Cluster setup question

[dvannoy]

I have two identical servers that I want to setup as a 2003 cluster.

OS on drive c:

and I want to store data on drive e: 500gb

now, I don't have a shared SAN so my first question is can I use my e:/ or should I as the quorum drive? I am confused as to what i need to do with the quorum.

second question. should I not bridge the two NICS in each server? I noticed that the cluster setup didn't like that much. should I just assign an IP address to each card and let the cluster manage that as well?

any help would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

For clustering, you will need enterprise version of 2003. Also, for MSCS you will need a shared disk space. And this will be and Active/Passive cluster (recommended).

Here is a good start

http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Implementing-Two-Node-Cluster-Windows-2003-Enterprise.html

 

[dvannoy]

Thanks..

I have 2003 ED

so one NIC in each server (public LAN) gets connected together through a cross over cable? while the other two are used for heart beats? if this is correct how do I configure the IP address for the NICS??

I need to create a cluster for SQL server.

Thanks

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

2 nics one on each server with cross over and u can use 192.168.1.1/24 and 192.168.1.2/24 respectively. You can also configure the Cluster Heartbeat to listen on the LAN active ports It is not required for a heartbeat cable, but it is cleaner in my mind for data transfer during failover. You have to have the Quorum on a shared disk a long with you shared data drive for SQL Disks (Cluster Resources) Also in SQL, you will install the program files to the C:, but you need a shared disk for the "shared SQL files" you can specify this drive during setup. So a C: on each server and a D: (shared) for SQL files) and E for DB's) and F: for Logs. You can get into Mount points as well, your call. Here is another DOC

http://hptv04.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/sql2005_clustering.pdf

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

The other 2 Nics are for Public LAN traffic. While the Cluster is being built, you will create cluster resources for the SQL Virtual name/the SQL Virtual IP (Central data access for the cluster). The static IP's on the two nics are irrelavant. The two I mentioned above 192.168...are Private IP's for heartbeat traffic only.

 

[dvannoy]

OK,
I understand. thanks

I currently have 2 HP DL380 G5 servers with over 500GB of free storage sitting on a RAID 6 while my OS sits on RAID 0/1. I just thought I would be able to use the 500GB on each server for this but I guess not. unless I was to use one server as a shared drive correct? would you go with that or a NAS or SAN instead?

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

iSCSI would be your cheapest solution. SAN I believe is best. But there are many different choices on shared storage

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

The DL380's work well with

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...Id=377751&submit.y=5&submit.x=8&lang=en&cc=us

I have a couple of these in use and have been very reliable.