Hardware for Clustering.

[geeklsu]

I am trying to put together MS cluster. I dont have any particular brand or anything in mind but like to keep the budget low. Can you guys suggest some good entry level Hardware. ITs a 2 node cluster. Also, would like to know good storgae device. The volume is not that much - about 75gb but the data is critical .

It's going to A/P cluster. Do i need to buy seocnd license for window2003 even though only one server will be active at any time? How about SQL server licensing? do I have to buy for both node? or just one node . The hardware will be exactly identical ( no of proc, ram, etc)


thanks

 

[mrdenny]

Check with HP. They can get you some nice hardware that is cluster ready including the storage.

You will need to license Windows on both nodes, however you will only need to license SQL for one node.

Take a look at the HP MSA 500's. If you give there sales folks a call they usually know what they are talking about.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[tubbaguts]

HP makes a packaged DL380 cluster that comes with an MSA 500. This is a great unit (I have three under my management). You will need a Server 2003 Enterprise edition license for each node but only one license for SQL. You will however have to but SQL 2000 Enterprise edition (sql 2005 standard or enterprise) as well. Plan on dropping at least 15K (10k+ for hardware and 5k+ for software) for this at a minimum. Good luck.).

 

[mrdenny]

All,
I was just at a Microsoft event last week, and was told by a Microsoft rep that if you have SA for the OS on the active node of your cluster you no longer have to purchase a license for the passive node's OS. You may wish to look into this next time you purchase a cluster. This only applies if the passive node is not running anything active while the other node is active.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[geeklsu]

thanks guys i am looking into dl380.