sharepoint 2010 3 tier install and configuration queries

Question

My setup

    NLB

WFE1(VM)  WFE2(VM)

APP1       APP2

SQLserver 2008 R2  

1. installed SQLserver 2008
2. install sharepoint 2010 on app1
   • Create and configure the farm
   • run sharepoint congfiguration wizard
3. install sharepoint 2010 on app2
   • join to existing farm
   • advanced setting -- ( do not use this machine to host website)
   • run sharepoint congfiguration wizard
4. install sharepoint 2010 on wfe1
   • join to existing farm
   • advanced setting -- ( do not use this machine to host website)
   • run sharepoint congfiguration wizard
5. install sharepoint 2010 on wfe2
   • join to existing farm
   • advanced setting -- ( do not use this machine to host website)
   • run sharepoint congfiguration wizard

Now when I want to create a new web application, it gives me only http://app1

But I want to create web app and site collection either in wfe1 or wfe2, so what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

I'm not sure what you mean by when you create a web app it gives you http://app1... when creating a web app you specify the URL. Do you mean when you create a site collection? Only app1 is available?

Since your WFE are load balanced, you can create a web app using either the NLB address, or use one of the WFE as an address, and then add the NLB as an alternate address after.

When you add a web app, that site is created on all servers running the web application services, which is probably your two WFEs and one App server, running Central Admin. Then you use DNS to control which server(s) are actually being hit, in your case DNS should point to your NLB.

Answer 2

If you load balanced the WFEs then the web app will exist on both. Infact, the WFEs should hold identical data in terms of the SharePoint environment.