Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 on a Failover Cluster using Server 2008 R2

Scenario

You’ve configured a Failover Cluster using Server 2008 R2, and now you want to install SQL Server 2008 R2.

Solution

Changes

A few changes were made to the simple Failover Cluster that was previously configured:

  • Several LUNs were added to the FreeNAS VM so separate disks could be used for each function:
  • 3 x Network Interface Cards (NICs) were configured on each node, each on a different subnet:
    • LAN: 10.10.10.0/24
    • SAN: 10.10.20.0/24
    • Heartbeat: 10.10.30.0/24
  • The FreeNAS interface was configured on the SAN subnet (10.10.20.220).

This time round, the Failover Cluster Validation Report didn’t have a single warning; all green ticks 😉

Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC)

We need to set up the MSDTC to support distributed transactions. Do the following on all nodes:

  1. Navigate to Server Manager > Roles > Add Roles.
  2. Select Application Server.
  3. Select Incoming and Outgoing Remote Transactions:
  4. Click Next, Finish.
  5. Navigate to Failover Cluster Manager > [Clustername]
  6. Right-click Services and applications > Configure a Service or Application:
  7. Select Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC):
  8. Choose a name and IP address for the DTC service:
  9.  Select a disk:
  10.  Confirm settings and click Next:
  11.  Once completed, view the report or click Finish:
  12. If successful, you will see the DTC service under Services and applications:

SQL Server Failover Cluster Installation

  1. From the setup menu, select Installation > New SQL Server failover cluster installation:
  2. Click OK after the first set of checks:
  3.  Enter a product key or leave it on Evaluation if you’re in a lab like me:
  4. Accept the license terms:
  5.  Click Install to start the SQL Server setup:
  6.  Click Next after more checks have completed:
  7.  Choose which components you want to install. I’m keeping it simple here:
  8.  Choose a SQL Server Network and Instance Name:
  9. Review the Disk Usage Summary:
  10.  Choose a Resource Group Name:
  11. Choose all of the disks to be used:
  12.  Choose an IP Address:
  13.  Select the Cluster Security Policy:
  14.  Enter the user accounts for each service. It’s recommended to create a separate Domain Account for each service:
  15.  Select the Authentication Mode and specify the SQL Server administrators:
  16.  Map the directories to the separate disks you set up earlier:
  17. Select your Error Reporting preference:
  18. More checks please landlord…oh go on then!
  19. Review your selections and click Install:
  20.  Setup complete:
  21.  All being well, your new SQL Instance should appear under Services and applications:

Although there are quite a few steps here, relax, as it’s easier adding a node to a SQL Server 2008 R2 Failover Cluster.

Comments

  1. hi adam,
    Great post…
    this is what i was searching for ….

    thanks
    Pranay

  2. Hi adam,
    there is a question in my mind, in point 16 you have mentioned about disk configuration & user database directory & system database directory was stored in S drive.
    is S drive a shared drive present in one of the node of the cluster or is it the volume created in FreeNAS.
    and where we are using the FreeNAS volume ?
    according to my understanding there should be a shared drive in the nodes which will hold the DB.

  3. is all the disks mention in screenshot 1 is CSV disks…