Hello,

I am trying to setup a SQL 2005 SP2 mirroring with auto failover. I need a
witness server for such configuration. Is the witness server a didicated
server for the mirorring set or I can use another stand alone SQL 2005 SP2
production server as a witness server (shared as a witness server role and
regular SQL production server role to service another application to access
the other databases on the "witness server"? If yes, is there any impact on
the SQL server that acts also as a witness server?

Thanks.

You can use any paid SKU of SQL Server 2005 or higher (workgroup, standard,
enterprise) as a witness server. The actual workload of the witness task is
very light. Therefore, you can assign the witness role to an existing
production server without any significant performance impact.


--
Geoff N. Hiten
Principal SQL Infrastructure Consultant
Microsoft SQL Server MVP



"EX Admin" <EXAdmin (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

Hello Geoff,

Thank you for your info.

I got the following error once I start the mirroring:

TITLE: Database Properties
------------------------------

An error occurred while starting mirroring.

------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Alter failed for Database 'BESMgmt'. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

For help, click:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdN...e&LinkId=20476

------------------------------

An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch.
(Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)

------------------------------

The mirror database, "BESmgmt", has insufficient transaction log data to
preserve the log backup chain of the principal database. This may happen if
a log backup from the principal database has not been taken or has not been
restored on the mirror database. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 1478)

For help, click:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdN...8&LinkId=20476

------------------------------
BUTTONS:

OK
------------------------------

Here is what I did:

1. make a full back of BESMGMT database.
2. restore the database with no recovery option on mirroring server
3. establish mirroring using SQL studio manager
4. all three database servers has the same domain account as sql service
account.

any idea?

"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

I'd try to re-sync the mirror database with another full database backup. 95%
of the time, this is because the copy on the mirroris not up to date.

Linchi

"EX Admin" wrote:

BTW, the main requirement for the witness is its availability. When it comes
time for a automated failover, that witness server better be there tohelp
determine the quorum.

Linchi

"EX Admin" wrote:

FYI...

I am able to establish mirroring by recreating database from scratch, backup
and restore.

thank you very both of you for prompting help!

"Linchi Shea" wrote: