How to Install SqL Server 2005 SP3 on Active/Active CLuster.

Hi All

I need to upgrade SQL server 2005 SP2 to SP3 on Active/Active cluster..

Please can some one provide me the Step by Step Upgrade process Document.

asked Dec 14 '10 at 12:06 PM in Default

ETHMAN5
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2 answers:

It depends.

No, seriously. What is the clustering system in use? 'cos the Symantec / Veritas cluster you'll need to go through the process on all servers individually, whereas (as I understand it), you may be able to only do one of the active servers in a MSCS environment. (You'll probably have to shut down the other active node temporarily...)

I have a clustering bloke here, and I'm trying to learn from him - when he's not too busy!

answered Dec 15 '10 at 12:09 AM

ThomasRushton ♦
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First of all, cluster administration is a tricky business - especially when running on anything before Windows 2008 and SQL 2008. Before doing anything: read, understand, practice, prepare (incl. backup), then implement.

I agree with Thomas that you have to be careful depending upon environment. As I understand it, you install the SP on the active node, and it takes care of the other nodes. I think you need to fail service over to one of the nodes after reading the information below.

As found in the SP3 Release Notes from Microsoft:

Installing SQL Server 2005 SP3 on a Failover Cluster Instance Note the following information before you install SP3 on a failover cluster instance:

Do not stop the cluster service before you run the SP3 Setup program, or while the installation program is running.
Do not end any running processes before you run the SP3 Setup program.
Do not take the SQL Server service offline before you run the SP3 Setup program. The SP3 Setup program will stop and start the SQL Server service.
Run the SP3 Setup program on the primary node of the failover cluster instance.
The SP3 Setup program might require you to restart the failover cluster nodes. This restart replaces the files that were in use during Setup.
Rolling upgrade is not supported for SP3.

For more information about failover cluster installation, see the "Installing the Service Pack (Hotfix)" topic in the SQL Server 2005 SP3 Setup documentation. The Setup documentation is available from the SQL Server 2005 SP3 Readme Files download page.

answered Dec 15 '10 at 12:13 AM

WilliamD
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So, in essence, RTFM?

Dec 15 '10 at 12:15 AM ThomasRushton ♦

That is the problem though. TFM is so small for clustered instances as to be non existant. I had to search for this info myself. I was already quite sure that the steps would be: move to one machine, install sp, finished - but wasn't too sure. We have some 2k8 clusters, they are easy as pie to look after - it helps that we have active/passive - but it is all much more grown up compared to 2k5.

Dec 15 '10 at 12:56 AM WilliamD

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