minimal hardware requirement for SQL failover clustering

HI,
I would like to build a SQL 2000 failover clustering to improve my network
knowledge. For testing and learning purpose, what's the minimal hareware
requirment?
Best Regards,
Lynn
Hi
Hardware should be from the the Microsoft HCL
But typically:
2 Identical Servers with Minimum 512Mb RAM
4 NICs
1 x SAN
2 x SAN connectivity
Network and other cabling
Or as Uttam answered yesterday:
"
Lynn,
For testing purposes, you may find this useful
Using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Create and Configure a Two-Node
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Cluster
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for using Virtual Server 2005
to create and configure a two-node server cluster.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...y/cvs2005.mspx
If you do not want to install virtual server and want to build using minimum
hardware, long ago I had build a two node cluster using two laptops with
SCSI card and one
SCSI disk and a cross-over cable. This is the bare minimum. I also was able
to install SQL Server 2000 clustered instance on this bare min cluster. It
worked and was good
for testing but NOT supported and also it did not work sometimes as
expected. Ofcourse, I would not do this for a real test cluster or dev
cluster.
Best Regards,
Uttam Parui
Microsoft Corporation
"
--
Mike Epprecht, Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Zurich, Switzerland
IM: mike@.epprecht.net
MVP Program: http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/epprecht/
"Lynn" <Lynn@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4B93ABB7-5F40-478D-B4E9-009520E72C94@.microsoft.com...
> HI,
> I would like to build a SQL 2000 failover clustering to improve my network
> knowledge. For testing and learning purpose, what's the minimal hareware
> requirment?
> --
> Best Regards,
> Lynn
|||Mike,
Thank you so much for your quick response. It's very useful.
Rihgt now, I already have a machine with 512 RAM, and I would like buy a new
machine with higher hardware component. Is "two identical machines" the
must-be? Or, I can configure two-node failover clustering with two different
hardware component machines.
Best Regards,
Lynn
"Mike Epprecht (SQL MVP)" wrote:

> Hi
> Hardware should be from the the Microsoft HCL
> But typically:
> 2 Identical Servers with Minimum 512Mb RAM
> 4 NICs
> 1 x SAN
> 2 x SAN connectivity
> Network and other cabling
> Or as Uttam answered yesterday:
> "
> Lynn,
> For testing purposes, you may find this useful
> Using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Create and Configure a Two-Node
> Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Cluster
> This guide provides step-by-step instructions for using Virtual Server 2005
> to create and configure a two-node server cluster.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...y/cvs2005.mspx
> If you do not want to install virtual server and want to build using minimum
> hardware, long ago I had build a two node cluster using two laptops with
> SCSI card and one
> SCSI disk and a cross-over cable. This is the bare minimum. I also was able
> to install SQL Server 2000 clustered instance on this bare min cluster. It
> worked and was good
> for testing but NOT supported and also it did not work sometimes as
> expected. Ofcourse, I would not do this for a real test cluster or dev
> cluster.
> Best Regards,
> Uttam Parui
> Microsoft Corporation
> "
> --
> --
> Mike Epprecht, Microsoft SQL Server MVP
> Zurich, Switzerland
> IM: mike@.epprecht.net
> MVP Program: http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
> Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/epprecht/
> "Lynn" <Lynn@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4B93ABB7-5F40-478D-B4E9-009520E72C94@.microsoft.com...
>
>
|||Are you looking to build a Highly Available 2-node cluster that is fully supported by Microsoft and the hardware vendor? Or are you just looking to build a 2-node cluster
for testing?
Yesterday, I had already answered for the latter.
For the former -- i.e. to build a highly available cluster supported by Microsoft and hardware vendor, you need a "Qualified complete cluster solution". So, where does
one find the list of complete cluster solutions that are qualified?
The most current Cluster Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) is available at the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/hcl (http://www.microsoft.com/hcl)
When you visit this site, click the Cluster category. The Cluster and Cluster/Datacenter categories display only complete cluster solutions that have been qualified. The
subcategories list components that have passed Cluster Component Candidate testing. These cluster components are listed for Original Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs) and System Integrators to design complete clusters and then submit a complete cluster solution for testing.
The most current Cluster Windows Server Catalog (WSC) is available at the following Microsoft Web Site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/server/ (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/server/)
When you visit this site, click the Hardware tab, and then click on the Cluster Solutions category. The Cluster Solutions category displays only complete cluster solutions
that have been qualified.
NOTE:
Customers should not use this list to build a cluster solution because using these individual components in a cluster does not qualify as a complete HCL or WSC
solution. Microsoft fully supports only clusters that are complete solutions that are listed in the Cluster category on the HCL or WSC.
To answer you qs "Is "two identical machines" the must-be? Or, I can configure two-node failover clustering with two different hardware component machines."
ANS. Currently today, a vendor can submit a solution for testing / qualification if the hardware is dissimilar. For example a Proliant DL380 as one node and a Proliant
DL580 as another node. But the ENTIRE SOLUTION still needs to be submitted as a COMPLETE SOLUTION and Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) qualified.
Now it is true that these are rare...
Recommended Reading
======================
The Microsoft support policy for server clusters, the Hardware Compatibility List, and the Windows Server Catalog
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;309395
The Microsoft support policy for a SQL Server failover cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;327518
Best Regards,
Uttam Parui
Microsoft Corporation
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