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High Availability (2005)

Newbie Cluster

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Topic

JesonJeson
Starting Member

4 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-30 : 05:14:31

Hi at all, I would to ask you some questions.

I have an IIS/.Net/SqlServer 2008 application.
Now i need to create a method in order that
if the server will fail (hardware failure, example), than
my Application continue to work.

So i think that the Best Solution is CLUSTER.
I have read cluster SQL SERVER (tutorial, and so on) in this 2 days.

SERVER:
1 CPU (2 core) with 8 GB RAM.

Questions:
1) I only need 1 Processor (2 core), can SQL2008 Workgroup edition
create the Cluster?

2) I need a OS (Windows Server): witch version can you suggest me?
Only need ASP.NET, i don't need policy, account, etc.etc.
Foundation Server is good for this?

It's a an APP build with IIS that new High Availabilty :-)

Thanks you,
J.

nigelrivett
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3385 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-30 : 09:39:45

Have a look at
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/editions-compare.aspx
especiallythe bit on high availability.

Have you considered all components of your system or are you just concerned about a database failure?

Also just noticed this is a 2005 forum and you seem to be using 2008.

==========================================
Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.
SSIS can be used in a similar way.
Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy.

GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-30 : 13:00:51

For a cluster you need two servers minimum, some shared storage (SAN or iSCSI target) and minimum of SQL Standard edition.

Clustering typically does not come cheap.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

jeffw8713
Aged Yak Warrior

819 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-30 : 14:10:31

Another option would be database mirroring - still need another server, but it does not require shared storage. And, it can be part of your DR strategy if located in another location.

Jeff

JesonJeson
Starting Member

4 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-31 : 04:21:29

quote:
Originally posted by GilaMonster

For a cluster you need two servers minimum, some shared storage (SAN or iSCSI target) and minimum of SQL Standard edition.

Clustering typically does not come cheap.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

as i read:

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/pricing.aspx
$898.00 for SERVER/CAL license.
It's good if i have 1 processor with 2 core?

MS-Win 2008 SRV Enterprise Win32
1800 euro (about OEM).

So 1800 euro + 898 USD $ = Very much :-)

Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-31 : 04:54:54

In case of interest I reported on the Virtual Machine Failover that our ISP provides us with:

http://www.sqlteam.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=147120

Citrix xenserver - a fibre SAN array and two servers, one running IIS the other running SQL.

If one machine fails then the second machine runs a virtual machine of the second - so we limp along with only one machine, doing both jobs, until the problem is fixed.

GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2010-10-31 : 05:13:03

quote:
Originally posted by JesonJeson

So 1800 euro + 898 USD $ = Very much :-)

The SQL licensing's not generally the expensive part of clustering, though note that you need to license both server's operating systems. Now add in 2 servers and that shared storage.

In addition, that's a CAL licence, so it only allows a certain number of users. With a web app, that means the actual users of the website, not the IIS server. Hence you will need more than one CAL licence unless this is a single user web app.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

JesonJeson
Starting Member

4 Posts

Posted - 2010-11-01 : 16:31:02

I have the Microsoft SPARK program.

So i can install 1 microsoft windows server (i don't know witch version is) and 1 sql server 2008 r2 web edition.

Can anyone tell me if it's can be a good point to start?

I have not so great budget to start.

GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2010-11-02 : 01:56:57

You cannot cluster with 1 server, you cannot cluster SQL web edition. If that's all you have, you'll need to (dramatically) re-evaluate your High availability requirements.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

JesonJeson
Starting Member

4 Posts

Posted - 2010-11-02 : 02:11:51

quote:
Originally posted by GilaMonster

You cannot cluster with 1 server, you cannot cluster SQL web edition. If that's all you have, you'll need to (dramatically) re-evaluate your High availability requirements.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

Yes, I know that i need 2 server :-)

I have see that the minimum is SQL STANDARD edition (I have not exactly understand the license!) and Microsoft server Enterprise.

This is the minimum OS/Database version for clustering.

Now i need to understand Storage.
Can I create a cluster with 2 HDD of 1TByte for each server?

server1:
win server enterprise
sql server 2008 standard
2 hdd in RAID 1

server2:
win server enterprise
sql server 2008 standard
2 hdd in RAID 1

In this way, if server 1 fail the system can continue to work
without stop to server 2.

It's a good solutions?

GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2010-11-02 : 05:25:05

No. That will work for database mirroring, not clustering.

Clustering requires shared storage, that means a SAN (Storage area network) or an iSCSI storage solution (Google for more info on both). Shared storage is storage that both servers can see.

I suspect you may be better off with database mirroring as it avoids that expensive shared storage component. Also you won't need such a high edition of Windows, though you'll still need SQL Server standard edition.

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP

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