Cannot install SQL 2008 Cluster on Domain Controller - Please Help

  • Hello everyone,

    I have Node1 and Node2 cluster servers running on Windows 2008, the Domain Controller was installed on Node1, the Node2 was add a domain controller to an exisiting domain.

    During the SQL 2008 cluster installation there was an error preventing the installation to continue.

    Rule "Domain controller" failed.

    This computer is a Windows domain controller. SQL Server failover clusters cannot be installed where one of the cluster nodes is a Windows domain controller.

    I've done this kind of cluster setup using windows server 2003 and SQL 2000 and everything is working good.

    Thank you and best regards,

    Ed

  • Installing SQL on a domain controller is a seriously bad practice. It's strongly not recommended, for security reasons among others.

    Am I correct in that the two nodes are DCs of different domains? Clustering requires that the two nodes are in the same domain.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Hi GilaMonster, Thank you for the quick respond.

    The two nodes are on the same DCs(TestSQL2008.Com)

    Just for the purpose of testing, is there any way to install the SQL 2008 cluster on domain controller

    Thanks/Ed

  • If there's a pre-install rule that says no, then I would highly doubt it.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • You’re right there is no pre-install rule that says no.

    But during the installation some error messages appeared, preventing the installation to continue in the Setup Support Rules.

    (x)domain controller - Failed

    when i click the the reason it was Failed it shows the message below.

    Rule "Domain controller" failed.

    This computer is a Windows domain controller. SQL Server failover clusters cannot be installed where one of the cluster nodes is a Windows domain controller.

    Thanks.

  • Yes, as I said, if there's a pre-install rule that says it cannot be done, then I highly doubt there's any way to trick SQL into installing.

    I know a lot of people that install clusters based on virtuals for demo purposes and it always requires 4 machines - 2 nodes, a DC and a storage server.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Actually I used VMware and StarWind for storage simulation, I’ve created 2Nodes included the DC a total of 3 machines.

    Anyway I will try your advised using 4 machines - 2 nodes, a DC and a storage.

    Once again thank you so much for your time.

  • Ed Dasig (5/16/2011)


    Actually I used VMware and StarWind for storage simulation, I’ve created 2Nodes included the DC a total of 3 machines.

    Anyway I will try your advised using 4 machines - 2 nodes, a DC and a storage.

    Doesn't matter where the storage is, if StarWind works, great, just matters (as you've found) that the DC cannot be one of the cluster nodes.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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