To Cluster or Not to Cluster is the question folks. We want High avaiability. period

We would like to run a Four PeopleSoft Production databases on this *Clustered* Database Server. My Boss is asking me if we should go for it ? We will be investing atleast 70-80K on a indentical pair of servers. Compaq Says we need Absolutley Identical pair of servers to run MSCS and SQL Cluster ? Is that True .. the Key here is *** to run the culustered db's without any issues*** .. we just brought his 60K Server like one year ago. Now Compaq RECOMMENDES buying 2 Identical servers. Is it a Sales Pitch ?

can we do with our present server and buy an additonal peice of equipment and run clustering successfully.

Here is Million dollar Question

How Stable is SQL Clustering ? ????

Help Me out folk

Regard
Girish W

SQL clustering is highly stable IF it is set up and configured correctly. I
cannot stress that you MUST work closely with your vendors and get a
certified cluster solution. Of course, clustering by itself is not a
guarantee of high availability. You must have practices, people, and
training in order to have a complete high availability solution. Clustering
is one piece of the puzzle, but is not a magic bullet.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com

I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org

[quoted text, click to view]
*Clustered* Database Server. My Boss is asking me if we should go for it ?
We will be investing atleast 70-80K on a indentical pair of servers. Compaq
Says we need Absolutley Identical pair of servers to run MSCS and SQL
Cluster ? Is that True .. the Key here is *** to run the culustered db's
without any issues*** .. we just brought his 60K Server like one year ago.
Now Compaq RECOMMENDES buying 2 Identical servers. Is it a Sales Pitch ?
[quoted text, click to view]

Now THAT is a sales pitch. :)

Not a particularly good one, but a sales pitch none the less.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com

I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org

[quoted text, click to view]
www.stratus.com

To be supported on an MSCS cluster, the hardware must be purchased as a
clustering solution and be on the HCL. You cannot just piece together
hardware and be supported.

Rand
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.

Clustering does not protect against disk failure. Make sure you have a
good, well-tested backup strategy. You may want to look at using Log
Shipping as well, it can cover against some of the failures that a cluster
cannot.

Cindy Gross, MCDBA, MCSE
http://cindygross.tripod.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.