SQL cluster with storage replica.

Question

Hello I have an environment like this:

Site1:
SQL01 Win 2019STD + SQL server
FS01 win2019Datacenter with big disk connected in iscsi to storage01
Storage01 SMB/Iscsi/NFS

Site2:
SQL02 Win 2019STD + SQL server
FS02 win2019Datacenter with big disk connected in iscsi to storage02
Storage02 SMB/Iscsi/NFS

The idea was to cluster the two SQL servers and use the replication storage between FS01-FS02 to replicate SQL Data and Log. Then this replicated space would be exposed to the SQL cluster via SMB3.

is a supported configuration? Do you think there could be problems?

Thank you

Answer 1

Hey,

As mentioned, you need shared storage to create SQL FCI. It is possible to configure stretch cluster using Storage Replica with 2 nodes. Check the following article for more information:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/storage-replica/stretch-cluster-replication-using-shared-storage

As an alternative, you can use StarWind VSAN as a shared storage for a Failover cluster. The following guide will walk you through the configuration process:
https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-virtual-san-installing-and-configuring-sql-server-2019-tp-failover-cluster-instance-on-windows-server-2016/

Cheers,

Alex Bykovskyi

StarWind Software

Note: Posts are provided “AS IS” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

Answer 2

Hi,

The SQL Server failover cluster(Always on FCI) based on Windows server failover cluster(WSFC), an FCI must use shared storage between all nodes of the FCI for database and log storage. The shared storage can be in the form of WSFC cluster disks, disks on a SAN, Storage Spaces Direct (S2D), or file shares on an SMB.

Storage Replica can work with SQL Server failover cluser, but I am not familiar with storage Replica . I think this problem is more related to Windows cluster, you can also post the problem on the Windows server forum.