Application Server Role

Question

Application Server Role

MO-933989

SSC Journeyman

Points: 99
More actions
July 8, 2009 at 8:27 am

#207897

Hi,
Can you tell me if the Application Server Role is required for SQL2008 in a cluster.
The SQL install does not flag it as a prerequisite but some installation docs mention it.
What does it do in the cluster environment?
Many Thanks
Mark

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

Silverfox SSC-Insane Points: 23150 More actions · Answer 1

MO (7/8/2009)
Hi,
Can you tell me if the Application Server Role is required for SQL2008 in a cluster.
The SQL install does not flag it as a prerequisite but some installation docs mention it.
What does it do in the cluster environment?
Many Thanks
Mark

Hi Mark,

Are you talking about a SQL 2008 cluster install on a windows 2008 cluster, if that is the case, the following article might help

http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1687

normally the application role is used to facilitate the use of MSDTC and other tools.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[highlight]Recommended Articles on How to help us help you and[/highlight]
[highlight]solve commonly asked questions[/highlight]

Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help by Jeff Moden[/url]
Managing Transaction Logs by Gail Shaw[/url]
How to post Performance problems by Gail Shaw[/url]
Help, my database is corrupt. Now what? by Gail Shaw[/url]

MO-933989 SSC Journeyman Points: 99 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for the reply. Yes we are running SQL2008 on Windows 2008.

I had spotted that article. It states that you have to add the application server role but doesn't give any explanation why.

However I also found this technet article http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754024(WS.10).aspx which states that 'Not every server application benefits from the installation of the Application Server role. For example, the Application Server role is not necessary to support Microsoft Exchange Server or Microsoft SQL Server on Windows Server 2008'

Any idea which is correct?

xxdbxx SSC Eights! Points: 812 More actions · Answer 3

Silverfox's post did contain the answer but I will explain somewhat further. If you want to have MSDTC installed in your cluster then YES you must install the Application Server Role. BUT....You are only installing a small portion of it. You will only need to enable Distributed Transactions/Incoming & Outgoing Remote Transactions. If you do not see a need for MSDTC then no it is not required for a SQL Cluster installation. But, on a side note, during the install it does look for it - you can continue without it but it does make the install process cleaner.

db

techresearch7777777 Grasshopper Points: 14 More actions · Answer 4

Since I'm aiming to configure MSDTC after our 2nd & final node SQL 2008 cluster install is it recommended to enable this Application Server Role prior to my 1st node install or is it ok to do this after 2nd node install and any recommendation on either enabling or excluding the 'WS-Atomic Transactions' option also? Thanks in advance.