Hi,

On the installation screen we have two options

1. New SQL SERVER failover cluster installation.
Launch a wizard to install a single-node SQL SERVER 2008
failover cluster.
2. Add node to a SQL SERVER failover cluster.
Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER
failover cluster.

However, if we choose "Advanced" from the SQL SERVER 2008 Installation
screen we get two new options for clustering

1. Advanced Cluster Preparation
Launch a wizard to prepare a SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster
installation.

2. Advanced Cluster Completion.
Launch a wizard to complete a SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster from
a list of cluster-prepared SQL SERVER 2008 instances..


my question is which is the best way to go?

The option I chose was on the first node "Advanced Cluster Preparation" and
then "Advanced Cluster Completion" and then on the second node "Add node to
a SQL SERVER failover cluster"

all seems ok, however could I have made a better choice?

also, the option that lets me "Launch a wizard to install a single-node SQL
SERVER 2008 failover cluster." leads me to the additional question

is it possible / sensible to have a single-node sql server 2008
installation, or is this just a starting point for something bigger?

many thanks in advance for your answers / comments.

cheers

martin.

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote:

There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things. Basically it is a
preference thing as both utilities provide you with the same end result.
However, when using the Advanced Cluster Preparation settings are
preconfigured ahead of time, therefore, time may be saved when implementing
many nodes within a cluster or if you need to implement many clusters.

From what I have seen most individuals use the "Launch a wizard to install a
single-node SQL SERVER 2008 failover cluster" on the first node and then
"Launch a wizard to add a node to an existing SQL SERVER failover cluster" on
subsequent nodes. Most times they use this methodology as it is similar to
previous installation methods and there is a false perception that the
advanced methodology is too complex - which it is not.

I hope this helps

Thanks Ross
--
Ross Mistry - Author SQL Server 2008 Management & Administration / Windows
Server 2008 Unleashed


"martin" wrote: