So here is the situation:

We have an Active/Active 2000 SQL Cluster that has a single instance
with SQL running on it (the other instance has been taken offline b.c.
we are in the process of retiring the cluster).

We also have an Active/Active/Active/Passive 2003 SQL Cluster that has
two instances of SQL running on it (the other instance has not been
implemented yet).

The first cluster and the second cluster have simlar machine name but
are in different domains. Here is an example of the setup:

1st Cluster
node 1 - foo1.domain1.com
node 2 - foo2.domain1.com
Clustername - SQLCluster1
Instance name - SQLCluster1\foobar1

2nd Cluster
node 1 - foo1.domain2.com
node 2 - foo2.domain2.com
node 3 - foo3.domain2.com
node 4 - foo4.domain2.com
Clustername - SQLCluster2
Instance name - SQLCluster2\foobar2
Instance name - SQLCluster2\foobar3

Notice that the nodes of the first cluster and two of the nodes of the
second cluster have the same name EXCEPT they are in different
domains.

Okay so now that I've explained the situation, here is the problem; We
are experiencing very odd performance issues on the
SQLCluster2\foobar2. Where the CPU becomes throttled at about 40-50%
and out websites become extremely slow. We are not seeing any
blocking, and the connections are at a resonable number. I'm not
exactly sure what the problem is, but one of my co-workers believes
that because two of the machine in the 2nd cluster have the same name
as the two machines in the first cluster we are experiencing issues
with WINS/Netbios which is causing the CPU to become throttled. I do
not believe this to be the issue. My experience is that when there are
WINS/DNS/Netbios issues you will experience resolution or security
issues but NOT performance issues. Anybody got any ideas/input?

Thanks,
Tom

You might try using the IP address of the clustered instance directly in
your connection string instead of relying on WINS/DNS name resolution. That
would at least eliminate one possible cause of the slowdown.

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

I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org

"Tom Rabaut" <trabaut (AT) providentfunding (DOT) com> wrote