BizTalk Server 2006 Cluster/NLB Testing

Yesterday am about to test NLB and Cluster on BTS 2006. After a long and hard day at work the testing is completed successfully "Al Hamdo lellah".
I'll try to describe the case in a detailed steps "Insha'allah":
The BizTalk module in our project is responsible for retrieving images and data from Oracle DB. So i use to expose the BizTalk Orchestration as a web service, and test the web service locally on the same machine before deploying on cluster machines.
NLB used to spread the request between to servers (BTS1, BTS2), when one of them is down or busy the request sent to other.

NLB environment
1 - Two nodes (BTS1, BTS2) on the same domain must carry the same cluster IP
2 - Add user to the same domain name it (BtsWebService).
3 - Add BtsWebService user to (IIS_WPG & BizTalk Isolated Host) groups.

Export Application MSI File
In BizTalk Server 2006 Administration Console, in Applications Export MSI file from your defined application. in Export MSI File Wizard, in Select Resources page, select all resources (Assembly, BizTalk Assembly, Web Directory, Bindings).

Deploy the application on BTS1, BTS2
1 - In BizTalk Server 2006 Administration Console, create new application with your project name.

2 - On the new Application, import the MSI file you create before.

3 - All the Assemblies and BizTalk Assemblies will be registered in GAC.

4 - BizTalk web service will be added in default web sites in web server.

5 - Create new Application Pool, name it i.e: Admin Pool

6 - On the Admin Pool identity properties, select configurable security account, and insert the domain user (BtsWebService) and password.


7 - On the web directory properties, on Directory tab, in Application settings, change the Application Pool to Admin Pool.


8 - On Directory Security tab, edit the authentication and user control. In Authentication Method form, disable anonymous access, and select Basic authentication from authentication access.


9 - Add full control priviliges to BtsWebService user on C:\Windows\Temp folder.


10- In BizTalk Server 2006 Administration Console, Start the application, and in platform settings start host instances.

Test NLB
1 - Develop a client application to consume the BizTalk Orchestration web service. And make sure when you add web refernce, put the cluster IP, which in turn must get the web service from BTS1 or BTS2.

2 - Use the network credential in your client application.

hope this article is useful, and please don't hesitate if you have any question.