Question

How to install a passive node on an active/active SQL Server cluster

SQL Server clustering, SQL Server availability, Installation, SQL Server 2005

We have a SQL cluster server running with SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition SP2 on Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition. Currently the cluster has 2 nodes with Active/Active. Now I need to add a new node as a Passive node. So once I’m done, the cluster will be a Active/Active/Passive cluster.

Because the cluster is a production server, I need to know exactly how I can add a new node onto the current cluster without breaking anything. Also this is my first time installing a passive node, so it is difficult for me to understand how to install and configure it.

First you need to add another node into the Windows cluster. This is done with the Cluster Administrator. Run through the wizard to add the machine into the cluster. Your Windows admin can probably do this for you.

After the machine is part of the cluster, run through the SQL installer again and it will give you the option to push the service to the new machine in the cluster. You will need to do this twice, one for each instance. After then you'll need to patch both instances again to the same patch level you are on currently.