How to Rename alias( Server name) on New Server

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How to Rename alias( Server name) on New Server

Author

Topic

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 14:24:54

Hi Experts,

I have old server ( which is in 2-node cluster) and has 2 instances runnning. But i want to migrate everything from one instances to New standalone server.
1) How do I rename the alias on new server so all the applications can point to new server.?
2) Both old and new servers are in Same SAN.

Appreciate for your experts advice.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 14:28:22

You modify the alias on the client machines/app servers. Modifying an alias on the database server does not do anything for the applications.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 15:02:54

Thanks Tara,
You mean I have to change alias each applications.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 15:37:31

Could you explain what you mean by alias? I want to make sure we are referring to the same thing.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 15:52:15

Alias means changing alias on Newserver to old server name so applications can point to it.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 15:55:02

Yes but what do you mean by alias?!

Modifying an application to point to a different SQL Server is typically done in the connection strings. You can handle it via a SQL alias, but I need to make sure you aren't referring to a DNS alias or some other alias. Alias can mean a lot of things for applications and databases.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:05:57

Sorry i am not familiar with these DNS and other alias.
Can you please tell what should i do when old server has 2 instances and is clustered but the new server is standalone. I want to just move one instances to new server and applications connecting to that instances as well.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:08:55

There's nothing different about moving databases from clustered instances to standalone instances. Moving databases is a straight forward task.

You need to modify the connection strings in order for the applications to connect to the new instance. This is an application config issue and not a SQL config issue.

So which part are you asking about? How move databases between instances or how to modify the application config to point to a new instance?

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:14:22

Thanks a lot Tara,
I am asking how to modify the application config to point to a new instance?

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:16:51

It depends. There are various ways for an application to store the connection information. What language is the application written in? Are you the developer or is there someone there who is? The developer will know exactly where the information is stored and how to change it. It is not the DBA's responsibility to change this information. Typically the app admin will do it or the developer.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:21:55

Is there a way in the new server, i can point all the applications to it without changing connection strings in each applications.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 16:25:15

No. There is nothing to configure on the database server for this.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

montu
Yak Posting Veteran

60 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 18:23:15

Hi Tara
here i got bit confused if u can clear my confusion that will be great.

Suppose we move databases to brand new server basically replace hardware but we give same server name to new server then does we have to change any thing in this what i understand if naming conventions are same on new server then nothing has to be changed provided old server dosen't exist on domain.
please correct me if i am wrong.

if i am right then isn't this applicable in sodeep's case

regards

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 18:27:02

You are correct. I can't say whether or not this is applicable in sodeep's case as he didn't tell us he'd be using the same names.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 23:13:30

Thanks Montu for raising that Questions

Tara,
Suppose in my clustered server, the instances i am migrating to new standalone box has i.p 10.18.18.18. So can't i keep the IP address for the new server as alias(Same IP) and change OLD server's IP add to some other alias.
I got Confused Tara.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 23:23:33

Yes you can keep everything.

Stop using the word alias as how you are using it is not a SQL alias. You are referring to the host/virtual name. This is why I asked you to explain what you meant by the word alias, although you never gave a clear answer.

Use the correct words next time and we'll be able to answer your questions easier and faster. In this context, you should have said: "Can I reuse the virtual name on my cluster as the hostname on my standalone server?" And our answer would have been yes.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 23:26:11

Thanks Tara. You are great.
Sorry my bad.
But are you are sure it works from clustered server to standalone server and they are using Same SAN.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-02 : 23:31:15

If you don't believe me, hire a consultant or contact Microsoft. I'm just a stranger on the Internet.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-03 : 09:28:14

In my cluster(3-node) i have two instances running ,but if i use the virtual name on my cluster as the hostname on my standalone server. What will happen to the 2nd instance which i don't want to migrate.

tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-03 : 13:23:07

You will need to uninstall the instance in which you are trying to steal the name for your standalone server. Once it is uninstalled, make sure to remove the cluster group with that name from Cluster Administrator.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-01-03 : 13:30:17

Thanks Tara.
That is what i was looking for.
Appreciate for you help

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