...which is to say that standard should work for your business needs; the only limitation is on the number of nodes, not how those nodes are used.
Main Topics
Browse All TopicsOur web site has one server with MS SQL Server 2003 Standard under Windows Server 2000 Standard .
Now we are to install a cluster for SQL Server with two nodes.
Each node is a Dell 1950 dual Xeon Quad.
We want an active/active cluster such that they divide the job in balance.
MS reseller says it must be SQL Server Enterprise to do that, but I found that SQL Server 2008 Standard, under Windows Server Enterprise 2003 does the clustering as we want. The limitations are that SQL Standard supports only two nodes (that's what we have!) and maximum of 4 processors (we have only two!). We need also to replicate to a third server, by using log shipping, at our Secondary (backup site).
We need that at Primary site one of the servers to be capable of run alone in case of failure of the companion node. In case of failure of the entire Primary site, we can start manually the Secondary.
At Primary site, Windows is Enterprise 2003 in both nodes, at Secondary, Windows is Standard 2003.
To avoid SQL upgrade together with so many changes, we would like to downgrade the SQL 2008 license to 2005.
In few words:
Is SQL Server Enterprise mandatory to run the 2 node active/active cluster as we want? If not, is Standard enogh to clustering in active/passive mode?
Thanks in advance,
Jose
This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.
Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.
If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.
Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.
Access the answers to your technology questions today.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Try it out and discover for yourself.
30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.
Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.
Thanks for your attention.
Please note I'm buying SQL Std 2008 but as Applications guys aren't able to upgrade now, then I will stay in 2005. My target now is to have high availability and a bit more than a simple active/passive cluster, where the passive is always in standby mode.
Can you please confirm if my understanding is correct, say if this configuration (the topology at the schema SQL-Architecture.jpg + SQL 2005 Std + Windows 2003 Enterprise) can do an active/active clustering?
Jose
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: laneduncanPosted on 2008-03-31 at 18:35:05ID: 21250608
Standard and Enterprise will support clustering, though standard only supports two nodes in the cluster.
ql/prodinf o/features /compare- f eatures.ms px
http://www.microsoft.com/s