Clustering can increase reliability and uptime in a client/server environment. As a DBA, you have many options to choose from when it comes to clustering. Choices include what to do when a server is failing or getting bogged down, do you want another to take
over full operation or just some of its tasks? Will it be a complete fail-over
design or just load balancing? What's the best way to minimize downtime? This fast guide will help
direct you towards the clustering design fit best for your environment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Is clustering for you?
Clustering options
Availability measures in clustering
Clustering and installation
| Is clustering for you? |
- Why
cluster?
There are two types of clustering in SQL Server: load balancing and failover. This short article examines the reasons for clustering and some of the system requirements.
| Clustering options |
- Active/active
or active/passive clustering?
Learn the steps you should take when weighing the decision for active/active or active passing clustering.
- Hardware
clustering vs. replication: A case study
This tip is based upon a real-life experience in a Tier 1 bank. We used Sybase tools like ASE and Replication Server but this case is very applicable to other engines such as Oracle with Data Guard, etc.
- How
does failover clustering work in SQL 2005?
Learn how the failovThe following was based upon a real-life experience in a Tier 1 bank. We used Sybase tools like ASE and Replication Server but this case is very applicable to other engines such as Oracle with Data Guard, etc.er clustering functionality has been extended in SQL Server 2005.
- Microsoft
clustering algorithm
Learn more about Microsoft's clustering algorithm, which is a segmentation algorithm provided by Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SSAS).
| Availability measures in clustering |
- Checklist:
Prepare SQL Server for peak workloads
Chances are you have to prepare for spikes in SQL Server activity throughout the year. Learn how to maintain highly available, fast-performing SQL Servers at such times.
- Pros
and cons of using merge replication for high availability in SQL Server
Understand the pros and cons of using application load balancing with merge replication in SQL Server 2000, and get a simpler high availability solution plus recovery scenarios.
- SQL
Server clustering best practices
SQL Server clustering provides high availability to clients by sharing server resources over several nodes, but only when all of its dependencies are addressed.
- Configuring
High Availability
This section introduces several Microsoft SQL Server 2005 high-availability solutions that improve the availability of servers or databases. Check out these options that will minimize downtime for users.
| Clustering and installation |
- Configuring
SQL Server clusters
SQL Server Expert Adam Machanic recommends two books on the topic of high availability to help install SQL Server on two systems with the same database and the same database structure.
- Setting
up SQL Server clusters on a SAN
Storage area networks (SANs) allow you to connect expandable storage to your SQL Server installations, but care must be taken when working with SQL Server clusters.
This was first published in August 2006