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Thread: Cluster licensing

  1. #1
    Russ Sparks Guest

    Cluster licensing

    This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server 2005, do I
    need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the failover node?

  2. #2
    Jeff Hughes [MSFT] Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    license per instance on a cluster.
    --
    Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    Support Escalation Engineer
    Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)


    "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server 2005,
    > do I
    > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the failover
    > node?



  3. #3
    Russ Sparks Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    Thank you for your reply. What if I go with active/active clustering?

    Russ Sparks


    "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:

    > No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    > license per instance on a cluster.
    > --
    > Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    > Support Escalation Engineer
    > Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    >
    >
    > "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    > > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server 2005,
    > > do I
    > > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the failover
    > > node?

    >


  4. #4
    Tim Walsh Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    You'd need a license for each server since you would have 2 instances of SQL
    running at the same time.

    Keep in mind when you say Active/Active you are actually saying you have one
    instance of SQL running with it's databases and resources running on Node A
    and a second instance of SQL with different databases and resources running
    on Node B. In the event of a failure, the instance running on the node that
    failed moves over to the other node and now you have 2 instances of SQL
    running on the same server. Active/Active doesn't mean you are load
    balancing your SQL instances across both servers.

    So Active/Passive you have 1 instance running at a time, you need 1 license,
    Active/Active you have 2 instances running and therefore you need 2
    licenses. If you have a 3rd node running an instance you need a 3rd license.

    "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:C33484BB-717D-41EC-A647-DC3AAE92FF0A@microsoft.com...
    > Thank you for your reply. What if I go with active/active clustering?
    >
    > Russ Sparks
    >
    >
    > "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:
    >
    >> No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    >> license per instance on a cluster.
    >> --
    >> Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    >> Support Escalation Engineer
    >> Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    >>
    >>
    >> "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    >> news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    >> > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server
    >> > 2005,
    >> > do I
    >> > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the failover
    >> > node?

    >>




  5. #5
    Russ Sparks Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load balancing
    the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just keeps on
    trucking. That can't be done?

    "Tim Walsh" wrote:

    > You'd need a license for each server since you would have 2 instances of SQL
    > running at the same time.
    >
    > Keep in mind when you say Active/Active you are actually saying you have one
    > instance of SQL running with it's databases and resources running on Node A
    > and a second instance of SQL with different databases and resources running
    > on Node B. In the event of a failure, the instance running on the node that
    > failed moves over to the other node and now you have 2 instances of SQL
    > running on the same server. Active/Active doesn't mean you are load
    > balancing your SQL instances across both servers.
    >
    > So Active/Passive you have 1 instance running at a time, you need 1 license,
    > Active/Active you have 2 instances running and therefore you need 2
    > licenses. If you have a 3rd node running an instance you need a 3rd license.
    >
    > "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:C33484BB-717D-41EC-A647-DC3AAE92FF0A@microsoft.com...
    > > Thank you for your reply. What if I go with active/active clustering?
    > >
    > > Russ Sparks
    > >
    > >
    > > "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:
    > >
    > >> No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    > >> license per instance on a cluster.
    > >> --
    > >> Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    > >> Support Escalation Engineer
    > >> Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > >> news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    > >> > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server
    > >> > 2005,
    > >> > do I
    > >> > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the failover
    > >> > node?
    > >>

    >
    >
    >


  6. #6
    Tim Walsh Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    I'm not sure what you can do with SQL, it's not an area that I'm that
    familiar with. The SQL clusters I've set up for the Developers have all been
    Active/Passive. It sounds like your looking at Network Load Balancing
    instead of a clustered solution. You probably want to be asking over in the
    SQL Clustering forum, I don't want to mislead you with bad information on
    what you can do with a SQL Cluster. Some of the MVPs and other regulars on
    here can probably provide better info in this regard.

