Cluster and SQL

[Scott]

Running Windows 2000 Adv Svr in a cluster. The cluster
is running a raid5 ataboy data vault which is partitioned
into 3 partitions, a drive e (350 GB), a drive Q (5 GB)
and a drive D (145 GB). All resources (including SQL
2000) right now depend on Drive E which is being run by
NodeA. SQL is loaded on each node, but the program files
that it uses in on drive E.

I would like to have the file and app server (NodeA) and
the SQL server (NodeB). Can I copy the program files
from drive E to drive D and have SQL only on NodeB. Or
would it entail a lot more than that.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Scott

 

[David Adner]

If I understand you right, it sounds like you want to make NodeA a
dedicated file server and NodeB a dedicated SQL server. Do you still
want them to failover or are you trying to uncluster them?

 

[Scott]

David,

Thanks for the quick answer. What you said is right, I
want NodeA for file/app server and NodeB for SQL. I
still want them clustered and failover is a must.

Thanks again,

Scott

 

[David Adner]

I may not be fully understanding your configuration. I've never seen a
SQL cluster with the program files on a clustered volume (E; the SQL
binaries typically go on the local disk of each cluster member. The
data and related files go on a clustered volume.

You're basically looking to create an Active/Active cluster with SQL and
a file server. Since your cluster is already a SQL cluster, that part
is finished; just fail it over to NodeB and it'll run there. Then
create your other network name, share, IP, etc for the file server and
have it run on NodeA.

 

[Scott]

David,

Again, thanks for the response.
The cluster is running a "ATABoy" raid configuation that
has 500GB divided into 3 volumes--Eall files are on
this one), Q: (the cluster Quorum) and D: unused so far.

All the files and apps are on Volume E: including a
folder called Program Files. This folder is not the real
program files that is on the C: drive of each Node, but
it does have a file structure like this:
- Program Files
- Microsoft SQL Server
- MSSQL
- Backup (last accessed 2/1/04)
- Data (last accessed 11/17/03)
- FTData (last accessed 2/2/04)
- Jobs (last accessed 7/26/01)
- Log (last accessed 2/2/04)
- Repldata (last accessed 11/17/03)

In Cluster Administrator the SQL server has dependencies
of E: (Physical Drive) & SQL Network Name.

So, my question is, can I copy the Program Files folder
from E to D, change the dependencies in Cluster
Administrator and then move SQL to NodeB?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Scott]

David,

Thanks again for answering.

Cluster services run a external raid configuration of
500GB. This is divided into 3 volumes, E: , D: , and Q:.
Of course the Q: volume is the Quorum, the D: volume is
so far unused and the E: volume has all the data/apps on
it. All resources in Cluster Administrator have a
dependency of the E: volume, including SQL. SQL 2000 was
loaded onto both Nodes, and works on either one. On the
E: volume is a folder called "Program Files". SQL info
is the only thing on it, but only the backup, logs and
FTdata has been accessed recently.

My original question remains, can I copy the program
files from volume E to volume D, make SQL dependent on
volume D and put it on NodeB?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[David Adner]

Ah, well, to move all the E: contents to D:, I'm not sure. If it is
possible, I think you would stop all SQL, cluster, etc services and copy
the data from E: to D:, then swap drive letters. I doubt you can't
simply make SQL try to point to D:. I'm not sure what the cluster
service will do if you swap drive letters, though. You'd definitely
need to test this on another system.

 

[Scott]

David,

I don't want to transfer anything except SQL to NodeB, so
that will only entail transfering the "Bogus" program
files (they really aren't the real program files that SQL
executable is at). I really don't want to change any
drive letters, just have SQL running on NodeB and
dependent on drive D with drive E still on NodeA running
all the file/apps.

Anyway, I really appreciate your answers.

Scott