This paper provides guidance for customers who prior to SQL Server 2012 have deployed SQL Failover Clustering for local high availability and database mirroring for disaster recovery, and who want to migrate to SQL Server AlwaysOn. It describes the corresponding SQL Server AlwaysOn scenario and the migration paths to SQL Server AlwaysOn. It also contains the important knowledge and considerations that you must know in order to successfully migrate to a HADR solution based on SQL Server AlwaysOn technology, which implements AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances for high availability and AlwaysOn Availability Groups for disaster recovery.   Read more...

This article describes my experience in upgrading a four node cluster with three active instances to SQL 2008  Read more...

Learn how to create a SQL Server 2012 Active/Active cluster in Hyper-V using an iSCSI SAN  Read more...

The SQL Server 2008 R2 setup program crashes sometimes leaving you with a "half installed" instance: this is about how I repaired the setup on a populated cluster.  Read more...

This article describes my experience in upgrading a four node cluster with three active instances to SQL 2008  Read more...

We had a requirement where we were asked to generate automatic email notification in the event of a failover.   Read more...

This article continues the series on how to create a 2 node Windows\SQL Server 2008 cluster with a look at slipstreaming the service pack and cumulative updates needed.  Read more...

Learn how to create a Windows\SQL Server 2008 virtual cluster. In this article learn about the Windows clustering setup.  Read more...

Learn how to create a Windows 2008\SQL Server 2008 virtual cluster in this three part series.  Read more...

Gain an insight into how to use your SQL Server cluster for more than just high availibility in this article from Mark Jones.  Read more...

Details how to install a SQL Server 2008\2008R2 Failover Cluster Instance  Read more...

Multi-subnet Failover Clusters I want to take a closer look at one of the new features in SQL Server Denali. While...  Read more...

I have installed and uninstalled several instances of SQL Server in the past. Today, I need to uninstall a SQL Server 2008 R2 clustered instance. I have never uninstalled a clustered instance of SQL Server before. Can you provide a how-to guide to uninstall a clustered instance of SQL Server 2008 R2?  Read more...

How to set all tempdb datafiles to same size to meet best practice.   Read more...

Adding and removing nodes in SQL Server Clusters is not so difficult, and instructions on how to do so abound on the internet. However, mismanagement when adding/removing nodes can quickly become a 'gotcha' that wastes time. Bo Chen offers insight into some of those scenarios that are not normally covered in the standard online documents.   Read more...

After removing the builtin administrators group the clustered services do not start. Perry Whittle walks through the issue and what you can do to correct things.  Read more...

My tips for cluster installation with Windows 2008 and SQL 2008 on a 64 BIT server which is clustered.  Read more...

I want to institute a high availability solution for SQL Server with no downtime. I am planning on using Microsoft clustering, but I have been told that in the event that the cluster moves the SQL Server from one physical server to another, that there is some downtime. Why is this so?  Read more...

This white paper complements the existing documentation on planning, implementation, and administration of a SQL Server 2008 failover cluster, which can be found in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Books Online. There are links to relevant existing content throughout the paper, which is intended primarily for a technical audience. This white paper covers failover cluster architecture and concepts for Windows Server (2003 and 2008) and SQL Server 2008; installation of a SQL Server 2008 failover cluster; upgrades and updates to SQL Server 2008 failover clustering; and maintenance and administration of SQL Server 2008.  Read more...

Join BI Architect Bill Pearson as he leads hands-on practice with the “Clusters” discretization method in Analysis Services. In this article we continue to explore attribute discretization, as a part of an extended examination of the dimensional model lying at the heart of the integrated Microsoft Business Intelligence solution.  Read more...