    "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:14631440-B662-43C1-A279-2C55998B867C@microsoft.com...
    > Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load balancing
    > the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just keeps
    > on
    > trucking. That can't be done?
    >
    > "Tim Walsh" wrote:
    >
    >> You'd need a license for each server since you would have 2 instances of
    >> SQL
    >> running at the same time.
    >>
    >> Keep in mind when you say Active/Active you are actually saying you have
    >> one
    >> instance of SQL running with it's databases and resources running on Node
    >> A
    >> and a second instance of SQL with different databases and resources
    >> running
    >> on Node B. In the event of a failure, the instance running on the node
    >> that
    >> failed moves over to the other node and now you have 2 instances of SQL
    >> running on the same server. Active/Active doesn't mean you are load
    >> balancing your SQL instances across both servers.
    >>
    >> So Active/Passive you have 1 instance running at a time, you need 1
    >> license,
    >> Active/Active you have 2 instances running and therefore you need 2
    >> licenses. If you have a 3rd node running an instance you need a 3rd
    >> license.
    >>
    >> "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    >> news:C33484BB-717D-41EC-A647-DC3AAE92FF0A@microsoft.com...
    >> > Thank you for your reply. What if I go with active/active clustering?
    >> >
    >> > Russ Sparks
    >> >
    >> >
    >> > "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:
    >> >
    >> >> No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    >> >> license per instance on a cluster.
    >> >> --
    >> >> Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    >> >> Support Escalation Engineer
    >> >> Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    >> >>
    >> >>
    >> >> "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    >> >> news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    >> >> > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server
    >> >> > 2005,
    >> >> > do I
    >> >> > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the
    >> >> > failover
    >> >> > node?
    >> >>

    >>
    >>
    >>




  7. #7
    Edwin vMierlo [MVP] Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing



    > Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load balancing
    > the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just keeps

    on
    > trucking. That can't be done?


    common misunderstanding, Microsoft Failover clustering is a "shared nothnig"
    cluster model, and therefore the SQL instance can only be online on 1 node
    at the time. No loadbalancing

    cross-posting to microsoft.public.sqlserver.clustering to get some more
    responses.

    Rgds
    Edwin.


    >
    > "Tim Walsh" wrote:
    >
    > > You'd need a license for each server since you would have 2 instances of

    SQL
    > > running at the same time.
    > >
    > > Keep in mind when you say Active/Active you are actually saying you have

    one
    > > instance of SQL running with it's databases and resources running on

    Node A
    > > and a second instance of SQL with different databases and resources

    running
    > > on Node B. In the event of a failure, the instance running on the node

    that
    > > failed moves over to the other node and now you have 2 instances of SQL
    > > running on the same server. Active/Active doesn't mean you are load
    > > balancing your SQL instances across both servers.
    > >
    > > So Active/Passive you have 1 instance running at a time, you need 1

    license,
    > > Active/Active you have 2 instances running and therefore you need 2
    > > licenses. If you have a 3rd node running an instance you need a 3rd

    license.
    > >
    > > "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > > news:C33484BB-717D-41EC-A647-DC3AAE92FF0A@microsoft.com...
    > > > Thank you for your reply. What if I go with active/active clustering?
    > > >
    > > > Russ Sparks
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:
    > > >
    > > >> No, since SQL is only active on one node at a time, you only need one
    > > >> license per instance on a cluster.
    > > >> --
    > > >> Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    > > >> Support Escalation Engineer
    > > >> Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    > > >>
    > > >>
    > > >> "Russ Sparks" <RussSparks@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > > >> news:9A7A7466-2B44-41F1-8305-D29380152C76@microsoft.com...
    > > >> > This might not be the right place, but, when clustering SQL server
    > > >> > 2005,
    > > >> > do I
    > > >> > need to have an additional SQL 2005 enterprise license for the

    failover
    > > >> > node?
    > > >>

    > >
    > >
    > >




  8. #8
    Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP) Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:16:00 +0100, "Edwin vMierlo [MVP]"
    <EdwinvMierlo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

    >> Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load balancing
    >> the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just keeps

    >on
    >> trucking. That can't be done?

