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AskSQLTeam
Ask SQLTeam Question
0 Posts |
 Posted - 2006-06-21 : 09:55:25
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| Don Gamble writes "As an engineer, I'm responsible for installing, upgrading and maintaining the various Exchange and SQL MSCS clusters in our environment. Recently, I was asked to set up an Active/Active SQL 2000 cluster. After some trial and error, I learned of the importance of the ipconfg utility for creating the named pipe instances before actually running the setup to create that instance.Then, being the curious type, I wanted to see what would happen when I created that 17th instance, the one that every source in the world claims is not possible. Low and behold, I've got 17 instances running, and I'm not sure why.Using VMware ESX 3.0, I set up a two-node cluster using Win2003 Ent. sp1, and then created 17 failover cluster groups, each containing one 4GB volume. I installed 8 instances of SQL 2000 first, and then another 8 instances of SQL 2005, for a total of 16 named instances (no default instance). Each instance failed back and forth to each node with ease, so up to that point all was well.Excitedly, I began the installation of the 17th instance of SQL 2005, knowing that I'd probably be seeing errors that few had ever seen (for who else, after all, would be such a geek as to attempt something as impractical?). To my surprise, setup didn't once warn me that there were already 16 instances. The installation continued to the end, until the final step, which was to bring all the cluster resources online: All came alive EXCEPT the SQL Server Agent. Here was the error that accompanied this event…Source: SQLBrowserEvent ID: 3“The configuration of the AdminConnection\TCP protocol in the SQL instance INSTANCE17 is not valid.”So, I thought, this must be the famous 16-instance wall that I’d heard so much about. The limit must mean that MORE than 16 instances can be installed, but no more than 16 can be brought online at a time.On a lark, I right-clicked on that failed resource and chose the “Bring Online” option. To my surprise, it came online. And it remained online, even while the other 16 instances continued buzzing happily. I spent the next 30 minutes failing every cluster group back and fourth waiting for some sign that one of the 17 instances was going to fail. At one time, I even had all 17 instances residing on one node.My question: how is this possible, particularly in light of the oft-quoted limitation of 16 instances?" |
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mr_mist
Grunnio
1870 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-21 : 10:41:24
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| IIRC the 16 instances is not a hard limit, but one above which Microsoft cease to support the installation.-------Moo. :) |
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eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
3575 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-21 : 13:44:48
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| I would uninstall that 17th instance immidiately - if you don't, you risk creating a rift in the space-time continuum. -ec |
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rockmoose
SQL Natt Alfen
3279 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-21 : 17:00:31
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| The real limit is 32.Noone has ever made it past that!....rockmoose |
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mr_mist
Grunnio
1870 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-22 : 04:03:06
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quote:
Originally posted by rockmoose
The real limit is 32.Noone has ever made it past that!
I dunno.. My dial goes all the way up to 33  -------Moo. :) |
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rockmoose
SQL Natt Alfen
3279 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-22 : 04:33:52
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quote:
Originally posted by mr_mist
quote:
Originally posted by rockmoose
The real limit is 32.Noone has ever made it past that!
I dunno.. My dial goes all the way up to 33 -------Moo. :)
omg,Posting from a parallell universe are You!?rockmoose |
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mr_mist
Grunnio
1870 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-22 : 06:32:04
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| I managed to do it by reversing the polarity of the quantum flux inhibitor. It was tricky though, and required SP5.-------Moo. :) |
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eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
3575 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-22 : 12:51:52
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| I've heard that this will be the plot twist to next year's season of lost. The plane goes down becuase they are running 33 instances of SQL2K on the island. That whole electromagnet thing is a red herring.You heard it here first..-ec |
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rockmoose
SQL Natt Alfen
3279 Posts |
Posted - 2006-06-22 : 17:40:33
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quote:
Originally posted by mr_mist
I managed to do it by reversing the polarity of the quantum flux inhibitor. It was tricky though, and required SP5.-------Moo. :)
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More than 16 Instances!