Creating a SQL Server 2012 Cluster (Part 1)

In this 2 part series I will guide you step-by-step to creating a SQL Server 2012 cluster with iSCSI as the storage. The first part is to prepare the platform in which the SQL Server will sit.

• Install .NET Framework 3.5
• Install Failover Clustering
• Creating a cluster
• Add disks to cluster

So let’s start with ensuring that you have a drive presented to your SQL nodes from the storage. I’m using a iSCSI SAN build with nothing except Windows Server 2012. If you don’t know how to do this, check my previous post here.

 

Make sure it is formatted and has a drive letter assigned to it on the first node.

 

At the Server Manager, click Add roles and features.

 

Click Next.

 

And Next again..

 

And Next again…

 

No roles to install, so just click Next.

 

There’s two features to install here; .NET Framework 3.5 and Failover Clustering. If ever a windows appears, click Add Features.

 

Remember in Windows Server 2012, when installing .NET Framework you need to specify an alternate path to the drive of the mounted Windows ISO.

 

Done. Repeat this for the 2nd SQL node.

 

Creating the Cluster

Open the Failover Clustering Manager. Right-click and then select Create Cluster.

 

Click Next.

 

Enter the two SQL nodes.

 

Select Yes and then click Next.

 

Click Next.

 

Select Run all tests and then click Next.

 

Click Next.

 

Click Finish.

 

Give it a cluster name and an IP address then click Next.

 

Click Next. Click to remove the Add all eligible storage to the cluster.

 

Click Finish.

 

Click Add Disk.

 

Click OK.

 

Cluster disk is ready.

Until part two of this series, your cluster is now up. Next in the series we will install SQL Server on top of this cluster.

 

 

 

Enjoy!!!

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