Hi,

Thanks that's what we are planning - an upgrade to sql 2008 r2 keeping the same sql instance name to make this migration transparent to applications.

when you say create the SQL server cluster with same virtual name than the 2005. Can this be done while they both are on the same domain?

Well we were thinking to leave the sql server cluster installation for the migration day because if they are on the same domain there can't be identical names at the same time.

Virtual named instance with this format so this how it will look:

OriginalVirtualnetworkname\OriginalInstance

So my question is: Can I do it before the migration day with a temporary Virtual network name?

Thanks I will appreciate your advise also if you can provide the steps you followed so I can verify mine.

Thanks a lot