Here are some quick and dirty steps to create your own VM cluster for testing purposes only.
Create 4 virtual machines:
VM1: Domain Controller (192.168.10.10)
VM2: Storage Server (192.168.10.40)
VM3: Cluster Node 1
VM4: Cluster Node 2
Connect clients to domain controller. Familiarize yourself with these Powershell commands (not case sensitive):
New-NetIPAddress
Set-NetIPAddress
Install-WindowsFeature
New-ISCSIVirtualDisk
Add-Computer (easiest ways to add computer to domain)
It’s also important to note for this lab configuring the Windows Firewall is good for learning what ports things run on and how to allow them through. I made good use of the Predefined firewall rules, but that only works if the services are installed on that client.
VM1:
After installing Windows 2016 Data Center (NO GUI), I installed the necessary services for active directory domain services.
This machine is the lightest machine once it’s configured. Requires the least amount of resources for this test. It’s just a domain controller with services for authentication.
VM2:
Install Windows 2016 Server with a GUI. Having the GUI produces overhead, but it’s much easier for the novice to have a GUI for configuring your ISCSI target and confirming that clients are connecting correctly to your target.
An additional VHDX will be required to store the iSCSI virtual disk. This virtual disk needs to be at least 30GB to support the 5GB requirement for virtual disk. It’s just easier to use 30GB for your cluster that will contain 3 10GB virtual disks.
Create 3 iSCSI Virtual Disk that will be stored on your new storage pool under the drive letter you selected. Please make sure each disk is at least 5GB. You are now ready to connect to the disk from the Cluster Node 1.
Storage Pool:
Create your Storage Pool with the attached 30GB VHDX, initialize disk, format partition, and assign drive letter.
VM3 (Node 1)
Using the iSCSI initiator, connect to the three iSCSI virtual disk you just created on your file server (VM2). Once connected, you should now see on the file server “Connected” in the iSCSI target screen and VM3 should now show “Primordial” in the “Storage Pools” screen.
Right-click Primordial and select “New Storage Pool” and name it “LabCluster1.”
Select the three 5GB drives, you will need three disk to continue or the “Next” button is greyed out.
You will now see “LabCluster1” under Storage Pools. We are going to use this storage pool to create a Cluster Disk.
Back to Failover Cluster Manager:
You will now see under Storage -> Pools -> Cluster Pool 1. If you select this pool, you will see the physical disks, but there aren’t any Virtual Disks yet. Let’s add one.
Adding a Virtual Disk to your Cluster:
Go back to Storage Pool and right-click your LabCluster1 storage pool and select “New Virtual Disk,” select LabCluster1, name LabClusterDisk1, and follow prompts, but do not create a Volume yet.
Back to Failover Cluster Manager:
Right-click Cluster Virtual Disk (LabClusterDisk1) and turn on maintenance mode under more. Now you can format and assign a drive letter. Once the it’s formatted and assigned a drive letter, turn off maintenance mode.
Summary
Okay, this way rough and not verbose at all, but it will get you started to be able to start using the Roles that require file storage in a cluster.