Hi, we have to build high availability SQL 2012 cluster for VDI and we have two options. One option is to build a server cluster with combination of failover and mirroring and other option is to build failover cluster with AlwaysOn.

We are not sure which option to chose. We have contacted Microsoft support to provide us some documents and instructions for failover\mirroring combination but they have send us instructions for AlwaysOn option.

What would be best way to build high availability cluster for VDI? Also, since first option is very complicated, we would appreciated if someone could provide us with some documentation for it (how to build it, what to look out for, etc.) because that is the probably the option we are going to use.

Thank you in advance.

Hi there,

in your first option combination of fail over & mirror you can configure mirror one database at a time. your backups must  be configured at your active node only. not on the passive not mirrored server. Finally Database Mirroring is a deprecated feature for future releases.

So i would recommend go with second option. and use always on availability group. you can have backups at secondary. you can read write secondary.

i would recommend hire a skilled SQL DBA. if you are the DBA may be its time to get some training.

all the best

kumar