SQL Single Node Cluster - Name Change

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SQL Single Node Cluster - Name Change

SQLSACT

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June 8, 2012 at 8:07 am

#262075

Hi All
Setup: Windows 2008 Ent/SQL Server 2008 Ent
The server is a Single Node cluster and SQL is installed as a Clustered instance
We need to change the name of the server,
Is this possible without having to rebuild the Cluster
Any ideas?
Thanks
Derek

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Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 233869 More actions · Answer 1

to change the actual node name uninstall any clustered instances from that node then remove the node from the cluster.

Rename and reboot and then re join to the cluster, then re join any clustered instances.

Are you able to temporarily introduce another machine to the cluster whilst re configuring your original node?

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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 2

Perry Whittle (6/10/2012)
to change the actual node name uninstall any clustered instances from that node then remove the node from the cluster.
Rename and reboot and then re join to the cluster, then re join any clustered instances.
Are you able to temporarily introduce another machine to the cluster whilst re configuring your original node?

What we did was:

>> Renamed the Node

>> When the Node came back up with the new name, I couldn't connect to the VFS and I couldn't start the Cluster Service on the Server

I noted the following errors in Event Viewer:

The Cluster Service service terminated with service-specific error 5043 (0x13B3).

The Cluster service cannot identify node 'Node_Name' as a member of failover cluster ''. If the computer name for this node was recently changed, consider reverting to the previous name. Alternatively, add the node to the failover cluster and if necessary, reinstall clustered applications.

The Cluster service cannot be started on this node because a registry operation failed with error '5043'.

Getting another server introduced into the cluster should't be a problem

What would I need to do?

Thanks

Derek

Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 233869 More actions · Answer 3

Doing it the way you did has produced errors as you can see.

You now need to reinstall all clustered apps.

Best thing is to revert back to the original name and carry out my steps above.

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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 4

Perry Whittle (6/10/2012)
Doing it the way you did has produced errors as you can see.
You now need to reinstall all clustered apps.
Best thing is to revert back to the original name and carry out my steps above.

Thanks

The server name has been changed back to the original name and all is fine.

This is the scenario:

We have 3 Clustered servers namely: Server1, Server2 & Server3

Server1 & Server 2 participate in a 2 Node Cluster

Server 3 is a Single Node cluster in a different geographic location running from Completely seperate storage

We need to Shutdown Server1 and rename Server2 to Server1

Any ideas how this can be done effciently, easily and cleanly at the same time?

Thanks

Derek

Andrew G SSChampion Points: 12809 More actions · Answer 5

Forget renaming them and instead create 3 new dns aliases (cname records)

Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 233869 More actions · Answer 6

Each computername must be unique within the domain. Why is changing the node name so important?

What you're asking involves destroying the current server1 and removing server2 from the cluster. Bit difficult if you only have 2 nodes in the cluster.

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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 7

Perry Whittle (6/11/2012)
Each computername must be unique within the domain. Why is changing the node name so important?
What you're asking involves destroying the current server1 and removing server2 from the cluster. Bit difficult if you only have 2 nodes in the cluster.

My apologies for this - I had my initial scenario incorrect

We need to Shutdown Server1 and rename Server3 to Server1

Thanks

Derek

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 8

Perry Whittle (6/11/2012)
Each computername must be unique within the domain. Why is changing the node name so important?
What you're asking involves destroying the current server1 and removing server2 from the cluster. Bit difficult if you only have 2 nodes in the cluster.

Hi Perry

This is what we're dealing with

Thanks

The server name has been changed back to the original name and all is fine.

This is the scenario:

We have 3 Clustered servers namely: Server1, Server2 & Server3

Server1 & Server 2 participate in a 2 Node Cluster

Server 3 is a Single Node cluster in a different geographic location running from Completely seperate storage

We need to Shutdown Server1 and rename Server3 to Server1

Any ideas how this can be done effciently, easily and cleanly at the same time?

Thanks

Derek

Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 233869 More actions · Answer 9

SQLSACT (6/11/2012)
We have 3 Clustered servers namely: Server1, Server2 & Server3

Are all servers in the same domain?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 10

Perry Whittle (6/11/2012)
SQLSACT (6/11/2012)
We have 3 Clustered servers namely: Server1, Server2 & Server3
Are all servers in the same domain?

