creating sql cluster ( shared storage) and mirror equivelant with Sql 2012 HADRON

Question

Hi,

Im wanting to create a sql cluster with shared storage and a mirror within an availability group. Im finding the terminology used within HADRON a bit confusing, many of the articles refer to separate installs for each node within an availability group.

Is this really the way to set this up in Hadron or is there a way to use an old style cluster and still have it part of hadron?

mark 

Answer 1

Hi Mark,

HADRON is now SQL 2012 AlwaysOn Feature. 

You have to create a Windows Cluster with Windows 2008 or 2008 R2 (You can create cluster with no shared storage). After Windows cluster is installed, you have to install SQL 2012 and enable the HADR / AlwaysOn feature. Then you will be able to create an Availability Group and add databases to it.

You can see this video which explain more about AlwaysOn

Remember that Database mirroring is still available

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Javier Villegas | @javier_vill | http://sql-javier-villegas.blogspot.com/

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Answer 2

Technically, SQL 2012 AlwaysOn includes both Failover Clustered Instances (FCI) and Availability Groups (formerly HADRON).  Both technologies use Windows Server Failover Clustering as the distributed failure detection and management system.  FCI uses shared storage while Availability Groups uses local storage on each node with SQL handling the data synchronization.

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Geoff N. Hiten Principal Consultant Microsoft SQL Server MVP

Answer 3

Yes, you can create a 2-node shared storage cluster just like you did in the old days and also have a 3rd node that is the target of AlwaysOn Availability Group.  I set it up once and I am planning on doing it again and writting a blog article on it as it is not very intuitve.  It has been a while, but from what I recall, you have to build your SQL shared storage cluster as you previously did in the old days.  Then, install a standalone instance of SQL on a different server.  You have to add that server to the cluster by using "Add Node" and then create your Availabilty Group between the clustered instance of SQL and the Standalone instance of SQL.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific, if I have a chance I'll re-visit the configuration this week and write a step-by-step article.

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David A. Bermingham, MVP, Senior Technical Evangelist, SIOS Technology Corp

Answer 4

Thanks for the help guys, will check it out.

Answer 5

I managed to put together a blog post for this in case anyone else has the same confusion  http://www.sqlinstallation.com/sql-server-2012-cluster-step-step-installation-guide/