Cluster Installation & Configuration Guide

Introduction

Track-GreenSaver fully supports running on a Failover Cluster using Microsoft Cluster Services (MSCS).  It allows for the tracking virtual queues hosted within a standard Cluster Group using a standard Print Spooler resource.  

Prerequisites before starting a cluster install

Several prerequisites should be reviewed before attempting to install and configure Track-GreenSaver within a failover cluster.

1. Configured High Available "Print Server" Resource:
   A Print Server resource must be created and brought online prior to installing Track-GreenSaver, and adding it as a clustered application.
   
   Example of Clustered Print Server Service
   
   
   Printer hosted on Cluster Resource
   
   
   
2. Supported SQL Server Configuration:
   Track-GreenSaver database must be created using one of the two options.
   
   (A) Remote SQL Instance: An instance of Microsoft SQL Server (version 2005 or later) that is running on a server separate from any of the nodes used within the cluster.
   
   (B) Local Clustered Instance: A local instance of Microsoft SQL Server (version 2005 or later) that is setup within the failover cluster.
   
   Warning: The default local SQL Express database option is not supported when used with a failover cluster, and will not function properly.
   
   

Installing Track-GreenSaver on the Physical Nodes

Once all of the prerequisites are met, you need to install Track-GreenSaver on each of the physical cluster nodes.  

Installing on the First Node:

1. Accept License and Specify Enterprise License: Run the Setup.exe from the Install to get the install started. After you have accepted the license agreement, you must specify an Enterprise License file. This is required in order to select the supported database models.
   
   Special Note on License: The license xml must minimally be for the number of physical nodes running the cluster, but the ‘Name’ must match the network name of the virtual spooler being run within the cluster.
   
   
2. Specify Full Setup: Full setup should be performed on each cluster node
   
   
   
3. Select the Database Type: Next you will be prompted to choose a SQL Database Instance. You must select to use an existing instance, and specify the Servername and Instance that will host the Track-GreenSaver database. 
4. Specify the SQL Instance: This SQL instance will host the database and must be accessible from all cluster nodes.  
   
5. Specify the Service Logon: This TGS Tracking service requires its account run under a service logon with the following three privileges:
   
   (A) Local Administrative Rights
   (B) Administrative Rights to all Clustered Print Queues
   (C) DB Owner Rights to the Database
   
   
   
   

Installing on Additional Nodes:

1. Accept License and Specify Enterprise License: Run the Setup.exe from the Install to get the install started. After you have accepted the license agreement, you must specify an Enterprise License file. This is required in order to select the supported database models.
   
   Special Note on License: The license xml must minimally be for the number of physical nodes running the cluster, but the ‘Name’ must match the network name of the virtual spooler being run within the cluster.
2. Specify Full Setup: Full setup should be performed on each cluster node
   
   
   
3. Select the Database Type: Next you will be prompted to choose a SQL Database Instance. You must select to use an existing instance, and specify the Servername and Instance that will host the Track-GreenSaver database. 
   
   
4. Specify the SQL Instance: This SQL instance must be the same one as installed on the first node.  The same SQL Server must be used on all nodes
   
   SQL Server (matching first node install)
   
   
   Confirmation:
   You will be prompted to confirm that an existing database was detected, and should be used.  Choose [Yes]
   
   
   
5. Specify the Service Logon: This TGS Tracking service requires its account run under a service logon with the following three privileges:
   
   (A) Local Administrative Rights
   (B) Administrative Rights to all Clustered Print Queues
   (C) DB Owner Rights to the Database
   

Creating the Track-GreenSaver Resource

Once TGS has been installed on all physical nodes a few steps will be done allowing it to be added as a Generic Service resource to your Print Cluster Group.  This is not done automatically by Print Manager Plus, but through the following configuration steps using Windows Services and the Cluster Administrator.  

1. Open Service Properties:
   On each physical server, open Services within Administrative Tools, and open the properties of the Print Manager Plus service.
   
   
   
2. Stop the Service and set Service Startup Type:
   On the General tab, stop the service, and set the startup type to [Manual] 
   
   
   
3. Repeat on all Physical Nodes
   Repeat stopping the service and setting it to manual on all physical servers rights on all servers. 

Adding the Print Manager Plus Generic Resource

The following steps are performed using the Failover Cluster Manager.   

1. Open Cluster Manager and select the 'Print Server' Group TGS should track:
   
   
   
2. Add a 'Generic Service' Resource:
   With the Print Server selected, click [Add Resource] on the right hand side, and choose [Generic Service].
   
3. Select the Service named 'Print Manager Plus'
   You will next be prompted with a list of services.  Choose the [Print Manager Plus] and click Next.
   
4. Confirm no Start Parameters and complete the wizard:
   Clicking next through to the end of the Wizard will add the Generic Service.
   
   
   
5. Open Service Properties:
   Select the newly created service and open its properties.
   
   
   
6. Add Print Spooler as Dependency:
   Within the dependency tab, add 'Print Spooler' as a required resource.
   You must click [Apply] before continuing.
   
   
   
7. Enable 'Use Network Name for computer name'
   Within the General tab, check the box titled 'Use Network name for computer name'.
   This step will fail if [Apply] was not clicked after the previous step.
   
   
   
8. Bring the Resource Online:
   Once the configuration has been completed, right click on the Print Manager Plus resource and choose to bring it online. 
   

Configuring the Cluster Service within Track-Green Saver

The last step, is to ensure that the Clustered Print Server is visible, and to enable cluster tracking on it. Doing this sets special tracking flags to help ensure cluster queues are always tracked, and tracked properly.

1. Open the TGS Administrator and go to Print Servers:
   
   
   
2. Enable Cluster Support for your Virtual Print Server:
   This is done by selecting the server name that matches your clustered Print Server resource, and clicking [Enable Cluster Support] on the left hand side.

   Afterwards, the Cluster Enable column should read Yes
   

3. Restart the Resource:
   Once done, you will need to Stop, and then Restart the clustered Print Manager Plus resource by taking it offline, and then back online.  This will apply the cluster support set in the previous section.
   

Notes on Managing Clustered Track-GreenSaver Services:
The tracking services installed on each physical node, should be left set to manual, and never started or stopped within Services or within Track-GreenSaver.

It is best to Start and Stop track by bringing the resource online / offline:

Restart the Resource by bringing it offline, and then back online:

Viewing Service Status on the Print Server’s Tab:
The state of the tracking resource can be viewed by seeing if the cluster Print Server is listed and shows running. In addition to that, the currently Active node will also be shown as Running. The backup nodes, will be listed as Stopped, and will come online in the event of a failover.