Hyper-V clustering with SMB, Fiber Channel and ISCI

You’ve got three storage back-end types (iSCSI, FC, SMB 3.0) and NIC teaming across all 12 hosts, with two build methods requested:

1. Cluster-First then Import into VMM

2. Build Everything Directly from VMM (Fabric -> Create Host Cluster)

Create Cluster First, Then Import to VMM

Enable Roles and Features on Each Host

Install-WindowsFeature Hyper-V, Failover-Clustering, Multipath-IO -IncludeManagementTools
New-NetLbfoTeam -Name Team0 -TeamMembers NIC1,NIC2 -TeamingMode SwitchIndependent -LoadBalancingAlgorithm Dynamic
New-VMSwitch -Name "vSwitch-Prod" -NetAdapterName "Team0" -AllowManagementOS $true

Configure Storage per Type

• iSCSI Hosts (4)

Set-Service MSiSCSI -StartupType Automatic; Start-Service MSiSCSI
New-IscsiTargetPortal -TargetPortalAddress "10.10.30.10"
Get-IscsiTarget | Connect-IscsiTarget -IsPersistent $true -IsMultipathEnabled $true

• FC Hosts (4)

Use HBA utilities to mask LUNs to each host + verify diskmgmt.msc shows identical LUN IDs.

• SMB 3.0 Hosts (4)

Ensure Scale-Out File Server (SOFS01) exports:

\\SOFS01\HVShare1
\\SOFS01\HVShare2

Grant Domain Computers and VMM-SVC Full Control.

Create Clusters (One per Storage Type)

Example – iSCSI Cluster

Test-Cluster -Node HVISCSI01,HVISCSI02,HVISCSI03,HVISCSI04 -Include "Inventory","Network","Storage"
New-Cluster -Name HVCLU-ISCSI -Node HVISCSI01,HVISCSI02,HVISCSI03,HVISCSI04 -StaticAddress 10.10.10.51 -NoStorage
Set-ClusterQuorum -FileShareWitness "\\fs-witness\hvwitness$"
Get-ClusterAvailableDisk | Add-ClusterDisk
Add-ClusterSharedVolume -Name "Cluster Disk 1"

Repeat for FC and SMB clusters (HVCLU-FC, HVCLU-SMB); SMB clusters don’t add CSV—storage is via SMB shares.

Tune Cluster Networking

(Get-VMHost).VirtualMachineMigrationPerformanceOption = "Compression"
Set-VMHost -VirtualMachineMigrationEnabled $true -VirtualMachineMigrationAuthenticationType CredSSP -VirtualMachineMigrationMaximum 4

Import Clusters into SCVMM 2012 R2

1. Open VMM Console → Fabric → Servers → Add Resources → Hyper-V Hosts and Clusters

2. Select “Windows Server Computers in a trusted AD domain”

3. Use VMM-SVC Run As account

4. Choose OU containing hosts

5. VMM discovers existing clusters → Select and Add to Host Group

VMM agent deploys automatically, and the clusters appear under Fabric > Servers.

Build the Entire Cluster from Inside VMM (Fabric -> Create Host Cluster)

Add Standalone Hosts to VMM

Fabric → Add Resources → Hyper-V Hosts and Clusters → specify host names (one storage type group at a time).
VMM agent installs and discovers available storage (LUNs or SMB shares).

In VMM Console → Fabric → Create Host Cluster

1. Select the 4 hosts for your first cluster (e.g., iSCSI).

2. Cluster name HVCLU-ISCSI, choose Mgmt network IP.

3. VMM runs Cluster Validation Wizard and creates the CNO automatically (using the Run As account).

4. VMM adds storage (you choose the shared LUN or SMB share presented to all hosts).

5. Finish wizard → Cluster is built and registered in VMM in one step.

Repeat for FC and SMB clusters.

Apply Logical Switch and Networking

1. Create Logical Network definitions (MgmtNet, LMNet, StorageNet, VMNet) with subnets/VLANs.

2. Create Port Classifications and Uplink Profiles.

3. Create Logical Switch LS-Prod → associate with Uplink Profile.

4. Right-click each host → Properties → Virtual Switches → New Virtual Switch (using Logical Switch).

Deploy CSV Storage from VMM

1. Fabric → Storage → Arrays → Add SMI-S provider (for SAN/iSCSI).

2. Classify storage tiers.

3. Allocate LUNs to Cluster → right-click cluster → Properties → Storage → Add Available Storage.
   VMM formats and adds as CSV automatically.

Validate & Create VM Templates

• Create VM Template using a VHDX in Library.

• Place on cluster CSV (C:\ClusterStorage\Volume1).

• Test Live Migration via VMM.

Maintenance & Ops

• Use Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU) through VMM for patching.

• Enable Dynamic Optimization and Power Optimization in VMM Host Groups.

• Monitor with SCOM 2012 R2 (VMM Integration Pack).