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SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition Failover Clustering

  • January 10, 2012 at 4:45 am

    #249313

    I would like to know if it is possible to set up the below failover instanalltion using Windows server 2008 enterprise edition and Sql Server 2008 standard edition.

    4 node windows cluster

    Node A

    Node B

    Node C

    Node D

    2 Active/Active sql failover cluster

    On node A and node B install Active/Active sql failover cluster

    On node C and node D install Active/Active sql failover cluster

    I understand Sql Server 2008 Standard edition limits failover clustering to two nodes. But not sure at what level this limit applies. I thought the two node limit can be explained as below.

    Sql Server Clustered Instance on node A and Node B

    Sql Server Clustered Instance on node B and Node C

    In This case Sql Server failiver clustering is involving three nodes. But in my proposed scenarion, clustered instances are limited always to two nodes. Or is it that the windows cluster itself got to be 2 nodes only. Could some one comment on this.

    Thanks

  • January 10, 2012 at 7:38 am

    #1431153

    shijimon.jacob (1/10/2012)

    On node A and node B install Active/Active sql failover cluster

    On node C and node D install Active/Active sql failover cluster

    the scenario above is perfectly valid

    instance 1 is installed on nodes A and B

    instance 2 is installed on nodes C and B

    shijimon.jacob (1/10/2012)

    Or is it that the windows cluster itself got to be 2 nodes only. Could some one comment on this.

    Thanks

    No, nothing to do with the amount of Windows nodes. Attempting to install instance 1 on node C or instance 2 on node A would produce a violation of the 2 node limit 😉

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

  • January 10, 2012 at 8:49 am

    #1431223

    Thanks for your feedback.

    Just to claryfy

    Clustered Instance_1 on Node A and Clustered Instance_2 on Node B and the failover would be between them.

    Clustered Instance_3 on Node C and Clustered Instance_4 on Node C and the failover would be between them.

    This I want to try through building Virtual Server (VMWare). So my windows cluster will be a mix of physical and virtual servers (nodes).

    SJ

  • January 10, 2012 at 9:22 am

    #1431255

    shijimon.jacob (1/10/2012)

    Thanks for your feedback.

    Just to claryfy

    Clustered Instance_1 on Node A and Clustered Instance_2 on Node B and the failover would be between them.

    Clustered Instance_3 on Node C and Clustered Instance_4 on Node C and the failover would be between them.

    This I want to try through building Virtual Server (VMWare). So my windows cluster will be a mix of physical and virtual servers (nodes).

    SJ

    your information in your first post is incorrect then.

    As long as you dont attempt to install a given instance to more than 2 nodes you're fine

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

  • January 18, 2012 at 8:03 am

    #1435265

    Hi,

    So if I go for a 2 node windows cluster, I can have more than 2 clustered instances on them using Sql Server 2008 Standard Edition?

    Windows Cluster with NodeA and NodeB

    Clustered Istance_1 Active on NodeA. Would failover to NodeB

    Clustered Istance_2 Active on NodeA. Would failover to NodeB

    Clustered Istance_3 Active on NodeB. Would failover to NodeA

    Is this ok with Sql Server standard edition?

    Just trying to transalate "SQL Server limits you to two nodes for SQL Server Standard."

    Thanks

  • January 18, 2012 at 10:44 am

    #1435402

    shijimon.jacob (1/18/2012)

    Hi,

    So if I go for a 2 node windows cluster, I can have more than 2 clustered instances on them using Sql Server 2008 Standard Edition?

    you're now confusing multiple intstance installations with your issue. SQL Server 2008R2 Standard will let you install a max of 25 instances on a failover cluster.

    Under Standard edition you may have no more than 2 nodes participate as a possible owner for any given instance. So,

    Windows Cluster with NodeA, NodeB and NodeC

    Clustered Instance_1 installed on NodeA. You then install on NodeB. You now cannot install it on NodeC

    Clustered Instance_2 installed on NodeB. You then install on NodeC. You now cannot install it on NodeA

    Clustered Instance_3 Active on NodeC. You then install on NodeB. You now cannot install it on NodeA

    etc, etc, etc

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

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

  • January 20, 2012 at 3:30 am

    #1436350

    Hi

    Thanks for your clarification on this.

    One of the articles on MSDN states the below.

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee308825(v=bts.10).aspx

    "SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition supports 2-node failover clusters. If you decide to use the active/active/passive configuration on SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2005, you must use the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server."

    active/active/passive would mean Node_A (with Clustered Instance_1) & Node_B (with Clustered Instance_2) are active and Node_C is passive (well, Instance_1 and Instance_2 would failover to Node_C). This seems to be conflicting with what yous said earlier "Under Standard edition you may have no more than 2 nodes participate as a possible owner for any given instance."

    Thanks

    SJ

  • January 21, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    #1436845

    shijimon.jacob (1/20/2012)

    Hi

    Thanks for your clarification on this.

    One of the articles on MSDN states the below.

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee308825(v=bts.10).aspx

    "SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition supports 2-node failover clusters. If you decide to use the active/active/passive configuration on SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2005, you must use the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server."

    The article above, as far as i am concerned, is only serving to confuse you further. The explanation i have previously given is correct.

    In my example I have a 3 node virtual cluster running on 3 nodes.

    NODEA, NODEB and NODEC. I have 2 instances running Standard edition as follows

    NODEA has DBASNODECLIN1\INST1 installed and NODEB has been added as a failover partner = 2 nodes

    NODEC has DBASNODECLIN2\INST2 installed and NODEB has been added as a failover partner = 2 nodes

    Any attempt to add INST1 onto NODEC or INST2 onto NODEA results in an error message within the add node rules section of the SQL Server 2008 installer.

    shijimon.jacob (1/20/2012)

    seems to be conflicting with what yous said earlier "Under Standard edition you may have no more than 2 nodes participate as a possible owner for any given instance."

    Thanks

    SJ

    Personally, I wouldn't pay to much attention to that particular article 😉

    The node limit is at the SQL Server instance level and NOT the OS level. The installer makes checks to esnure that the clustered instance does not exceed the limit of installation to more than any 2 nodes.

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

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

  • January 23, 2012 at 2:32 am

    #1436984

    Thanks for the clarification. I do appreciate your help on this.

  • January 26, 2012 at 2:47 am

    #1438630

    Hi Perry,

    You mentioned about three node virtual cluster. Do you use VMware or any other product for creation of your VM?

    Thanks

    Shiji

  • January 26, 2012 at 3:34 am

    #1438654

    Yes I have VMWare ESX4i at home and VMWare Server 2.0.2 on my laptop.

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

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