June 11, 2018 at 9:30 am
Hi,
I am using SQL Server 2016 Enterprise. I am confused as to how each SQL Server can have its own set of data if it is configured within a WSFC. If the WSFC is using shared storage, does it not follow that each SQL Server will also be using shared storage by default?
It sounds like a dumb question but I do hope someone can explain how it works. I have looked online but not found any clear answers...
Many thanks!
June 11, 2018 at 9:45 am
Read through AlwaysOn stairway, This should provide answers for all your questions...
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/stairway/112556/
June 11, 2018 at 9:47 am
No, you don't have shared storage with Availability Groups. Each instance has its own storage. You need to configure the cluster such that it does not take control of the disks.
(I didn't actually find much about this in the stairway.)
June 11, 2018 at 10:02 am
In a traditional setup yes, there's no need for shared storage for configuring Availability Groups. But we can combine AGs with FCI where AGs can use a failover cluster instance as an AlwaysOn availability replica in which shared storage comes into play.
June 11, 2018 at 11:24 am
Sreekanth B - Monday, June 11, 2018 9:45 AMRead through AlwaysOn stairway, This should provide answers for all your questions...
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/stairway/112556/
Thank you for the link. I have read through some of that in my research...
June 11, 2018 at 11:35 am
Beatrix Kiddo - Monday, June 11, 2018 9:47 AMNo, you don't have shared storage with Availability Groups. Each instance has its own storage. You need to configure the cluster such that it does not take control of the disks.(I didn't actually find much about this in the stairway.)
Hi Beatrix,
Right and I don't want shared storage, so an AlwaysOn AG gives me what I need (in theory). But I have read in the MS prerequisites and other sources including this forum, that for HA, the AG needs Windows clustering for the automatic failover, which all makes sense to me.
What I don't understand is the last bit... I am using VM's, perhaps that is the problem?
How do the "local" drives exist outside of the shared storage that the Windows Server cluster is using to host the servers?
Is that possible with VM's?
Thank you for your help, it is most appreciated!
June 12, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Michael Fordham - Monday, June 11, 2018 11:35 AMBeatrix Kiddo - Monday, June 11, 2018 9:47 AMNo, you don't have shared storage with Availability Groups. Each instance has its own storage. You need to configure the cluster such that it does not take control of the disks.(I didn't actually find much about this in the stairway.)
Hi Beatrix,
Right and I don't want shared storage, so an AlwaysOn AG gives me what I need (in theory). But I have read in the MS prerequisites and other sources including this forum, that for HA, the AG needs Windows clustering for the automatic failover, which all makes sense to me.What I don't understand is the last bit... I am using VM's, perhaps that is the problem?
How do the "local" drives exist outside of the shared storage that the Windows Server cluster is using to host the servers?
Is that possible with VM's?Thank you for your help, it is most appreciated!
No, using VM's is not a problem. To make it clear, you can create a windows failover cluster without shared storage. It's not mandatory to present shared disks to windows cluster.
June 15, 2018 at 3:25 am
Sreekanth B - Tuesday, June 12, 2018 12:14 PMNo, using VM's is not a problem. To make it clear, you can create a windows failover cluster without shared storage. It's not mandatory to present shared disks to windows cluster.
Ahh... that makes more sense. Many thanks for your help 🙂
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