Active/Active SQL cluster.

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Active/Active SQL cluster.

Vidas Zabinskas

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February 3, 2005 at 5:04 am

#84691

I have two nodes and shared disk array and I must craete a active/active sql server cluster. Each node must run diferent DB. So please correct me if I'm wrong:
1. I must install 2 sql server named instances on separate disks(K and L) in the shared disk array, not on local disks of both nodes
2. Then install virtual server( one or two???) on the same disk K and L
The problem is that I can't imagine where these instances must reside
Thanks for any help in advance

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Gé Brander SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4353 More actions · Answer 1

Point 1: Seems ok to me. Use cluster administrator to run the instances on each node.

Point 2: What do you want to do with Virtual Server? Do you mean the virtual server that is created when installing SQL Server 2000 on a cluster machine? Then you do not have to install anything seperately.

Clustering is not done over night. Be sure to know what you are doing. Read a lot of knowledge base articles on support.microsoft.com on clustering on Windows 2000 or Windows 2003. Clustering on Windows 2000 is a little different (just some details) than clustering on Windows 2003. The differences are important enough to know them.

Do not assume that every article on clustering on Windows 2000 are also to be used on Windows 2003.

Use a separate clustergroup (and disk!) for the clustering service and a separate clustergroup (and disk!) for the MSDTC service.

Success!

Vidas Zabinskas Hall of Fame Points: 3258 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for your reply. MSCS is already installed. I need to install SQL server active active configuration.

I don't understand how many SQL server instances I must install. For example If I already have installed two sql server named instances on different disks on the shared disk array, do I have to install virtual server and how many of them (1 or 2) and where (on the separate 2 shared disks?)?

Gé Brander SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4353 More actions · Answer 3

I still do not understand which on you mean by Virtual Server?

1) Do you mean the product Virtual Server (the server version of Virtual PC)?

2) Do you mean the virtual server that is created when you install a named instance of SQL 2000 on a cluster?

If it is the second one:

You do not have to do anything else but to install the instances. The virtual server is created during install of SQL Server 2000 due to the fact that the install mechanism of SQL Server 2000 is aware of the clustering.

You must install SQL Server 2000 two times. Each one for each instance. It makes no difference if you install one on node 1 and one on node 2 or both on node 1 or both on node 2. The install mechanism creates the files and restistry entries on both of the nodes automatically.

Make sure you have some extra IP addresses for your instances and virtual servers.

Vidas Zabinskas Hall of Fame Points: 3258 More actions · Answer 4

Yes the second one. So how is it... After installing the MSCS in order to have sql active active cluster, during sql server setup I must choose virtual server instead of local or remote? And that repeate once more when installing second instance?

Only two instances and only virtual server on the cluster? Is it right?

philcart SSC-Forever Points: 47794 More actions · Answer 5

Have you had a look at the white paper here?

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/failclus.mspx

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Colt 45 - the original point and click interface

Vidas Zabinskas Hall of Fame Points: 3258 More actions · Answer 6

Thank you phillcart. Yes I have

But I've found the info somewhere where it was said that before installing virtual server you have to install sql server instances on both nodes. I think that confused me and therefore I'm asking such questions

Gé Brander SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4353 More actions · Answer 7

Installing an instance twice on a cluster configuration, creates two virtual servers.

Do not worry about the installing on two nodes. All the required files and registry keys are installed on both nodes by SQL 2000 setup.

Vidas Zabinskas Hall of Fame Points: 3258 More actions · Answer 8

That's what I wanted to know. You really helped me in my doubts. Thank you

Gé Brander SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4353 More actions · Answer 9

Make sure you have read and understood the following KB articles:

306100, 815431, 811168, 815548, 321063, 260758, 254321, 822250, 250355, 817301, 233332, 239885, 263712, 319016, 810056, 290624, 298568, 243218, 239759, 294209, 321063, 250367, 306843

It is a lot to read, but very important to understand what you are doing. I have made a test install first and tested everything very good. Then I reinstalled everything and changed all that was not good, now I have a very stable environment.

I also use the cluster only for SQL Server instances and there will no one from our company, that wil install any other programs on it. That way I can asure that the up times wil be as good as I can get it. No dependencies on other software on the machine makes a lot of sense.

My cluster is running smooth, no reboots because of anything. Just plain and simple good work makes good running machines. Thanks to the Server administration department for providing a steady cluster platform so that I can install SQL Server 2000 and have good up-times!