How NLB Hosts Converge When Connected to a Layer 2 Switch (238219)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Load Balancing Service
This article was previously published under Q238219

SUMMARY

The default status of NLB hosts is to converge with themselves. When you connect the NLB hosts to a hub, all the hosts are converged together and the host that displays Default is the host with the highest priority ID.

MORE INFORMATION

The capability to pass broadcasts is disabled on the layer 2 switch to which the NLB hosts are connected. The heartbeat packets are not seen by other hosts and all hosts converge only with themselves.

To allow all NLB host to converge together, use one of the following methods:
  • Enable broadcasts on the switch.

  • Connect the NLB virtual adapters to a hub and uplink to a single port on the switch.
For additional information about WLBS, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

193602 Configuration Options for WLBS Hosts Connected to Layer 2 Switch

232711 How Cluster Integrity Is Monitored in WLBS

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork KB238219
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