2-node to 4-node

Hi!
I have a customer with a 2-node active/active sql2k cluster hosted on
w2k.
We now want to run this on w2k3 and we also want to build up the
cluster to have a 4-node active/active/active/active sql2k cluster.
Our plan is to do it in two steps as follow. We take the current 2
nodes offline and unplug them from the network and then install the 2
new nodes with w2k3 using the original ipaddresses and netbiosname and
then restoring the sql2k (one virtuel server and one named instance).
This should give us the same cluster as before but with sql2k running
on w2k3.
This is because the customer will be able to unplug the new nodes and
replug the old ones if there is any trouble with the new nodes.
Then after a few days it's time to reinstall the old nodes with w2k3
and new netbiosnames and connect them to the cluster so we get our
4-node. Then install 2 new named sql instances.
We want all 4 sql instances to be able to run in all 4 nodes.
Now some questions!
When I install a new named instance (on node 3) it will be available
in the other 2 nodes, but will the original sql2k on these 2 nodes be
available in node 3? The same question with node 4.
Is there some problems with sql2k and w2k3 because it is no way to
uninstall sql2k under MSCS? In w2k I'm able to remove it under the
control panel.
/Peter
I actually did a 2 to 4 node cluster upgrade. During the transition, I
replaced the original nodes with new hardware, so I went from 2 nodes with 4
procs each to 4 nodes with 8 procs each. I also went from 2 instances to 3
instances of SQL server. Here is how I did it.
Upgrade the existing nodes (1 at a time) to W2K3. Add the new nodes.
Install SQL and Service packs to the new nodes. Fail the cluster over to
the new nodes. Remove the old nodes and replace with new hardware. At this
point, I would drop those nodes and rebuild them from scratch. Upgrad for
2003 is good, but I prefer a clean build. Add the new nodes to SQL and
apply the service packs. Install the third SQL instance and service pack.
As for your two questions, whenever you add or remove a node, you will need
to use the SQL install CD to add or remove the node from the SQL
installation. This is in addition to evicting or adding the node from the
cluster tool. Choose Advanced Options and Maintain Failover Clustering.
Read BOL on failover clustering for more details.
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org
"Peter Lindberg" <peter.lindbergTAKE@.AWAYmartinsson.se> wrote in message
news:40641e4b.73299028@.msnews.microsoft.com...
> Hi!
> I have a customer with a 2-node active/active sql2k cluster hosted on
> w2k.
> We now want to run this on w2k3 and we also want to build up the
> cluster to have a 4-node active/active/active/active sql2k cluster.
> Our plan is to do it in two steps as follow. We take the current 2
> nodes offline and unplug them from the network and then install the 2
> new nodes with w2k3 using the original ipaddresses and netbiosname and
> then restoring the sql2k (one virtuel server and one named instance).
> This should give us the same cluster as before but with sql2k running
> on w2k3.
> This is because the customer will be able to unplug the new nodes and
> replug the old ones if there is any trouble with the new nodes.
> Then after a few days it's time to reinstall the old nodes with w2k3
> and new netbiosnames and connect them to the cluster so we get our
> 4-node. Then install 2 new named sql instances.
> We want all 4 sql instances to be able to run in all 4 nodes.
> Now some questions!
> When I install a new named instance (on node 3) it will be available
> in the other 2 nodes, but will the original sql2k on these 2 nodes be
> available in node 3? The same question with node 4.
> Is there some problems with sql2k and w2k3 because it is no way to
> uninstall sql2k under MSCS? In w2k I'm able to remove it under the
> control panel.
> /Peter
>
|||Thank's for your advice Geoff.
The questions comes after a test install I have done and there was a
few odd things that happend.
We use Veritas Volume Manager to allow dynamic disc. I'm not involved
in that part, but the storage techi say's that the veritas code for
w2k can't handle an upgrade of windows to w2k3 and veritas w2k code
can't be upgraded to w2k3 version and still running on w2k. That's why
I want to install w2k3 on new hw with the new codepack from Verirtas.
In our test we run into the following situation:
On node one where we installed the veritas code we connected to disk
and then set up the cluster and then the first sql virtual server. At
that time the other node didn't have the veritas code yet, it only had
w2k3 and was not part of the ckuster. That means all disk was
available to node one. That node was installed with a named instance
where I by the way had to use instruction from KB815431 and sp3a. That
was after the install of sql2k failed once.
After this we set up the veritas code on the other machine with
clustersupport and added it to the cluster. We made an error labeling
one disk with the same name as the other node(cut and paste). When
changing that we had to uninstall the veritas code and break the
cluster. On with veritas code again without clustersupport so we get a
possiblity to chage that label. Then get the node in the cluster
again.
Here I installed a new virtuel server with a new named instance and
sp3a on the second node. This setup was without problem and the only
odd thing was that the dtc service still was automatic.
Next step was to se that the instances could move between the nodes.
The second node could move to the first, but the first could not move
to the second. We found out that the first node have the service for
both instances but the second only the service for the last installed
instance.
I can't se why this happend.
This is why I'm conserned about adding 2 more nodes after a week. Will
the initial two be able to move to new once? If the problem I
described is created by some of my mistake I will still will do this
upgrade in 2 steps, but if there is this problem we have to reinstall
the old nodes to w2k3 at the same time.
I will try to recreate it in vmware workstation, but if someone know
anything about this I will be happy to hear it.
/Peter
On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 10:26:22 -0500, "Geoff N. Hiten"
<SRDBA@.Careerbuilder.com> wrotc:

