Notification of Cluster failover without Exchange Server?

  • We have 2 SQL 2000 configured in a cluster.   We just found out that a week ago the cluster failed over to just one server (which worked perfectly).   The problem is that we didn't have anything setup to notify us this happened and we don't know how to set this up (email, smtp traps??) .  We do NOT have an exchange server in our environment but we can monitor SNMP traps and we do have a linux mail server.   Can someone point me in the right direction?

    Thanks, Mark

  • You didn't indicate which hardware vendor you're using. If you're using HP equipment, you can install and use System Insight Manager (you'll need a separate server for monitoring). SIM is in and of itself free. It'll need agents on the nodes. However the advantage you get is that you'll known when a cluster resource degrades (which happens whenever a cluster fails over). SIM hooks to a standard SMTP drop.

    There are other monitoring options out there. You can watch for the status of services on all nodes and if you see a change, flag it. Most monitoring solutions like Argent and the like can fire emails to SMTP sources.

    Another option is, if you've installed the xp_smtp extended stored procedure, to fire off an email through a stored procedure marked for startup. When SQL Server starts, the stored procedure runs and attempts to send the email.

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • We are using HP Servers but don't have Insight Manager installed anywhere.  I wasn't aware that there were any SQL Server specific capabilities in Insite as I have used it in the past.   We do have the ability to monitor SNMP traps.    I looked at Argent briefly but it is outside my budget.   So how does Argent tell if the Cluster Failed over? 

  • Insight Manager can do cluster monitoring. It's not specific to SQL Server. It'll report on any resource failing... meaning if you have clustered file servers, etc., it's great there, too. We use it to monitor both types of clusters in our environment.

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • Please download SQLCentric v.2.0 at http://www.pearlknows.com/id10.html

    In addition to its rich monitoring capabilities, it does provide cluster failover monitoring as well.

    Please visit the site at http://www.pearlknows.com

     

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