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Sample Configuration - Network Load Balancing (NLB) Multicast Mode Configuration

Multicast mode does not have the problem that unicast operation does since the servers can communicate with each other via the original addresses of their NLB network cards.
Each server’s NLB network card operating in multicast mode has two MAC addresses (the original one and the virtual one for the cluster) causes some problems on its own. Most routers reject the ARP replies sent by hosts in the cluster, since the router sees the response to the ARP request that contains a unicast IP address with a multicast MAC address. The router considers this to be invalid and rejects the update to the ARP table. In this case you need to manually Configure Static ARP Resolution at Switch or router for each port connecting to ESX's NICs. For related information, see Sample Configuration - Network Load Balance (NLB) Multicast mode over routed subnet - Cisco Switch ARP Configuration (1006525).

Recommended Version Of Windows:

Note: Each NLB cluster node is required to have NLB enabled and configured with same cluster IP and FQDN name.

To configure NLB in your guest operating system:

Access your Local Area Connection Properties > General Tab > Check Network Load Balancing
Click Properties.
Click the Cluster Parameters tab.
Enter the Cluster IP address.
Select the Multicast option.

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Click the Host Parameters tab
Set the Priority (unique host identifier).
Enter the dedicated host IP. This is the same as the NIC IP.
Click OK.

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Select Networking Protocols TCP/IP
Enter the dedicated specified in Step 8.
Click Advanced.
Click Add.
Enter the Cluster IP.
Click OK.

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For use with VMotion, ensure Notify Swtiches is set to Yes.

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