Upgrading only OS for sql server 2005 2 node cluster server.

  • Hi,

    OS - Windows server 2003.

    SQL Server - MS SQL Server 2005 + SP4 - 2 node cluster.

    App team wants to update the OS from windows 2003 to windows 2008.

    NO upgrade for SQL Server, it's only OS thats changing. If I do the following in sequence.

    1. Failover SQL Server 2005 cluster to passive node.

    2. Let windows team to upgrade OS from 2003 to 2008.

    3. Failover back.

    Will SQL Server cluster work as usual after the OS upgrade and failover back ?

    Googling didn't help me on this....

    Thanks.

  • Can someone shed some light on this please..?

    Thanks.

  • You can't cluster between different versions of Windows. Not only that, you will need to rebuild it anyway since you're starting from scratch by installing a new OS.

  • Thanks. Basically idea is to get rid of one node and maintain it as single node cluster, for some reasons.

    If wndows do an inplace upgrade for OS, do we need to install sql server again ?

    Thanks again.

  • You cannot perform an in-place upgrade of a clustered Windows 2003 server to Windows 2008 (R2).

  • I wouldn't recommend running SQL Server 2005 on Windows 2008 either, it's frought with issues :w00t:

    If you really want to though this is what i'd do (and assuming the hardware is the Windows 2008 R2 HCL).

    Pull one of the nodes from the current cluster, flatten the node and fresh install Windows 2008 R2. Install a new sql server 2005 clustered instance (you'll need new storage too) using the same instance name, you'll need to specify a new network name and ip though, these will be temporary as you'll move the existing VIP and VNN across later.

    Migrate objects\databases from the old cluster to the new cluster and when ready change the VIP and VNN to use the ones from the old cluster, set the group offline on the old cluster first.

    once you're happy flatten the remaining windows 2003 node and fresh install Windows 2008 R2, then introduce into the new cluster

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

  • If you are running on W2003 you may well be running on old hardware. Look on this upgrade as an opportunity to get the latest hardware - it will run much faster than putting W2008 R2 on your old hardware, and probably free up some space in your racks.

    Original author: https://github.com/SQL-FineBuild/Common/wiki/ 1-click install and best practice configuration of SQL Server 2019, 2017 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008 and 2005.

    When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor they call me a communist - Archbishop Hélder Câmara

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