SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition 2-node multisite cluster

Question

In the article that list the differences between the editions of SQL Server 2012, it mentions multisite clusters are only available with the Enterprise Edition.  Assuming you are building a 2-node SQL cluster, what is stopping you from using SQL Server Standard Edition to build a 2-node multisite cluster with one node in site A and one node in site B using 3rd party data replication?  I've done it and it seems to work fine.  Can I assume they just mean that you can't use AlwaysOn Availability Groups?

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

Answer 1

David, I don't have an answer to your question  however so far my understanding was multisite cluster is EE feature only. Your post is telling me that you could do this in Standard Edition a simple two node cluster each located in different data center. Thanks for the info.

Answer 2

Hi David,

Firstly, using Geo-DR cover the HA protection is not a good idea as failover to a remote site always take longer time than local failover.

Secondly, if your cluster nodes are on the same set of subnets, even though they might physically located in different datacenters, SQL Server setup won't consider it as a multi-subnet installation. Here're some examples:

Below configuration is considered as a Multi-subnet cluster. If Standard Edition license is used, you'll be blocked when add the second node.

* Node1 is only on 10.10.2.x subnet;  Node2 is only on 20.20.1.x subnet

Below configurations are considered as a single subnet cluster.

* Node1 is on 10.10.2.x subnet;  Node2 is on 10.10.2.x subnet

* Node1 is on 10.10.2.x and 20.20.1.x subnets;  Node2 is on 10.10.2.x and 20.20.1.x subnets

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Answer 3

Min He,

Thanks for your post, that was what I was trying to find out.  So as long as the VLAN is stretched SQL 2012 Standard Edition will support a 2-node multisite cluster, but if they are in different subnets the Add Node will be blocked.

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