✅ Purpose: Build a Windows-based failover cluster with a mix of on-prem hardware and Azure Cloud disaster recovery, ensuring high availability and automated failover. ✅ Scope: Configure Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) locally while integrating Azure Site Recovery (ASR) for cloud-based DR failover.
Why Employers Will Love It?
🚀 Windows Failover Clustering (WSFC) is used in enterprises—proves expertise in HA, load balancing, and storage replication. 🚀 Hybrid cloud integration—shows the ability to manage on-prem servers with cloud redundancy using Azure Site Recovery. 🚀 Real-world DR testing—failover planning and simulation is a crucial skill for IT infrastructure roles.
Key Features to Implement
✔ Windows Server Failover Cluster: Set up two or more on-prem Windows Server nodes for HA clustering. ✔ Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV): Configure shared storage for VMs or apps within the cluster. ✔ Azure Site Recovery (ASR): Enable real-time replication of cluster workloads to Azure for cloud-based DR failover. ✔ Automated Failover & Testing: Set up failover policies, periodically simulate disaster recovery scenarios. ✔ Hybrid Networking & VPN: Ensure secure connectivity between on-prem WSFC nodes and Azure.
Budget-Friendly Hardware Recommendations
✅ 2+ refurbished mini PCs / Dell OptiPlex / HP EliteDesk with Windows Server licenses. ✅ Low-cost NAS / external SSD—used for Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) replication. ✅ Gigabit network switch—ensures high-speed failover communication between nodes.
End Result
🔹 Enterprise-grade failover & HA clustering using Windows Server & Azure. 🔹 Hybrid infrastructure & DR readiness—impresses employers looking for cloud-aware admins. 🔹 Windows & Azure skillset—covers local HA, failover testing, and cloud resilience strategies.
This project is practical, cost-effective, and mirrors real-world IT disaster recovery environments! 🚀