Yep

All Servers are in the same domain

However, Server3 has its' own storage

Basically, what I want to achieve is:

Currently Server1 & Server2 are together in a 2 node cluster and Server3 is a single Node cluster on seperate storage

What I want to accomplish is a 2 Node cluster running on the storage currently being provided to Server3 - The issues is that the names have to be identical to the current 2 node cluster (Server1 & Server 2)

Thanks

FTdenali SSCertifiable Points: 5362 More actions · Answer 11

hi,

When you setup a cluster then the node added to the cluster gets recorded somewhere on the registries, so you need to first remove node from cluster and all the services running on that node, reboot the node, rename the node, add the node to cluster again with its new node. Make sure the node name pre-exists on AD.

Perry Whittle SSC Guru Points: 233869 More actions · Answer 12

SQLSACT (6/12/2012)[hrYep
All Servers are in the same domain
However, Server3 has its' own storage
Basically, what I want to achieve is:
Currently Server1 & Server2 are together in a 2 node cluster and Server3 is a single Node cluster on seperate storage
What I want to accomplish is a 2 Node cluster running on the storage currently being provided to Server3 - The issues is that the names have to be identical to the current 2 node cluster (Server1 & Server 2)
Thanks

You'll need to uninstall any clustered instances from server1 so that they are only available on server2. Once this is done you then evict server1 from the cluster, leaving just server2 in a single node cluster.

As for replacing server1 with server3 i would perform the following high level steps;

➡ Backup and make a note of all objects in the clustered instance(s) on server3

➡ Agree a maintenance window with the business.

➡ export any last minute config and ensure backup integrity

➡ destroy the cluster on server3

➡ attach all storage that was on server3 to server2

➡ install the destroyed instance(s) from server3 onto server2

➡ rebuild server3 NOS as server1 and join to the cluster (don't forget to attach the storage)

➡ join the new server1 to any installed instances on server2 using the "Add Node" wizard

This shouldn't take too long to accomplish

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 13

Perry Whittle (6/12/2012)
SQLSACT (6/12/2012)[hrYep
All Servers are in the same domain
However, Server3 has its' own storage
Basically, what I want to achieve is:
Currently Server1 & Server2 are together in a 2 node cluster and Server3 is a single Node cluster on seperate storage
What I want to accomplish is a 2 Node cluster running on the storage currently being provided to Server3 - The issues is that the names have to be identical to the current 2 node cluster (Server1 & Server 2)
Thanks
You'll need to uninstall any clustered instances from server1 so that they are only available on server2. Once this is done you then evict server1 from the cluster, leaving just server2 in a single node cluster.
As for replacing server1 with server3 i would perform the following high level steps;
➡ Backup and make a note of all objects in the clustered instance(s) on server3
➡ Agree a maintenance window with the business.
➡ export any last minute config and ensure backup integrity
➡ destroy the cluster on server3
➡ attach all storage that was on server3 to server2
➡ install the destroyed instance(s) from server3 onto server2
➡ rebuild server3 NOS as server1 and join to the cluster (don't forget to attach the storage)
➡ join the new server1 to any installed instances on server2 using the "Add Node" wizard
This shouldn't take too long to accomplish

Thanks Perry

A question regarding this part:

You'll need to uninstall any clustered instances from server1 so that they are only available on server2. Once this is done you then evict server1 from the cluster, leaving just server2 in a single node cluster

Can I swap Server1 with Server2 in the above directions - I don't see any issue with that?

Thanks

Derek

SQLSACT SSC-Insane Points: 21838 More actions · Answer 14

Perry Whittle (6/12/2012)
SQLSACT (6/12/2012)[hrYep
All Servers are in the same domain
However, Server3 has its' own storage
Basically, what I want to achieve is:
Currently Server1 & Server2 are together in a 2 node cluster and Server3 is a single Node cluster on seperate storage
What I want to accomplish is a 2 Node cluster running on the storage currently being provided to Server3 - The issues is that the names have to be identical to the current 2 node cluster (Server1 & Server 2)
Thanks
You'll need to uninstall any clustered instances from server1 so that they are only available on server2. Once this is done you then evict server1 from the cluster, leaving just server2 in a single node cluster.
As for replacing server1 with server3 i would perform the following high level steps;
➡ Backup and make a note of all objects in the clustered instance(s) on server3
➡ Agree a maintenance window with the business.
➡ export any last minute config and ensure backup integrity
➡ destroy the cluster on server3
➡ attach all storage that was on server3 to server2
➡ install the destroyed instance(s) from server3 onto server2
➡ rebuild server3 NOS as server1 and join to the cluster (don't forget to attach the storage)
➡ join the new server1 to any installed instances on server2 using the "Add Node" wizard
This shouldn't take too long to accomplish

Hi Perry

I forgot to mention that not only do I have to keep the Server names the same, the VFS, VDB and DTC names need to stay the same as well

Does this change the process above?

Thanks

Derek