Hi,

I am newbie to SQL Server and Clustering as such. I would like to perform a
SQL Server install over a cluster.

For this will a machine having Win 2k Professional and 2 * 100 GB hard disks
suffice? Will the Cluster service be available with Win 2k prof?

Also, can any one point me to some nice (and not too tough links) as regards
clustering?

Thank you.

Regards,

If you want to create a cluster for evaluation and/or training purposes,
download Microsoft Virtual Server (a free product download).

Get these documents:

Using Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Create and Configure a Two-Node
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Cluster
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/virtualserver/deploy/cvs2005.mspx

Installing a Failover Cluster
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179410.aspx

TechNet Support WebCast: How to cluster Microsoft SQL Server 2005 by using
Microsoft Virtual Server
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=891798

How to Configure Virtual Server 2005 in Order to Setup a Test SQL Server
Cluster
http://www.sql-server-performance.com/installing_sql_clustering_virtual_server1.asp

--
Arnie Rowland, Ph.D.
Westwood Consulting, Inc

Most good judgment comes from experience.
Most experience comes from bad judgment.
- Anonymous


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The answer to your fisrt question is NO. You need SQL 2000 Enterprise
Edition on Windows 2000 or 2003 Server with shared disks to setup your
cluster environment.

For more information on SQL cluster, check SQL books online.

Ayad

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Uh, no not really<g>. First off you can not cluster with internal or simple
direct attached drives. Second you need a Server level OS. Plus many other
requirements that I am sure you do not meet. You can find many details
here:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/technologies/highavailability/default.mspx


--
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP

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Clustering is available only on the Enterprise Edition of Windows Server
(2000 or 2003). If you are starting out, I recommend using Windows Server
2003 instead of 2000. 2003 has a much more robust clustering wizard that
makes it a lot easier to create a cluster.

Here is a good overview of clustering. It is written for SQL 2000, but the
fundamentals of clustering are the same for SQL 2005.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/failclus.mspx

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




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