Installing or Upgrading EFT in a Failover, Active-Passive Cluster

THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:

  • EFT v6 - v6.5.x

 For instructions for installing or upgrading EFT v7 and later in an HA active-active cluster, refer to KB #11271.

DISCUSSION

EFT can be installed in an active-passive cluster for failover clustering or (in v7 and later) an active-active cluster for "always on" high availability (HA) service.

Separate instructions are provided below for:

  • Installing EFT in an active-passive failover cluster
  • Upgrading EFT in an active-passive failover cluster

(TIP: Print this topic and check off the steps as they are completed.)

If needed, refer to EFT installation instructions in "Installing EFT Enterprise, Administration Interface, and Modules" in your version of EFT help.

EFT upgrades are supported for up to two major version numbers based on the product life cycle. For example, you can upgrade EFT Enterprise 7.0.x or 7.1.x to EFT Enterprise 7.2.x.

See also Upgrading EFT.

Installing EFT in a Failover Cluster Configuration

Before you add EFT to your failover cluster, you must setup your cluster manager. Please consult your cluster manager vendor’s documentation for details. Globalscape's Server Support team can provide assistance with basic configuration questions, and Globalscape Professional Services group provide assistance with installing and configuring a cluster.

Step

  1. Setup Microsoft Failover Clustering, Symantec’s Veritas Cluster Server, or other third-party cluster manager according to your cluster manager vendor’s documentation.

  1. Make sure the node that you are installing on has access to the shared resource disk (i.e., the clustered disk or clustered storage pool or Cluster Shared Volume (CSV), as appropriate to your cluster environment.

  1. Run the EFT installer on the node that has access to the clustered (shared resource) disk. Follow the prompts and refer to Installing the Server, Interface, and Modules, if necessary.

  1. On the Choose install type page, click active-passive cluster, then click Next. When the confirmation prompt appears, click Yes to confirm that you have read the cluster documentation.

  1. A prompt appears asking "Is this the first node in the cluster?" Do one of the following:

    • Click Yes if this is the first node in the cluster.

    • Click No if you already installed EFT on the first node and you are now installing EFT on the second node.

  1. On the Choose Install Location page, specify the installation location on your local physical drive, and then click Next.

  1. On the Choose EFT Enterprise configuration data location page, specify the shared resource disk, and then click Next.

    2. Note: If you cannot browse to the shared resource disk, then the clustered disk is offline or assigned to the other node. CANCEL the installation and verify that the clustered disk can be accessed on the node you are installing on, and then restart the installation process.

  1. Follow the prompts in the wizard to continue the installation (create the EFT administrator account, configure ARM, etc.).

Note: You must specify a remote SQL or Oracle server for the ARM database. Do not use a local database, such as SQL Server Express.

  1. On the final page of the installer, ensure that the Start the EFT Enterprise service check box is NOT selected, and then click Finish.

  1. Use the third party's cluster administrator tool to move (assign) the clustered disk resource to the second node.

  1. Repeat steps 3 – 9 on the second node. (Be sure to click No to the prompt "Is this the first node in the cluster?")

  1. On the second node, use the third-party's cluster administrator tool to create a new clustered role: generic service > EFT Enterprise, linked to the desired shared resource drive (described in step 2), optionally replicating the following registry settings in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\GlobalSCAPE Inc.

  1. Once the role is created, the EFT service on the second node will be started by the cluster. Launch the EFT administration interface, connect to the EFT on the second node, configure EFT, and license the product and any add-on modules.

Note: Make sure you specify a Site root folder on the shared resource drive when creating your first Site. (For example: Site Root = H:\Data.)

  1. Once you have configured EFT to your liking, make the first node in the cluster the group owner, then license EFT and any add-on modules in that node. (Notice that EFT on the first (primary) node picks up all configuration done to the second node, because the nodes share the configuration files.)

Upgrading EFT in an Existing Failover (Active-Passive) Cluster

The checklist below is for upgrading an EFT version 6.4 or later that is already installed in a cluster configuration.

NOTE: EFT v7.4.11 is using a new SFTP library; therefore, for FIPS you will need to have new keys. Before upgrading, export and convert your SFTP keys. The new version only creates RSA keys in OpenSSH new format. (You can't generate DSS keys and save keys in SSH.com format.) Refer to SFTP FIPS in the help documentation for more information.

Step

  1. Gather your credentials: EFT administrator and SQL or Oracle database owner (unless using Windows authentication).

  1. Perform rollback and disaster recovery (DR) operations:

    1. Run EFT's Backup Server Configuration tool (available in Enterprise only).

    2. Backup your entire EFT configuration folder located on the shared resource drive.

    3. Backup your database (performing purging, if necessary).

    4. (Optional) Route traffic to your DR site to avoid downtime.

  1. Open the third-party cluster administrator tool and take the cluster offline. Also take the EFT Enterprise clustered role (formerly called "clustered applications and services") offline.

Note: Microsoft’s failover cluster will bring down the disk resource when the role is stopped. You may need to detach the clustered disk from the role and bring the clustered disk resource back online so that the installer can write files to the clustered (shared resource) disk.

  1. Run the EFT installer on the node that has access to the clustered (shared resource) disk.

  1. On the Prior version detected page, click Upgrade cluster, and then click Next. When the confirmation prompt appears, click Yes to confirm that you have read the cluster documentation.

  1. A prompt appears asking "Is this the first node in the cluster?" Do one of the following:

    • Click Yes if you are upgrading the first node in the cluster.

    • Click No if you already upgraded the first node and are now going through the steps again for the second or Nth node.

  1. On the Choose Install Location page, verify that the Destination Folder matches the current program install directory, typically C:\Program Files\Globalscape\EFT Enterprise, and then click Next.

  1. On the Auditing and Reporting database configuration page, click Configure Auditing and Reporting (most likely) or skip if auditing is not being used (rare). Click Next.

  1. Click Use existing SQL Server or Use existing Oracle database, as appropriate, and then click Next.

  1. Click Upgrade an existing EFT ARM Database, and then click Next.

  1. Provide your database credentials if using SQL or Oracle authentication, otherwise click Windows authentication. Click Test to verify your database connection. After the database credentials have been verified, click Next.

Note: Do not proceed with the installation if you are unable to validate your database connection. Contact Globalscape support or your database administrator for further assistance.

  1. On the Confirm Database Upgrade page, verify that all upgrade requirements have passed. Once verified, select the check box to confirm your understanding of the upgrade process, and then click Install.

  1. On the final page of the installer, ensure that the Start the EFT Enterprise service check box is NOT selected, and then click Finish.

  1. Use the third-party cluster administrator’s tool to move (assign) the clustered disk resource to the second node.

  1. Repeat step 4-14 above on the second node, making sure to click No when the prompt asks "Is this the first node in the cluster?" You will not be prompted to upgrade the database for the second node.

  1. Once the second node has been upgraded, use the third-party cluster administrator to reattach the clustered disk resource to the EFT resource role, then subsequently bring the role and cluster back online.

  1. If applicable you can start routing traffic back from the DR site to the primary. Repeat the cluster upgrade procedure on the DR site once you feel confident with the new version.
Posted 12 Years Ago, Updated Last Year
https://kb.globalscape.com/Knowledgebase/11146/Installing-or-Upgrading-EFT-in-a-Failover-ActivePassive-Cluster