"Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B2143F93-C7C2-427E-9F54-970EB2117B7D@microsoft.com...
> Hilary, the following items were changed on both nodes of the cluster and
> allows the resources to function correctly without AD/DNS.
>
> MSSQLSERVER service to use LocalSystem Account, Interact with Desktop
> unchecked.
>
> SQLSERVERAGENT service to use LocalSystem Account, Interact with Desktop
> unchecked.
>
> Cluster Service to use local user account which has admin rights. Use same
> account and password for both computers.
>
> Following items added to lmhosts file;
>
> 10.50.32.34 NOCTMDS-DBTSQL #PRE //SQL Server Virtual IP
> 10.50.32.35 NOCTMDS-DBTEST #PRE //Microsoft Cluster Server
> Virtual IP
>
> DNS servers removed from TCP/IP Properties.
>
> Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
>
> Only other change that was made is to /flushdns from both computers. Both
> AD/DNS servers are turned off.
>
> Cluster failover occurs normally.
>
> First question is why does this work?
>
> Is this a supported configuration by Microsoft, or does this go against
> "Best Practices" for any specific reason?
>
> If not supported by Microsoft, what is the down side to running in this
> manner, and what problems could be expected by not using a Domain\Username
> account for the services?
>
> Any white papers, tech notes, releasable internal documents that specify
it
> must be done one way or the other (AD/DNS or Not needed) would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
>
> "Brian Cook" wrote:
>
> > Hillary, here is the kicker for you. I don't know how they did it,
however
> > they got the cluster and sql to run without the domain controllers/dns
> > servers. I will be heading over there in a little while to figure out
what
> > they did.
> >
> > Either way I know it is not a supported configuration by Microsoft, and
I
> > cannot guarantee that it will not fail completely at some point and bite
them
> > in the fanny.
> >
> > Brian
> >
> > "Hilary Cotter" wrote:
> >
> > > I'd try to run cluster administrator to create a new cluster on a
standalone
> > > win2003 and take screen shots of it failing because it can't register
the
> > > cluster name in AD, or the IP address for the cluster in DNS.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Hilary Cotter
> > > Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
> > > http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
> > >
> > >
> > > "Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:30241601-0AD5-4673-8102-48FEC2C932DE@microsoft.com...
> > > > Hilary, thanks for the validation. I know that AD and DNS is
required, I
> > > just
> > > > am having problems convincing the client that they are required. I
have
> > > > pointed out multiple articles in SQL books online, and
TechNet/Support
> > > items
> > > > that also say the same thing.
> > > >
> > > > Must have assumptions are not a satisfactory answer for this client.
They
> > > > need to see it it writing that it must have explicitly AD/DNS.
> > > >
> > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > > "Hilary Cotter" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > You will need DNS and AD for installing a SQL Server cluster or
adding
> > > nodes
> > > > > to it.
> > > > >
> > > > > The nodes themselves don't necessarily need an active DC or DNS.
In fact
> > > you
> > > > > should enter the node, and cluster name in the host file to reduce
the
> > > > > amount of time a node requires to go online.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Hilary Cotter
> > > > > Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
> > > > > http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> > > > > news:368FFF28-CD47-4F92-A2D8-0FA72DEC1897@microsoft.com...
> > > > > > A client of ours wants to run a clustered instance of SQL and
not have
> > > it
> > > > > > dependent on name resolution for anything.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Since it appears that SQL is heavily dependent on AD and DNS for
the
> > > > > virtual
> > > > > > server piece, does this dependancy constitute a single point of
> > > failure?
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

"Hilary Cotter" wrote:

> What version of the OS are we talking about 2000 or 2003?
>
> 2003 does seem to require AD and DNS to be live when creating the cluster.
>
> It does appear that somehow they have managed to create a cluster without an
> active DNS or AD. I don't believe Microsoft will support this configuration.
>
> --
> Hilary Cotter
> Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
> http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
>
>
> "Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B2143F93-C7C2-427E-9F54-970EB2117B7D@microsoft.com...
> > Hilary, the following items were changed on both nodes of the cluster and
> > allows the resources to function correctly without AD/DNS.
> >
> > MSSQLSERVER service to use LocalSystem Account, Interact with Desktop
> > unchecked.
> >
> > SQLSERVERAGENT service to use LocalSystem Account, Interact with Desktop
> > unchecked.
> >
> > Cluster Service to use local user account which has admin rights. Use same
> > account and password for both computers.
> >
> > Following items added to lmhosts file;
> >
> > 10.50.32.34 NOCTMDS-DBTSQL #PRE //SQL Server Virtual IP
> > 10.50.32.35 NOCTMDS-DBTEST #PRE //Microsoft Cluster Server
> > Virtual IP
> >
> > DNS servers removed from TCP/IP Properties.
> >
> > Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
> >
> > Only other change that was made is to /flushdns from both computers. Both
> > AD/DNS servers are turned off.
> >
> > Cluster failover occurs normally.
> >
> > First question is why does this work?
> >
> > Is this a supported configuration by Microsoft, or does this go against
> > "Best Practices" for any specific reason?
> >
> > If not supported by Microsoft, what is the down side to running in this
> > manner, and what problems could be expected by not using a Domain\Username
> > account for the services?
> >
> > Any white papers, tech notes, releasable internal documents that specify
> it
> > must be done one way or the other (AD/DNS or Not needed) would be greatly
> > appreciated.
> >
> >
> > "Brian Cook" wrote:
> >
> > > Hillary, here is the kicker for you. I don't know how they did it,
> however
> > > they got the cluster and sql to run without the domain controllers/dns
> > > servers. I will be heading over there in a little while to figure out
> what
> > > they did.
> > >
> > > Either way I know it is not a supported configuration by Microsoft, and
> I
> > > cannot guarantee that it will not fail completely at some point and bite
> them
> > > in the fanny.
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > > "Hilary Cotter" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'd try to run cluster administrator to create a new cluster on a
> standalone
> > > > win2003 and take screen shots of it failing because it can't register
> the
> > > > cluster name in AD, or the IP address for the cluster in DNS.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Hilary Cotter
> > > > Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
> > > > http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:30241601-0AD5-4673-8102-48FEC2C932DE@microsoft.com...
> > > > > Hilary, thanks for the validation. I know that AD and DNS is
> required, I
> > > > just
> > > > > am having problems convincing the client that they are required. I
> have
> > > > > pointed out multiple articles in SQL books online, and
> TechNet/Support
> > > > items
> > > > > that also say the same thing.
> > > > >
> > > > > Must have assumptions are not a satisfactory answer for this client.
> They
> > > > > need to see it it writing that it must have explicitly AD/DNS.
> > > > >
> > > > > Brian
> > > > >
> > > > > "Hilary Cotter" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > You will need DNS and AD for installing a SQL Server cluster or
> adding
> > > > nodes
> > > > > > to it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The nodes themselves don't necessarily need an active DC or DNS.
> In fact
> > > > you
> > > > > > should enter the node, and cluster name in the host file to reduce
> the
> > > > > > amount of time a node requires to go online.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Hilary Cotter
> > > > > > Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
> > > > > > http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Brian Cook" <BrianCook@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message
> > > > > > news:368FFF28-CD47-4F92-A2D8-0FA72DEC1897@microsoft.com...
> > > > > > > A client of ours wants to run a clustered instance of SQL and
> not have
> > > > it
> > > > > > > dependent on name resolution for anything.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Since it appears that SQL is heavily dependent on AD and DNS for
> the
> > > > > > virtual
> > > > > > > server piece, does this dependancy constitute a single point of
> > > > failure?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
>
>