Setting up two SQL 2005 Servers for Clustering

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Bondwireless - 21 Jun 2006 13:22 GMT

Hi, i am pretty new to all of this so explinations in relatively easy to
understand terminology would be appreciated.

Basically i would like to know how Clustering works.
As i currently understand it, you need 2 indentical servers, 2 identical
versions of SQL Server, and 2 identical databases.
What i also understand is you can set them up as Active-Passive (requiring 1
SQL server licence) or Active-Active(providing load balancing and 2 SQL
server licences).

Now where my knowledge is patchy is... Can each Server have it's own Hard
drive and still cluster? Do they need some sort of external shared Hard drive
(if so please elaborate) in order to cluster?
What is needed for clustering to be possible.

Does clustering really provide a performance enhancement? Would i need my
Name Server to point to both Servers to allow for load balancing?

Your resposne would be greatly appreciated.

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Regards
Glen Pankhurst
Research & Development Manager

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Russ Kaufmann [MVP] - 21 Jun 2006 18:19 GMT

> Hi, i am pretty new to all of this so explinations in relatively easy to
> understand terminology would be appreciated.
>
> Basically i would like to know how Clustering works.
> As i currently understand it, you need 2 indentical servers

Right, and they should be purchased as part of a complete configuration as
listed in the Windows Catalog.

> 2 identical versions of SQL Server

With 2005, Standard, you can have up to two nodes. Enterprise will allow up
to 8.

> and 2 identical databases.

No. It is one database that is run by one node at a time and only one node
at a time can run that database.

> What i also understand is you can set them up as Active-Passive (requiring
> 1
> SQL server licence) or Active-Active(providing load balancing and 2 SQL
> server licences).

Sorry, I don't comment on licensing. It seems to be different all the time.

> Now where my knowledge is patchy is... Can each Server have it's own Hard
> drive and still cluster?

No, not and run SQL. A server cluster is required for SQL which requires
shared disk space for the database(s) and transaction logs. Best practice
would be one disk for the database and a second separate disk for the logs.

> Do they need some sort of external shared Hard drive
> (if so please elaborate) in order to cluster?

Yes. Again, see the WIndows Catalog for approved cluster solutions.

> Does clustering really provide a performance enhancement?

Server clustering provides High Availability, not horizontal scaling.

> Would i need my
> Name Server to point to both Servers to allow for load balancing?

Server clustering does not provide load balancing.

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Russ Kaufmann
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

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daveberm - 24 Jun 2006 02:56 GMT

The Windows Catalog
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/server/default.aspx?subID=22&xslt=categ
oryProduct&pgn=8b712458-b91c-4a7d-8695-23e9cd3ae95b)
is a little overwhelming for the novice to navigate. Talk to your
hardware vendor about your requirements and tell them you are looking
for a solution that appears on the Microsoft Windows Server Catalogue,
Cluster Solutions. Once you get their recommendation, compare it to
the catalogue and make sure it is listed.

I believe your assumptions about licensing are correct, but as Russ
mentions - check with the source, MS!

If purchasing clustering hardware from the catalogue is not in the
budget, there are third party alternatives that allow you to do
clustering with existing servers and replicated storage rather than
shared storage. SteelEye is the company I work for and we have one
such alternative, LifeKeeper.

David Bermingham
MCSE, MCSA:Messaging
www.steeleye.com

> > Hi, i am pretty new to all of this so explinations in relatively easy to
> > understand terminology would be appreciated.
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
> Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
> Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

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