SQL Server clustering is not an easy task. It requires a good knowledge of Windows 2000, SQL Server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000, and time. Lots of it. The purpose of this article is to get you started along your way to SQL Server clustering. As a precursor to this step, you must first install and configure Clustering Services on Windows 2000. (The focus of this article is on Windows 2000 clustering, not NT Server 4.0 clustering). Once you have Clustering Services up and running on Windows 2000, you are then ready to install either SQL Server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000 clustering.
To attempt to make this major task just a little easier, this article is divided into these, step-by-step sections:
- Selecting and Preparing the Hardware
- Installing and Configuring Windows 2000
- Establishing User Accounts and Security Necessary for Clustering
- Installing the Windows 2000 Clustering Service
- Testing and Verifying the Windows 2000 Clustering Service
Each of the above steps must be completed before you can successfully install SQL Server 7.0 or SQL Server 2000 clustering. It is assumed that the reader of this article has a good understanding of how to install, configure, and manage Windows 2000. It also assumes that the reader is a local administrator of the servers on which Windows 2000 clustering services will be installed.
To begin reading this article, start with the first in the series, and once you have read it, continue on with each additional article in the series, until you have read them all.
Step #1: Selecting and Preparing the Hardware
Step #2: Installing and Configuring Windows 2000
Step #3: Establishing User Accounts and Security Necessary for Clustering
Step #4: Installing the Windows 2000 Clustering Service
Step #5: Testing and Verifying the Windows 2000 Clustering Service
If you are new to clustering, you might want to read this introductory article first.
You will probably want to read this document from Microsoft before installing your cluster: Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Cluster Service
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