Clustered SQL2K5 instances with Clustered SQL2K instances -- sql server clustering

Kelli
5/25/2006 6:55:37 AM

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'm caught in the middle of a
situation,and I need some expert advice.

We are running multiple SQL2K instances on W2K3 clustered servers in an
Active-Active configuration. We would like our service provider to
create a clustered SQL2K5 instance on this same cluster, but are being
told it cannot be done due to an incompatibility between SQL2K and
SQL2K5 on clusters. Further, we are told that if we want any SQL2K5
instances ona cluster, we'll need to purchase new hardware to segregate
the versions onto separate clusters. Everything I've been reading
would indicate that SQL2K and SQL2K5 instances can reside on the same
cluster, provided they have their own cluster groups and resources.

I have no experience with SQL2K5 and it is very unlikely that I will
ever have a chance to install or configure any SQL2K5 instances, since
our database support has been outsourced; therefore, I cannot prove or
disprove our service provider's assertions about SQL2K and SQL2K5 on
clusters. I'm not sure if our service provider is being dishonest or
whether they simply lack the technical expertise.

Can someone tell me definitively whether or not clustered SQL2K and
clustered SQL2K5 instances can reside on the same cluster? Are there
any particular issues with this configuration?

Thanks in advance for replies.

Linchi Shea
5/25/2006 7:54:03 AM

You can definitely have a SQL2000 isntance and a SQL2005 instance side by
side in the same cluster. I wouldn't judge whether the service provider is
being honest or dishonest based on this alone. In a production environment,
one may choose to be extra cautious and not allow SQL2000 and SQL2005 to be
mixed in a cluster. The reason does't have to be any particular issue. In my
own prod environment, I probably would advise against mixing the two releases
in a cluster until I have gained enough confidence or unless I have no choice.

Linchi

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Michael Hotek
5/30/2006 6:11:36 AM

They can both co-exist on the same server. I have several running this way.

If they are telling you they can't be installed because of an
incompatibility between SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005, that's BS.

They might have valid reasons for not doing this from a business
perspective, but there are ZERO technical reasons that it can not be done.

--
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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Kelli
5/30/2006 6:36:18 AM

Thanks for the information. I don't have the full reasoning behind
their reluctance to put them both on the same cluster (we are looking
to do this in the development environment), but they are saying there
are MDAC compatibility issues. Does that change anything from your
perspectives?

Geoff N. Hiten
5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

There are MDAC problems with SQL 7.0 clustering and SQL 2000/2005
clustering, but there are no issues with clustering both SQL 2000 and SQL
2005 on the same cluster.

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

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