Can a virtual SQL Server 2000 SP2 and a virtual SQL Server 2000 SP3a coexist in the same Windows 2000 Datacenter cluster? Will the different versions of MDAC coexist in each node?

Carlos,
In SQL Server 2000, when you apply a service pack to a sql server cluster,
it gets applied to all nodes at the same time, so it's not possible to have
them out of sync (service pack wise), at least in theory.
--
Carlos E. Rojas
SQL Server MVP
Co-Author SQL Server 2000 Programming by Example


"Carlos Gonzalez - Phoenix, AZ" <anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote
in message news:9DC1930D-2898-4BDC-B873-AA0149D48877 (AT) microsoft (DOT) com...
versions of MDAC coexist in each node?

I think he means two separate instances on the same node? If that is
correct you can have 2 different service pack levels as far as SQL Server is
concerned. But when it comes to MDAC that is more of an OS thing and they
will all share it.

--

Andrew J. Kelly
SQL Server MVP


"Carlos Eduardo Rojas" <carloser (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

MDAC is a global resource for each host, so the first update will bring all
host nodes to MDAC. Personally, I prefer upgrading MDAC as a stand-alone
install and then upbgrading SQL. That way, there are no unexpected gotchas.
Since SQL uses local binaries and unique binaries for each instance, you can
have different service pack revisions on different instances. There is
really no other way since service packs must be applied to each instance
separately. Even if you turn around and upgrade the second instance right
away, there is a small time window where instances are at different revision
levels.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
CareerBuilder.com


"Carlos Gonzalez - Phoenix, AZ" <anonymous (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote
in message news:70A2EC65-884A-458C-82F0-8AC382088E8D (AT) microsoft (DOT) com...
SQL Server (what in 7.0 would have been called "active/active"). According
to MS, the upgrade must be executed on each instance individually. I was
wondering if it was possible to upgrade only one of the virtual SQL Servers,
since we have one application that is compatible with SP2, and a new
application which is compatible with SP3a. Since SP3a involves an upgrade of
MDAC from 2.6 to 2.71, I tend to think that the upgrade of one virtual
server will force the upgrade of the other as well.

The short answer is this:

You can have different service pack levels on an "active/active" cluster.
Each SQL Server can have a different service pack level. However, the level
of MDAC will be the same. After you apply SP3a on one instance of SQL
Server both nodes will have MDAC 2.7 SP1 installed.

Rand
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