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 Physical to virtual cluster nodes

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Peter99
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

498 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 13:10:10
Hi,

We have windows server 2008 two node cluster active/passive. We have few named instances of sql server 2008 and r2. Our management is planning to virtualize almost everything to save money. Their plan is to virtualize cluser. So our plan is:
1. Create two virtual nodes on existing cluster.
2. Failover one physical node to virtual and then remove physical node.
3. Failover second physical node to second virtual node and remove second physical node.
4. This is production server and applications are connected to different instances.

My question is based on your experience whether it is possible. If possible any impact on application.

Thanks

Sachin.Nand

2937 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 14:02:23
What about the storage ? Is that also going to be virtual ?

After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says W T F ....
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Peter99
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

498 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 14:59:36
Not yet know. But I think vm nodes will share the same storage. Idea is that once failover, virtual nodes will take control of disk resources. Sachin if you did this practice can you share whether it is possible? if possible what we need on storage side?
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 15:18:22
I don't understand your steps. How are you going to create virtual nodes on a physical cluster?

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

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Peter99
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

498 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 15:51:41
Hi Tara,
VM guys will create virtual node on cluster, then we will install sql server. The will add virtual nodes.
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 15:55:38
I really don't understand your steps. Are you saying you are going to move instances across clusters via a cluster failover?

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

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Peter99
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

498 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 16:41:02
We are planning to virtualize our cluster. Right now we have 2 nodes active/passive cluster, physical nodes.
This is data centre. Our plan is to consolidate everything through virtualization and move into UCS. In UCS we will use virutal cluster nodes instead of physical. So our plan is to add 2 virutal nodes to existing cluster and then remove physical. If picture is still not clear, let me get some more info from vm, server team.
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 16:45:32
Is that even possible (adding virtual nodes to existing cluster)?

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

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Sachin.Nand

2937 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-04 : 16:47:56
Ok if I understand it correctly what you mean is that you will be adding virtual nodes to the existing physical windows cluster and then install sql server cluster across the 2 virtual nodes which will be part of the virtual sql cluster.



After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says W T F ....
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Peter99
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

498 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-05 : 12:31:21
Yes Sachin, you are right. That's what I am trying to say.
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-05 : 13:02:18
I think you need to talk to your server admins. Hardware and config is supposed to be the same on all nodes of a cluster. I doubt doing this will even pass the cluster checks.

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

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Sachin.Nand

2937 Posts

Posted - 2012-06-06 : 13:51:06
Ok now that we are on the same page.What I would do is

a) Add a new virtual node to the cluster
b) Fail-over to that virtual node
c) Uninstall both the physical nodes
d) Then add consecutive virtual nodes.

After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says W T F ....
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