>I actually did a 2 to 4 node cluster upgrade. During the transition, I
>replaced the original nodes with new hardware, so I went from 2 nodes with 4
>procs each to 4 nodes with 8 procs each. I also went from 2 instances to 3
>instances of SQL server. Here is how I did it.
>Upgrade the existing nodes (1 at a time) to W2K3. Add the new nodes.
>Install SQL and Service packs to the new nodes. Fail the cluster over to
>the new nodes. Remove the old nodes and replace with new hardware. At this
>point, I would drop those nodes and rebuild them from scratch. Upgrad for
>2003 is good, but I prefer a clean build. Add the new nodes to SQL and
>apply the service packs. Install the third SQL instance and service pack.
>As for your two questions, whenever you add or remove a node, you will need
>to use the SQL install CD to add or remove the node from the SQL
>installation. This is in addition to evicting or adding the node from the
>cluster tool. Choose Advanced Options and Maintain Failover Clustering.
>Read BOL on failover clustering for more details.
>--
>Geoff N. Hiten
>Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>Senior Database Administrator
>Careerbuilder.com
>I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
>www.sqlpass.org
>"Peter Lindberg" <peter.lindbergTAKE@.AWAYmartinsson.se> wrote in message
>news:40641e4b.73299028@.msnews.microsoft.com...
>
|||You can determine which nodes can host which instances. Using the Install
CD and the Advanced Options tab, you can add or remove individual nodes to a
particular instance. I added each instance to each new node individually.
I then added the service pack to the new node/instance. Of course, I
rebooted each new node after each step, so there are a lot of reboots.
There is a new feature in W2k3 where you can expand basic cluster disks
without converting them to dynamic disks. That may eliminate the need for
Veritas Volume Manager.
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org
"Peter Lindberg" <peter.lindberg@.unigrid.se> wrote in message
news:406873b9.247543388@.msnews.microsoft.com...
> Thank's for your advice Geoff.
> The questions comes after a test install I have done and there was a
> few odd things that happend.
> We use Veritas Volume Manager to allow dynamic disc. I'm not involved
> in that part, but the storage techi say's that the veritas code for
> w2k can't handle an upgrade of windows to w2k3 and veritas w2k code
> can't be upgraded to w2k3 version and still running on w2k. That's why
> I want to install w2k3 on new hw with the new codepack from Verirtas.
> In our test we run into the following situation:
> On node one where we installed the veritas code we connected to disk
> and then set up the cluster and then the first sql virtual server. At
> that time the other node didn't have the veritas code yet, it only had
> w2k3 and was not part of the ckuster. That means all disk was
> available to node one. That node was installed with a named instance
> where I by the way had to use instruction from KB815431 and sp3a. That
> was after the install of sql2k failed once.
> After this we set up the veritas code on the other machine with
> clustersupport and added it to the cluster. We made an error labeling
> one disk with the same name as the other node(cut and paste). When
> changing that we had to uninstall the veritas code and break the
> cluster. On with veritas code again without clustersupport so we get a
> possiblity to chage that label. Then get the node in the cluster
> again.
> Here I installed a new virtuel server with a new named instance and
> sp3a on the second node. This setup was without problem and the only
> odd thing was that the dtc service still was automatic.
> Next step was to se that the instances could move between the nodes.
> The second node could move to the first, but the first could not move
> to the second. We found out that the first node have the service for
> both instances but the second only the service for the last installed
> instance.
> I can't se why this happend.
> This is why I'm conserned about adding 2 more nodes after a week. Will
> the initial two be able to move to new once? If the problem I
> described is created by some of my mistake I will still will do this
> upgrade in 2 steps, but if there is this problem we have to reinstall
> the old nodes to w2k3 at the same time.
> I will try to recreate it in vmware workstation, but if someone know
> anything about this I will be happy to hear it.
> /Peter
>
> On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 10:26:22 -0500, "Geoff N. Hiten"
> <SRDBA@.Careerbuilder.com> wrotc:
with 4
3
this
for
pack.
need
the
>
|||I saw that under Advanced Options but the button was greymarked. It
must have happend something. Now I have done it i vmware and seen it
work.
Next will be the actual go later this week, and then two more nodes a
week later. I'll remember those reboots after each part. I get it that
before starting with node 4 you where up with SP3a on node 3.
/Peter
On Mon, 29 Mar 2004 09:39:03 -0500, "Geoff N. Hiten"
<SRDBA@.Careerbuilder.com> wrotc:

>You can determine which nodes can host which instances. Using the Install
>CD and the Advanced Options tab, you can add or remove individual nodes to a
>particular instance. I added each instance to each new node individually.
>I then added the service pack to the new node/instance. Of course, I
>rebooted each new node after each step, so there are a lot of reboots.
>There is a new feature in W2k3 where you can expand basic cluster disks
>without converting them to dynamic disks. That may eliminate the need for
>Veritas Volume Manager.