onQ supports the ability to run RNs in a Windows Cluster Services environment. How you enroll and start PNs/RNs is different than in a non‑cluster environment. For additional information on cluster support, go to Windows Cluster Services Support.

When Exchange or SQL is installed in a cluster environment, it receives its own identity. This identity is not the identity of either of the nodes. This identity is called the Clustered Server (virtual server), and it has its own IP address. This IP address is shared between the nodes. The active node "owns" this virtual IP address until that node fails. The passive node receives heartbeat packets from the active server as long as the active server is up and running.

When the active server goes down/offline, the passive server becomes the active server and the virtual IP address transfers to the new active node. onQ continues to back up the node because it does not see the actual node go offline. In order to support this functionality, the installation of the onQ Service is different than in a non‑cluster environment.