Cluster storage

Question

Cluster storage

Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41

Hey There,

In Azure IaaS cloud what storage solution that is capable of being used as a cluster disk.
I dont want to use third party tool amd yes I have opt the option of Azure Premium File share but there we have some limitations with MSDTC so now what are the more options which we have to go for cluster disk and we need to setup all in Windows Sever 2012 r2.
Please advive...!!!

0 comments

6 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Alex Bykovskyi 2,241

Hey,

Since S2D is not available on Windows Server 2012R2, you can use alterative shared storage solutions. StarWind VSAN can help you achieving this. It will create shared storage pool for the cluster, which SQL FCI requires. The following guide will walk you through the configuration: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-virtual-san-installing-and-configuring-sql-server-2014-failover-cluster-instance-on-windows-server-2012-r2/

0 comments

Answer 2

Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/failover-cluster-instance-overview

In the above links below are the prerequisite mentioned to build cluster storage.
Minimum OS Version- WINDOWS SERVER 2016
Minimum SQL Version-SQL SERVER 2016......

So is it possible that I can go for S2D cluster storage to setup SQL FCI on windows server 2012R2...

Please suggest!!!!!

0 comments

Answer 3

Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/failover-cluster-instance-overview

In the above link its metioned that to build cluster storage with S2D below are the prerequisite.

Minimum OS Version-Windows Server 2016
Minimum SQL version-SQL Server 2016

Please confirm for the same will i will be able to build the Cluster in Windows Server 2012R2 and the SQL FCI will be 2014 with the help of S2D

Leon Laude 86,116 Reputation points

2020-07-20T20:05:38.703+00:00

If your plan is to use Storage Spaces Direct (S2D), then yes you will be required to use at least Windows Server 2016 or later, because S2D is a feature that came in Windows Server 2016.
Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41 Reputation points

2020-07-20T20:46:26.717+00:00

Yes Leon thats what I have read in the Microsoft Blogs thats why I have request you folks to provide any cluster storage solutions without any third party tool...to build sql fci on windows Server 2012r2...
And yes i have done one POC with the help of Premium File Shate but there also one limitatuon is there i.e. MSDTC so could yoy please provide some ssolution here and help to setup the productiom environment in Azure and please make a note that the solution will be suitable for Windows Server 2012R2 and SQL FCI 2014
Leon Laude 86,116 Reputation points

2020-07-20T20:52:46.553+00:00
What is your reason to use Windows Server 2012 R2? SQL Server 2014 can run fine on newer Windows Server operating systems.

If you need to be able to deploy MSDTC then you need to take into account the following limitations:

On Azure Virtual Machines, MSDTC isn't supported for Windows Server 2016 or earlier because:

The clustered MSDTC resource can't be configured to use shared storage. On Windows Server 2016, if you create an MSDTC resource, it won't show any shared storage available for use, even if storage is available. This issue has been fixed in Windows Server 2019.

The basic load balancer doesn't handle RPC ports.
Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41 Reputation points

2020-07-21T05:22:09.18+00:00

Hey Leon,

As we are doing Like wise migration of our Production Instances to the Azure and the current version of our production is 2012R2 that's the reason for windows server 2012R2.
And there we got struck with MSDTC so that's why I thought to reach out to you guys.
So can I make a note by the above statement which was said by you that it's nearly impossible to create cluster disk for MSDTC in windows server 2012R2
Leon Laude 86,116 Reputation points

2020-07-21T07:34:58.797+00:00

You'll need to provide the limitations of MSDTC for your DBAs so they understand this, so you might have to re-plan your migration of the workloads to Azure.
The limitations are found here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/failover-cluster-instance-overview#msdtc

Answer 4

Ashish Kumar Ranjan 41

Thank Leon...I have gone through the Link which you have provided but I belive that the SSD solution will not work for window serversel 2012R2....I need solution for 2012R2 will you help here please......

Leon Laude 86,116 Reputation points

2020-07-20T09:19:26.06+00:00

The operating system shouldn't matter for the disk type you're choosing.

Answer 5

Leon Laude 86,116

Hi,

Something here might help:

Deploying IaaS VM Guest Clusters in Microsoft Azure
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/failover-clustering/deploying-iaas-vm-guest-clusters-in-microsoft-azure/ba-p/372126

Best regards,
Leon

0 comments

Share via

Cluster storage

6 answers

Your answer