What simple, pre-existing MS (or other available) program can I use from a MS workstation (without creating an application) that can verify that the cluster works? I just want to verify that I can reach the servers through the cluster and the cluster alternates between the two servers. This is NLB, not Failover cluster. Thanks! BuescherMan...

If you have IIS installed, you can put a file on each server that contains it's name. Browse to the NLB IP address, and you can see which one you're accessing.

Yes, this is a fairly simple task. If you are creating a cluster for a pair of web servers, create a test webpage on each server running IIS. Make sure each page has identifying information about the server such as its name and/or IP address. Then from the client, access the virtual IP that is being load balanced. You should expect to see the page served from each of the servers. It may not be an equal balance (50/50), but the more traffic you load, the closer you should get to that goal. Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.

Go to the command prompt and type "wlbs query", as you can see HOST 1 and HOST 2 converged successfully on the cluster. This means things are working well. Ping each server locally and remotely. Ping the virtual IP locally and remotely, you should do this three times to test the NLB working. If you cannot ping remotely you may need to add a static ARP entry in your switches and/or routers where the host machines reside. 1st time – Both the nodes up. 2nd time – Node 1 down 3rd time – Node 2 down In addition to this you can check this. Thanks

Go to the command prompt and type "wlbs query", as you can see HOST 1 and HOST 2 converged successfully on the cluster. This means things are working well. Ping each server locally and remotely. Ping the virtual IP locally and remotely, you should do this three times to test the NLB working. If you cannot ping remotely you may need to add a static ARP entry in your switches and/or routers where the host machines reside. 1st time – Both the nodes up. 2nd time – Node 1 down. 3rd time – Node 2 down. In addition to this you can check article below. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731050(WS.10).aspx Thanks

Thanks! I don't have IIS installed but I could do that. I plan to use the NLB for a traditional application middle tier talking thru SOAP.BuescherMan

Thanks! When I ping the cluster IP address remotely or locally (on the server), the response only shows the cluster IP address coming back. So, I don't understand your response about the nodes being both up, node down comment. Can you elaborate a bit more? BuescherMan

I don't plan to use IIS but I guess I could install it as a test. Thanks....BuescherMan

I dont think PING (ICMP) is going to be helpful for this situation. You do not have to install IIS as even if it works, that will just prove you can load balance http requests. If you are trying to load balance something else then IIS isnt the option that you should use for testing. Just have your application log the connections (somehow). Then look at the log on each server and verify you are seeing the "Load" you expect on each system. Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.