Any documentation out there that talks about setting up a 4 node or 8 node
cluster using Enterprise Edition of Win2K3

Also, there is the load balancing component of Clustering services. How can
SQL leverage that ? Any link that talks about this setup too.

Thank you

Hi

A 2, 3, 4..8 node cluster all setup the same way, behave the same as a 2
node and just work. Nothing special about them. Just be aware, SQL Server
2000 only supports 4 node clusters. I am not aware of any public
documentation that states anything special.

No, no load balancing as only one instance can access the resources at any
one time.

Regards
--------------------------------
Mike Epprecht, Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Zurich, Switzerland

IM: mike@epprecht.net

MVP Program: http://www.microsoft.com/mvp

Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/epprecht/

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SQL Server 2000 can go up to 8 nodes on IA64.


joe.

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Only if you have the DataCenter Edition of SQL Server 2000 and that has to
be purchased as a bundle from an OEM with a hardware purchase and the
DataCenter Edition of Windows.

--
Mike
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com
Disclaimer: This communication is an original work and represents my sole
views on the subject. It does not represent the views of any other person
or entity either by inference or direct reference.


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Wrong. Sorry.

4 node clusters are supported by Windows 2000 Data Center Server and SQL
Server 2000, x86 or IA64 is supported. But you are correct that it is only
available through OEM bundles.

However, which is a big however, Windows 2003, both Enterprise and Data
Center Editions support up to 8 node clusters, for x86, x64, and IA64
implementations.

Now, the Win2K3 support is irrespective of SQL Server. As far as SQL Server
is concerned, Joe is correct: SS2K Enterprise Edition, x86 only supports 4
node clusters because it was built with W2K DCS in mind. However, SS2K EE
IA64 SP3 was well aware of Win2K3 and was built without this restriction.

If you've every installed SS2K on an IA64 platform, you'd know that it uses
..msi instead of the standard setup program. That's not the only difference:
node support is another.

If you look in the Applies To section of the KB article you are referring
to, you will see the truth of my statements. But in all fairness, there is
also a type-o there as well (it says Win2K3, SE, but FC is only available on
OS EE).

PRB: Virtual SQL Server 2000 installation fails on cluster that has eight
nodes
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811054/en-us#appliesto

APPLIES TO
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition, when used with:
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)

Check out the following more recent KB:

The Microsoft support policy for a SQL Server failover cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327518/en-us


Number of supported nodes
The following is a list of the number of nodes that are supported by each
version of Microsoft SQL Server:

• Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 supports up to two nodes in a failover cluster.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (32 Bit)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (32 Bit) supports up to four
nodes in a failover cluster.

• Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition (64 bit)
Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition (64 bit) supports up to eight nodes
in a failover cluster.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition (32 bit or 64 bit)
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition supports up to two nodes in a
failover cluster.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition (32 bit or 64 bit)
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition supports up to eight nodes in a
failover cluster.

Note If you upgrade Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (32 bit) to Microsoft SQL
Server Enterprise Edition (64 bit), SQL Server will still only support four
nodes.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,


Anthony Thomas




--

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