Re: Migrating stand-alone SQL server to cluster

Agreed. You need to rerun the service pack; however, as I stated in an
earlier post, there are explicit procedures that you must follow in order to
do this, because at this point, you have a mixed-matched multi-node cluster.
One node already has the SP3a binaries on it, the other, RTM.

There is a registry tweak that you use to tell the patch that you are only
applying binaries on one node in a virtual installation.

Basicly, you add the registry key, then you install the patch on the newly
added node only. The key tells the installer to only update the binaries.

Unfortunately, I don't have the tweak handy. I'll do my best to try to dig
it up, but I would STRONGLY suggest that you call MS PSS and have them walk
you through it.

>From what I recall, even using the instructions MS PSS gave me, it still did
not work smoothly.

The problem is that if you try to reapply the service pack as you would a
normal clustered installation, somewhere during the installation process, it
will bomb without the tweak because it sees the mismatch.

Trust me on this. CALL MS PSS for assistance!

Now, this might not be your case, but I do believe we also had to upgrade
the hosts from Win2K to Win2K3, one at a time. So, it may have been this
Mixed Cluster configuration that caused our problems.

You can go ahead and try to reapply the patch normally, but if it bombs out,
PLEASE, PLEASE CALL MS PSS. Fair Warning!

Sincerely,


Anthony Thomas


--

"Geoff N. Hiten" <sqlcraftsman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:epBn4MquFHA.1560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes. You will need to re-apply the latest Service pack and any post-SP
hotfixes you may have had. The installer puts RTM binaries on the new node
and they must be updated.

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

"GaryC" <GaryC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3B5ADAC4-3E42-467B-960D-6BF319F6BD76@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Ignore this last post. I found what I did wrong and corrected it. One
> othe
> question though, do I need to run the SP3a update on the cluster node
> again?
> Thanks.
>
> "GaryC" wrote:
>
>> I un-installed the second node successfully, then ran the SQL setup on
>> the
>> 1st node successfully adding the 2nd node as a failover. During the
>> install
>> it prompts for an IP address. I tried to use the exiting virtual
>> server's
>> IP, but it said that it was already in use. So I added a second IP, but
>> it
>> used the cluster heartbeat subnet. So now I have one virtual server with
>> 2
>> SQL IP address objects assigned to it. The original is10.0.3.240, the
>> added
>> IP is 192.168.57.113. Is this OK? Do I need to change the
>> 192.168.57.113
>> to the same subnet as the original? The clients will use the virtual
>> server
>> name so maybe this is OK. Please help me out!!
>> Thanks.
>>
>> "Anthony Thomas" wrote:
>>
>> > Here's a TechNet link. This will reinstall SQL Server on the new
>> > cluster
>> > node; however, to service pack that node is tricky: there is a registry
>> > hack
>> > that you need in order to just update the binaries on the new node.
>> > You
>> > need to contact Microsoft Product Support Services for the procedures
>> > as
>> > they are not published.
>> >
>> > Troubleshooting SQL Server 2000 Failover Clusters
>> >
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/failclus.mspx#EGAA
>> >
>> > Hope this helps.
>> >
>> > Sincerely,
>> >
>> >
>> > Anthony Thomas
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > "GaryC" <GaryC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> > news:94AAEA9E-0691-453B-913F-4D25BE89A3B0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > When I select Option 2, the error comes up. "Cancel" exits the setup
>> > and
>> > "OK" brings me back to the menu to choose options 1 or 2. Do I need to
>> > re-run the setup on the new server where the SQL virtual cluster is
>> > installed
>> > and working?
>> >
>> > Gary
>> >
>> > "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:
>> >
>> > > Option 2) Advanced options. That is where SQL installer hides the
>> > > virtual
>> > > server/failover clustering options.
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > Geoff N. Hiten
>> > > Senior Database Administrator
>> > > Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>> > >
>> > > "GaryC" <GaryC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> > > news:CFB27364-C424-4179-81C0-9FCE66775759@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > > >I was able to build the new server as a one-node cluster and
>> > > >installed
>> > the
>> > > > SQL virtual server successfully. The DBs re-attached fine and all
>> > > > the
>> > > > data
>> > > > looks good. I was also able to add the original server as a second
>> > > > node
>> > > > to
>> > > > the cluster, but I'm stuck at the point of re-installing SQL on the
>> > > > it.
>> > > > When
>> > > > I run the SQL setup on the original server (2nd node) I get to
>> > > > specify
>> > the
>> > > > virtual server, then it prompts me to with two options.
>> > > > 1. Upgrade, remove, or add components to an existing instance of
>> > > > SQL
>> > > > server.
>> > > > 2. Advanced options.
>> > > > If I choose 1. then my only path is to "Uninstall". If I choose 2.
>> > > > then
>> > > > it
>> > > > gives me an error saying "Changing installation options at this
>> > > > level is
>> > > > not
>> > > > allowed. If you do this, you will need to exit setup and restart."
>> > > > What am I missing? Do I need to re-run SQL setup on the new server
>> > > > (1st
>> > > > node)?
>> > > >
>> > > > Thanks.
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > "Tony Sebion" wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > >> You should be able to install the clustering service with only one
>> > > >> node
>> > > >> and then install SQL Server on that one node. You can then
>> > > >> transfer
>> > the
>> > > >> databases from the existing server to the new one-node cluster
>> > > >> however
>> > > >> you'd like to copy databases (copy and reattach mdb's, DTS,
>> > > >> restore
>> > > >> backups...). When the databases are moved and accessible on the
>> > > >> cluster, add the 2nd node to the cluster service with Cluster
>> > > >> Administrator, and re-run SQL Server setup to add the SQL Service
>> > > >> to
>> > the
>> > > >> 2nd node.
>> > > >>
>> > > >> Good luck,
>> > > >> Tony Sebion
>> > > >>
>> > > >>
>> > > >> "GaryC" <GaryC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> > > >> news:B4CBAC01-F83B-413D-BDEE-F8600075BA4C@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>> > > >>
>> > > >> > I have a Windows 2003 Enterprise Ed. server running SQL 2000
>> > Enterprise
>> > > >> > Ed.
>> > > >> > with SCSI attached storage. I have a new server (identical
>> > hardware),
>> > > >> > HP
>> > > >> > fiber switches, etc to build a SAN config with the existing
>> > > >> > storage.
>> > I
>> > > >> > can
>> > > >> > build the SAN portion fine, but I don't know how to transition
>> > > >> > the
>> > live
>> > > >> > SQL
>> > > >> > server to a clustered config. Can I install the new server as a
>> > stand
>> > > >> > alone
>> > > >> > cluster with SQL installed, then somehow tie the two together?
>> > > >> > I
>> > don't
>> > > >> > know
>> > > >> > where to start. I've found a lot of info on building SQL
>> > > >> > clusters as
>> > a
>> > > >> > new
>> > > >> > installation, but nothing that addresses this specific scenario.
>> > > >> > Any
>> > > >> > ideas
>> > > >> > or help would be appreciated.
>> > > >>
>> > > >>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >


.

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