Hello All...........Consider following:

We need to build a two-2 node failover cluster in following manner:

OS:  Windows 2012

SQL: SQL 2012

Node_A                                     Node_B

=====                                    =====

SAN_A_Storage                          SAN_B_Storage (Both servers with their own Storage, FSW to be used for Quorum)

Instance_A                                 Instance_B

Each server would have its own Instance that is Node_A would have Instance_A and Node_B would have Instance_B.  Mirroring would be configured vice versa that is Mirror copy of Node_A would be on Node_B and Node_B's mirror copy would be on Node_A.  In other words, both instances would be active at the same time with mirror copy on the other server.

Is this doable? 

• Edited by Technet Junkie Thursday, February 12, 2015 9:24 AM

What are your goals for implementing such a solution? It would be better to understand your requirements to properly provide an appropriate recommendation.

You can have a multi-instance cluster - each instance will have high availability as a side effect of the 2-node cluster. Database mirroring is both a high availability and a disaster recovery solution but snice you already have a 2-node cluster, having database mirroring does not provide additional protection than what is already available. A more appropriate approach is to create a separate SQL Server instance that is outside of the cluster and mirror the databases from both SQL Server instances into this instance.

 

Thanks for the reply.

Actually, I have to implement the solution based on a design that has been handed over to me.  But, since it made me confused, so, I turned here for guidance.  So, design-wise, I cannot change anything.

I fully understand that HA can be achieved directly through a two-2 node cluster.  I also, get your point that in common mirroring scenarios, either a cluster is mirrored to a DR site cluster or a single server, but in my scenario, the cluster is the same at HA and DR sites.

Following are some clarifications with regards to environment:

Design is such that it involves two-2 sites A and B where both sites have their own Storage (no storage replication).  FSW will be present at a third-3 site for quorum.  The cluster would be a stretched cluster (Fiber connectivity between sites).  Each site node would run instances of their site with its mirror copy being placed on the other site's node.

Mirroring was chosen due to supportability limitation otherwise AOAG is in place for such scenarios.  But, since I have not encountered this situation before, so, I am just verifying if this workable or not?  As I have a few more questions after this, but just wanted to make sure that it is supported in SQL 2012.

THanks.

• Edited by Technet Junkie Friday, February 13, 2015 6:09 AM

Gentle reminder.