KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q232454: How to Manually Configure Cluster MAC Addresses in WLBS

Article: Q232454
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:1.0,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork
Last Modified: 11-JUN-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

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

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

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: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor
incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

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:

1. 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.

2. At a command prompt, type "wlbs stop" (without the quotation marks).

3. At a command prompt, type "wlbs reload" (without the quotation marks) to
  reload registry parameters.

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

5. Click WLBS Virtual NIC, and then click Properties.

6. Modify the MAC address, and then click OK.

7. 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 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTLBS100 kbWinNTLBSSearch
Version           : winnt:1.0,4.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.