How to set the Cluster service dependency in a pure iSCSI clustering environment in Windows 2000 and in Windows Server 2003

This article describes how to make the Cluster service dependent on the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator service (MSiSCSI).

In a server cluster that uses only iSCSI technology for the shared storage device, you must make the Cluster service dependent on the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator service. This is to make sure that the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator service starts before the Cluster service starts.

Note If the server cluster is not a pure iSCSI environment, you do not have to set this dependency. For example, if the server cluster uses other technologies together with iSCSI for the shared storage device, you do not have to set this dependency. A mixed server cluster might use iSCSI technology together with another technology, such as fibre channel.

When you set the Cluster service dependency on the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator service, you must also set dependencies on other services. If you configure the Cluster service to depend only on the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator service, the Cluster service will not start. For example, if you use the following SC command line, the Cluster service will not start:Note SC is a command-line program that you can use to communicate with the Service Control Manager and with other services. To view the SC command-line options, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type sc, and then press ENTER.

In a pure iSCSI clustering environment, you must set the Cluster service to depend on all the following services:

• MSiSCSI
• Clusnet
• Netman
• Rpcss
• W32time

To set these dependencies, follow these steps:

1. On the cluster node, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   sc config clussvc depend= clusnet/netman/Rpcss/w32time/msiscsi
   The following results are returned:

   [SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

Note You do not have to run this command if you do not have a pure iSCSI environment. For example, this command is not required if the cluster uses iSCSI together with fibre channel, iSCSI together with SCSI, or iSCSI together with a majority node set (MNS).

For additional information about our support for iSCSI, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For frequently asked questions about iSCSI, visit the following Microsoft Web site: