SQL server rename for cluster members? 1

[cajuntank]

I have a 2 node SQL 2008 cluster on 2 HP DL320 G5 servers (it's all I had at the time to use). No issues in creating the cluster as I have them both installed with Windows 2008 Ent and SQL 2008 Ent. I am about to get my hands on 2 DL380 G5 servers and while I know I can add these servers as additional nodes, I will want to decommission the DL320(s) afterward. I have the first two servers named something like sql1 and sql2. So when I create the other 2 nodes and name accordingly sql3 and sql4, would there be any caveats to rename 3 & 4 to 1 & 2 once I decom the first 1 & 2?

 

[mrdenny]

You can't rename cluster nodes.

The best bet will be to evict sql1, then build the new server as sql1. Add it to the cluster, and install SQL on it. Then event sql2 and build the second new machine as sql2.

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[cajuntank]

Ok... I can do that. Didn't realize you had to "evict", as you put it, the machine first; but that should not be an issue. Thanks a bunch.