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MSDTC installation procedures:

1) For Windows Server 2003 follow http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817064 on each machine BEFORE you install the cluster service. This is important, if you go out of order you may corrupt your the Cluster Registry (see Note below for a fix). For Windows 2000, proceed to step 2.

2) To increase the size of the MSDTC log. On each node:

1. Open component services
2. Computers
3. My Computer
4. Properties
5. MSDTC tab
6. Capacity = 12 or 16 or anything larger then 4 MB
7. Close it out

Configure both machines with the same size MSDTC log.

3) Install Microsoft clustering.

4) Follow http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301600

5) Install SQL/Exchange into the cluster.

SQL Note: SQL MSDTC could be used daily, it depends on how the SQL applications are written. If MSDTC is used with SQL, you should ensure it is in it’s own group, on it’s own disk resource. Lastly, Microsoft recommends to run the MSDTC & SQL group on the same node, and that the MSDTC is brought online first when the groups are moved.

Exchange Note: Exchange Server 2003 only uses MSDTC for the install of Exchange or a service pack. Normal Exchange operations, do not use MSDTC. It is ok to place MSDTC in the Cluster Group for an Excahnge installation.