MSSQLTips

This post is related to this tip: Installing SQL Server 2008 on a Windows Server 2008 Cluster Part 1

http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1687

Hi Edwin, This is a great article, very comprehensive and detailed. This article helped me with my windows clustering task. Even a non-System Admin like me can follow the steps clearly. I hope you continue to share your knowledge through writing up articles like this. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

Thanks for the feedback.  In part 2 of this series, I will be completing the configuration of the Windows Server 2008 cluster in preparation for installing SQL Server 2008

I will be definitely waiting for this article because I will also be needing it for my SQL Server 2008 clustering task. Thanks again!

Hi Edwin,

I'd be interested to know what your VMWare environment is and also what OS you used to install the iSCSI target machine.

 I've been struggling to get a test environment up and running and would be grateful for any pointers.

 Bob

Hi Bob,

You'd be surprised if I tell you that I am running everything using Windows XP as I dont have very good hardware to play around with.  I am running VMWare Workstation 6.5 while the iSCSI target machine is also my Windows XP laptop with a 500GB external hard drive running the StarWind service. Make sure you open the appropriate port numbers on your firewall for the iSCSI target machine.

You can check if I'm online on IM at my blog if you need further assistance

What is the purpose for installing the Application Server role on the nodes?  Does this help with configuring MSDTC to function properly on a failover cluster or is there another purpose/benefit to installing this role?

I would also like to know the purpose of the application server role. You say in the article 'Since we will be installing SQL Server 2008 later on, we will have to add the Application Server role on both of the nodes' that makes it sound as if it's required.

Yet this technet article http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754024(WS.10).aspx states that 'Not every server application benefits from the installation of the Application Server role. For example, the Application Server role is not necessary to support Microsoft Exchange Server or Microsoft SQL Server on Windows Server 2008'

 Could you please clarify. Is the Applicartion Server Role required or not?

Technically,the Application Role is really not necessary to run SQL Server or other Microsoft servers. It's more for formalization. Besides, installing the Application Role will install components that are needed by applications, such as .NET Framework. Since I opted to install the .NET Framework separately, it's no longer necessary