SQL Server 2005 Cluster with 2000

[jaygreen4]

Hi,

I posted this on sqlservercentral.com also.

I'm in a situation where I'm consolidating lots of SQL server databases on to a new SQL server 2005 cluster. I have one current database that will only run on SQL Server 2000 (third party co. won't support it on 2005) and I would like to have this running on my clustered database servers also.

If I setup a 2 server cluster using 2005 Standard (we only need 2 servers) is there a way of also installing an instance of 2000? The 2000 install doesn't necessarily have to be clustered (ideally it would be however). I'm just wondering how a 2000 instance would work with 2005 clustered?

Anyone have any experience doing this?

I would just install 2000 and use that but I have to pay a huge amount to get the enterprise edition for cluster support in 2000 while 2005 standard will support a two machine cluster.

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks,

Jason.

 

[mrdenny]

There shouldn't be any problem installing SQL 2000 and SQL 2005 on a single cluster. However if you are going to cluster SQL 2000 weither with SQL 2005 installed or not you'll need the Enterprise Edition if you want it clustered.

Since you need to buy the SQL 2000 license anyway I'd just stick with 2000 then upgrade everything at once. That will be a much cleaner setup.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005)

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

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[jaygreen4]

Thanks Denny.

After lots of reading I thought that would be the case. I'm just disappointed that I have to pay loads for an enterprise licence for the 2000 clustering support.

Cheers,

Jason.

 

[jaygreen4]

Hi,

I've just been reading about attaching databases and running in compatibility mode. If I had (for example) two 2K databases could I just attach them to an isntance on my 2005 cluster and run them in 2K compatibility mode. Is that possible?
(sorry if it's a silly question).

Thanks,

Jason.

 

[mrdenny]

Yes you can do that. SQL Server 2005 supports compatibility modes from 6.0 to 9.0 (2005). However the vendor probably still won't support you in this method.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005)

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

http://www.mrdenny.com