SQL Server 2008 Migration Strategy Involving Replication and Clustering

Question

Hello,

My client currently wants to Migrate SQL Server production instance from an outsourced vendor and bring it to in house.   Currently the database is at outsourced location and is running on a clustered environment.

The system details at high level are -  SQL Server 2008 sp2 running on Windows Server 2003 Sp2.

Now, my client wants to bring this setup in-house and the plan in nutshell is to create a parallel environment onsite.  We are thinking to first cold restore with data files from outsourced location and then set up replication for concurrent synch up of offsite and newly created onsite instance. And then, this replicated new onsite instance need to be brought under clustering.

The question for gurus on this forum,  is there any comprehensive, step-by-step style document anywhere that addresses this replication/clustering in detail manner?

Our onsite system configuration will be identical to outsourced location - i.e. SQL Server 2008 sp2 running in Windows Server 2003 sp2.

Thanks

D

Answer 1

Hi Darsh123,

>> step-by-step style document anywhere that addresses this replication/clustering in detail manner?

Based on my research, there is no official document about step-by-step strategy replication and clustering.
But replication with clustering is a typical scenario involves syncing local / regional lookup servers for better performance with the main server in data center periodically, or sync with a remote site.

You can try to use clustering with Log shipping or Transactional Replication.  If you want server A database and Server B Database always in sync you can go with Simple Transactional Replication with Immediate Updating option, You no need to go for Peer to Peer. If you want server A database and Server B Database to be sync with delay of 30 min you can go for Log Shipping with Read only option.

There is a thread about  Replication With Mirroring or Replication With Clustering , for more information, please refer to the relies.  http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sqlreplication/thread/c346f30b-229c-4637-bdc8-94613604ee23

---

Regards, Amber zhang

Answer 2

The only catch with replication and clustering is that the snapshot share MUST be on a cluster resource IF you are doing pull subscriptions.

---

looking for a book on SQL Server 2008 Administration? http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Server-2008-Management-Administration/dp/067233044X looking for a book on SQL Server 2008 Full-Text Search? http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Full-Text-Search-Server-2008/dp/1430215941