Installing SQL Server 2000 Clustering

If you have ever installed SQL Server 7.0 in a cluster, you will need to forget what you know, as installing SQL Server 2000 into a cluster is quite different, and in fact, it is much easier.

The following steps should be run from the node of the cluster that you consider your primary node. This is the node that your instance of SQL Server 2000 will be running normally, and when no failover has occurred.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing SQL Server 2000 Clustering

1) Either from a local drive, or from a CD, run “setup.bat” from the SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition setup files. This screen appears:

2) Click “Next” to proceed. This screen then appears:

3) This screen indicates that the SQL Server 2000 setup program is aware that the server has been configured as a cluster. Here, you must enter the name you want to assign to the virtual SQL Server 2000 cluster. Be sure the “Virtual Server” radio button is selected, which it is by default. Then click “Next,” and this screen appears:

4) Enter the standard information you usually you do for this "User Information" screen. Then click “Next,” and this screen appears:

5) Click “Yes” to accept the software license agreement, and then this screen appears:

6) Here, you must enter the IP address used by the virtual SQL Server. Under “Network to Use,” select your public network connection. It is possible to add additional virtual IP addresses, but this is not required when configuring our Active/Passive, single instance of SQL Server 2000 on a cluster. Then click “Next,” and this screen appears.

7) At this screen, you need to tell the setup wizard which logical disk from the shared disk array will be used for the SQL Server 2000 database files. Be sure you don’t select the Quorum drive, as it is not designed for database files. Because I had named the Quorum drive Q: when I configured the server, I know it is the Quorum drive and I know not to select it here.