Where do you install SSAS data files on a cluster?

  • I have a Win 2003/SQL 2005 cluster. Now I am installing SSAS. The default path chosen by the installer is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\ (there are 2 instances of SQL on the cluster).

    It doesn't seem to make sense to install on the C: drive, which is a local drive, not shared by both nodes of the cluster.

    I found this Microsoft article http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc281997.aspx

    which says:

    Data root directory -- For failover cluster installations, ensure that data directories are placed on the shared disk.

    But then under Notes it says -- Program files and data files cannot be installed in the following situations: On shared drives on a failover cluster instance.

    Huh?

    So should I create a directory such as:

    S:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\OLAP

    on the SAN and install there?

    Finally, in the installer I have to choose 3 different directories:

    The default for SSAS

    Data Files

    Shared tools

    Do these all go under the OLAP folder?

    Thank you very much!

  • Shared tools are things like drivers and management studio - these need to be on each node and go on the c: drive.

    The Instance folder contains the instance specific files such as log files and needs to go on a cluster (shared) disk.

    The Data folder contains the Analysis Services database and needs to go on a cluster (shared) disk. It can be the same disk as the Instance folder or a separate disk. For performance and management it is better to keep the Instance and Data folder on separate disks.

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