MNS with FSW vs. Quorum Service with External Arbitrator

[aaaA_4]

Hi,

we are planning to deploy configuration of metro cluster with MSCS and Cluster Extension XP on XP512 disk arrays with DWDM interconnect. My question is, if we would use Quorum Service with External Arbitrator configuration or new feature of Windows 2003 - Majority Node Set with File Share Witness for two node geo-dispersed cluster based on MSCS. I'll appreciate your opinions, pros, cons etc.

Thank you,
N.

[Peter Mattei · Accepted solution]

File Share Witness is a great thing, saves you money (no Windows enterprise license and no dedicated server needed) and works just fine.
The only disadvantage is that only 2 node clusters are supported by Microsoft.

So, for two node W2k3 clusters I would go File Share Witness.

For W2k or >2 node clusters there is no option!

Cheers
XP-Pete