we have a 2-node SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance (FCI) on Dell R940 power edge model and we want to add new 3rd node for Always On / DR, but windows and SQL version is the same as existing servers but new hardware will be different

Question

we have a 2-node SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance (FCI) on Dell R940 power edge model and we want to add new 3rd node for Always On / DR, but windows and SQL version is the same as existing servers but new hardware will be different , is it still supports or do we need all 3 nodes should be same server model ?

Answer 1

Hi Sampath Challagonda,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum!

You can add a 3rd node with different hardware. SQL Server Failover Cluster Instances (FCI) and Always On Availability Groups (AG) do not require identical hardware models across all nodes. What matters is Windows + SQL Server version compatibility and that the hardware meets performance requirements.
All nodes must pass Cluster Validation.

Hope this helps!
Regards,
Shruti

Answer 2

Thank you very much

Answer 3

Support.

recommend using the same hardware configuration, but it is not mandatory. The main purpose is to ensure that the performance remains unchanged after failover.