February 20, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Hello Guys,
We are discussing the implementation of HA for a software that runs on SQL 2008 R2. Our preferred HA option is Database Mirroring but, unfortunately the vendor currently does not support automatic redirect of the application to a new host name so mirroring may not work. The vendors preferred HA option is Clustering but, we are not a cluster shop. We want this db server to be physical only and the max size would be around 250 GB and is a mission critical system.
Can you guys please suggest any other alternatives to clustering? If not, what are the questions I need to ask the vendor so we come up with the best configuration for this HA setup. Really not against Clusters so if we have to we will go for it, but not without checking our options.
Thanks a lot for your help in advance.
The_SQL_DBA
MCTS
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."
February 20, 2013 at 1:59 pm
does the vendor support using a DNS alias in the connection string? If so and automatic failover is not vital to you you can still use mirroring in high performance mode or high safety without automatic failover
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February 20, 2013 at 2:46 pm
You can't can't specify the failover partner in the connection string? That's how we did it for the PeopleSoft HR and Finance systems at a previous employer.
No changes to the actual application.
February 20, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for the replies folks.
@george - I am not sure if they support DNS alias, but if they do it will be awesome as Mirroring is our go to HA option.
@Lynn - The last conversation I had with the vendor of this finance software, I was told there is no support for failover partners, so they recommend clustering because it uses a single virtual cluster name. Now, the OS team is not really impressed with having forced to go to clusters (VM being not an option). So, I am out here looking for suggestions before we purchase the hardware.
Anything new in SQL 2012/Windows 2012 that may help here?
The_SQL_DBA
MCTS
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."
February 20, 2013 at 3:20 pm
The_SQL_DBA (2/20/2013)
Thanks for the replies folks.@george - I am not sure if they support DNS alias, but if they do it will be awesome as Mirroring is our go to HA option.
@Lynn - The last conversation I had with the vendor of this finance software, I was told there is no support for failover partners, so they recommend clustering because it uses a single virtual cluster name. Now, the OS team is not really impressed with having forced to go to clusters (VM being not an option). So, I am out here looking for suggestions before we purchase the hardware.
Anything new in SQL 2012/Windows 2012 that may help here?
That's just it, the connection string for the SQL Native Client handles the connections to the principal and failover systems, not the application. When we did it for PeopleSoft, there were NO CHANGES to the application itself.
Check out this page: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms130822(v=sql.100).aspx
February 20, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Lynn - Thanks for the quick link. I will get with the vendor just so they don't say we don't support it later on, as that would not go well with the management. But, for now I have a good feeling this would be something we can implement along with DB Mirroring. Keep you posted.
Thanks again guys.
The_SQL_DBA
MCTS
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."
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