Stretch Clusters require a Windows Server 2019 Active Directory Domain Services forest.

Stretch Clusters require a Windows Server 2019 Active Directory Domain Services forest.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Depends on configuration

Answer: (B)

Stretch Clusters across sites rely on a domain-joined environment and DNS to authenticate and resolve names, but they do not require the AD DS forest to be Windows Server 2019. You can have a stretched cluster in a forest with an older domain functional level as long as the domain is available across both sites, Kerberos (or NTLM if needed) is functioning, DNS works, and the cluster has the usual prerequisites like a quorum witness and proper network connectivity. So the idea that it must be a Windows Server 2019 AD DS forest isn’t correct.

Stretch Clusters across sites rely on a domain-joined environment and DNS to authenticate and resolve names, but they do not require the AD DS forest to be Windows Server 2019. You can have a stretched cluster in a forest with an older domain functional level as long as the domain is available across both sites, Kerberos (or NTLM if needed) is functioning, DNS works, and the cluster has the usual prerequisites like a quorum witness and proper network connectivity. So the idea that it must be a Windows Server 2019 AD DS forest isn’t correct.