Follow this procedure to set up a private network for your cluster.

1. Install an additional network interface card in each server in the cluster. These cards should be connected through a private hub or switch.

2. Configure the LAN to use TCP/IP.

3. Assign a second IP address to each server. In a cluster using two servers, for example, you could use the addresses 192.168.64.1 and 192.168.64.2.

4. Assign host names for the new IP addresses, and place entries in the HOSTS file or the DNS. In a cluster using two servers, for example, you could assign the host names Acme_clu.acme.com and Acme2_clu.acme.com. The entries in the HOSTS file might then be:

192.168.64.1 Acme_clu.acme.com

192.168.64.2 Acme2_clu.acme.com

6. On each server in the cluster, add a new network port for the private LAN, and edit the Server document to enable the port.

For example, add a port named CLUSTER, and then add the following information to the Ports - Notes Network Ports tab in the Server document to enable the port.

Field name	Example
Port	CLUSTER
Protocol	TCP
Notes Network	Cluster Network
Net Address	Acme_clu.acme.com
Enabled	ENABLED

PORT1_TcpIPAddress=0,a.b.c.d:1352

PORT2_TcpIPAddress=0,e.f.g.h:1352

where PORT1 and PORT2 are the port names and a.b.c.d and e.f.g.h are the IP addresses for the ports.

If you have ports named TCPIP and CLUSTER, for example, these lines might be:

TCPIP_TcpIPAddress=0,192.114.32.5:1352

CLUSTER_TcpIPAddress=0,192.168.64.1:1352

• Reorder the ports so that the cluster port is first.

This ensures that all cluster traffic uses this port for cluster traffic. Be sure that all other traffic is assigned to use other ports.
• Add the following line to the NOTES.INI file:

Server_Cluster_Default_Port=Cluster Port

where Cluster Port is the port you created for the cluster. In this example, this line would be:

Server_Cluster_Default_Port=CLUSTER

This ensures that all cluster traffic uses this port for cluster communications no matter what order the ports are in.


Note There is a disadvantage to using the Server_Cluster_Default_Port setting to assign a port to the private LAN for cluster traffic. If a cluster server encounters a problem connecting over this port, it will not try another port. Therefore, the server will not be able to communicate or replicate with other cluster servers. You will have to resolve the network problem or remove this setting from the NOTES.INI file before the server will be able to communicate with the cluster again.

Making sure Domino is using the private LAN

To verify that IBM® Lotus® Domino® is using the private LAN, you can do the following:

1. At the server console, type show cluster.

2. In the results, look for the line "Server cluster default port: Cluster Port"

where Cluster Port is one of the following:
• If you used the Server_Cluster_Default_Port setting to specify a port for the private LAN, Cluster Port should be the name of the port you specified, such as CLUSTER.
• If you did not use the Server_Cluster_Default_Port setting to specify a port for the private LAN, Cluster Port should be * (asterisk), meaning that the private LAN can use any port.

SMTPNotesPort=TCPIP

It is also a good idea to check the cluster to be sure that cluster replication is using the private LAN. To do this, you can look at some of the cluster statistics.

1. From the Domino Administrator or the Web Administrator, click the Server - Statistics tab.

2. In the list of statistics, expand NET.

3. Expand the port name you gave to the cluster.

4. Look for the following statistics for the private LAN port:

BytesReceived

BytesSent

6. Expand SessionBytes, and look for the following replication statistics for the cluster:

In

Out

These value should be fairly close to each other, although they will not be the same.

These values should also be close to each other. They won't match exactly because the private network is used for more than just cluster replication.

Adding a network port on a server
Reordering network ports on a server

Glossary