By

Deepak Bhardwaj

Installing SQL Server 2012 Cluster

1. Introduction This document outlines the step by step process to install SQL Server 2012 failover Cluster on

Windows Server 2012 Failover Cluster.

2. Prerequisites The following prerequisites must be fulfilled before starting the SQL Server 2012 Cluster

installation.

A). NET framework 3.5 SP1 must be installed on all the Nodes.

B). NET framework 4.0 must be installed on all the Nodes.

B).Clustered Disks for SQL Server Log & Data files. These disks must not be

Compressed (Figure 1). These drives are also visible in the Failover Cluster

Management Console (Figure 2). There should be different drives for each

Clustered Instance.

Note: SQL Server 2012 Installation support one disk for both Data & Log files.

However, each instance must have a separate disk.

Quorum, ROOT & MSDTC Drives. MSDTC is optional in SQL SERVER

2012 in case you want to use Linked server than you can configured

clustered MSDTC after SQL cluster.

C).No Antivirus software should be installed on the Nodes.

D).Add exceptions to firewall configuration settings for the SQL Server port, SQL

Browser port, File and Printer Sharing (TCP 139/445 and UDP 137/138), and

Remote Procedure Call (TCP port 135).

E).Remote Registry Service must be running.

F).The installing account must be a local administrator to the Nodes.

F).The SQL Server Service account should be from the same domain as the nodes.

G).Identify the network connections for Heartbeat, Backup & Production.

H).Copy the SQL Server media to the local disks of the nodes.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

Figure 1

Figure 2

The following information must be in your note book or Notepad before you start Installing SQL

Server failover cluster.

1. SQL Server Service Account(s)/Password(s).

2. SQL Server Cluster Network Name(s) & Instance Name(s).

3. SQL Server Cluster Network IP Address(s) for each Network Name.

4. Subnet Mask.

Note: The SQL Server 2012 Cluster installations are to be performed on both the

Nodes.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

3. Installing SQL Server 2012 Failover Cluster

Installing SQL Server 2012 Failover Cluster

It’s a best practice to restart the Cluster Nodes before starting the SQL Server Installation.

A).Run Setup.exe from the Installation media or from the local disk. The

SQL Server Installation Center will launch.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

B).Select Installation on the left hand navigation and click on new SQL Server

Failover Installation.

C).The Setup Support Rules will validate the requirements. There should not

be any failure to proceed.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

The next screen will prompt for the license for install. Select the license

type and click on next.

The next screen will prompt to accept the license Terms, accept the license

terms and click on next to continue the installation.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

D). The feature selections windows will appear. Select the required

Components, Click next to proceed. Reporting Services will not be the part

of SQL Failover Cluster.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

E).The Instance configuration window will prompt for SQL Server Network

Name, the Instance Name and the root directory for the instance. Click

the next button to continue.

Note: The Instance root directory is location where the Instance binaries

will be in installed. The SQL Server Network name is a virtual

server name that is created by the Windows Server Team.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

F). The Disk Space requirements window will confirm about the disk space

Available and in use.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

G).The Cluster Resource Group Windows Will display the names of the existing

Instances (if any) created on the Cluster. The in the drop down combo box

named SQL Server Cluster Resource Name you will be prompted to select the

Cluster Resource name.

Note: The Cluster Resource is name by which the resource will be

names in the Failover Cluster Management Console.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

H).The Cluster Disk selection window will prompt to adopt the cluster disks

involved in this instance of SQL Server.

Note: One disk is mandatory to be selected. However, you can have more

cluster disks select as per the requirement. Some environment might

require to have separate disks for data and log file and some of the

environment might encourage separate disk for tempdb database. The

selections should be made accordingly.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

I). Cluster Network Configuration window will prompt for IP address for the failover

cluster.

Note: The IP address should resolve to the SQL Network Name.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

J).Above mentioned IP in Screenshot has to be from Public pool not from Heartbeat Pool.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

K). The next screen will prompt for SQL Server Service account setup.

Note: The SQL Server DB Engine and Agent must be on Manual for Clustered

installation.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

L).The Database Engine configuration will appear with three tabs: Account

Provisioning for Authentication Mode and Instance Administrator. Data

Directories will prompt for Drives and directories for Data/log files, tempdb

directory and Backup Directory. The Filestream will prompt for File stream

enable and its Windows Share. Once you enable filestream the Windows Share

name will be enabled.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

M). The error and usage reporting should be unchecked for a production. Proceed to

next for installation to continue.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

N).The Cluster Installation rules will validate any potential issues that might arise

which executes the installation. Any issues must be resolved before the

Installation begins.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

O). Ready to Install will summaries all the installation selection. The

configuration file path will also show the Configuration file path.

P). The Installation progress will start the installation of the SQL Server.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

Q).The Installation complete windows will confirm successful installation of the

Cluster.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

Adding SQL Server 2012 Failover Cluster on Second Node

A. On the secondary node(s) launch the setup as in “A” of First Node installation.

B. Click on the Installation on left side navigation panel and select Add Node to Cluster.

C. Continue on Setup Support Rules, Product Key and License Terms.

D. The Cluster Node configuration will prompt to select SQL Server Instance Name from the

Combo box. Select the SQL Server Cluster Name installed in First Node.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

E. The Service Account window will prompt for the service account. Use the service account

as in First Node.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

F. The Error & Usage reporting should not be checked in Production, and the Add Node

Rules will be validated.

G. Ready to Add Node will brief the installation.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

H. The Add Node Progress will display the installation progress.

By

Deepak Bhardwaj

I). Now Installation of Second is completed and Ready with SQL Failover

Cluster.

Note: Before putting it in production check the Manual and Automatic

failover test for the Confirmation.