    >
    >common misunderstanding, Microsoft Failover clustering is a "shared nothnig"
    >cluster model,


    Microsoft failover clustering is not "shared nothing". The disks are
    quite clearly shared. The closest SQL Server comes to shared nothing
    is distributed partitioned views.

    Roy Harvey
    Beacon Falls, CT

  9. #9
    Edwin vMierlo [MVP] Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing


    >
    > Microsoft failover clustering is not "shared nothing". The disks are
    > quite clearly shared.


    You are correct that the disk are called "shared", however the cluster model
    is definitely called "shared nothing" model
    We (the cluster MVP's) have discussed with the Microsoft Cluster team at the
    last summit to change the terminology in regards to disks, and call them
    "multi node access disks" or something along that line... it will help
    preventing confusions on terminology in the future.

    Still it is a "shared nothing cluster model"....

    ;-)




  10. #10
    Geoff N. Hiten Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    Shared Nothing means that no node or instance is dependent on any resource
    not on that node or instance. As such, instances cannot access data files
    owned by another instance. I agree that the terminology "shared disk" is
    very misleading, as is "Active/Active" and all its variants. Mike Hotek
    does the rant better than I do on this topic.

    I always use "multi-connected" disk and emphasize that Clustering arbitrates
    ownership so only one node actually controls a resource at any given time.

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




    "Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP)" <roy_harvey@snet.net> wrote in message
    news:5ulab45er6g0o6jh5vuken2466dll25ons@4ax.com...
    > On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:16:00 +0100, "Edwin vMierlo [MVP]"
    > <EdwinvMierlo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >
    >>> Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load
    >>> balancing
    >>> the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just
    >>> keeps

    >>on
    >>> trucking. That can't be done?

    >>
    >>common misunderstanding, Microsoft Failover clustering is a "shared
    >>nothnig"
    >>cluster model,

    >
    > Microsoft failover clustering is not "shared nothing". The disks are
    > quite clearly shared. The closest SQL Server comes to shared nothing
    > is distributed partitioned views.
    >
    > Roy Harvey
    > Beacon Falls, CT



  11. #11
    Edwin vMierlo [MVP] Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing


    > Mike Hotek
    > does the rant better than I do on this topic.


    don't be modest Geoff... you are doing a pretty good job yourself

    ;-)




  12. #12
    Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP) Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:05:07 -0400, "Geoff N. Hiten"
    <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote:

    >Shared Nothing means that no node or instance is dependent on any resource
    >not on that node or instance. As such, instances cannot access data files
    >owned by another instance. I agree that the terminology "shared disk" is
    >very misleading, as is "Active/Active" and all its variants. Mike Hotek
    >does the rant better than I do on this topic.
    >
    >I always use "multi-connected" disk and emphasize that Clustering arbitrates
    >ownership so only one node actually controls a resource at any given time.


    OK, I was taking it from a database angle, and the original comment
    was made about clustering in general rather than database. Thanks to
    all for the lesson.

    Roy Harvey
    Beacon Falls, CT

  13. #13
    Jeff Hughes [MSFT] Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    Actually a better definition of the 'shared nothing' model is that although
    resources (disks, IPs, network names, applications, etc.) can move between
    nodes in a cluster, one node and ONLY one node has access or "owns" those
    resources at a time. You can see this with disks in that if you try and
    access a disk in a cluster owned by another node
    --
    Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    Senior Support Escalation Engineer
    Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)


    "Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote in message
    news:OuCnY3ECJHA.1628@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > Shared Nothing means that no node or instance is dependent on any resource
    > not on that node or instance. As such, instances cannot access data files
    > owned by another instance. I agree that the terminology "shared disk" is
    > very misleading, as is "Active/Active" and all its variants. Mike Hotek
    > does the rant better than I do on this topic.
    >
    > I always use "multi-connected" disk and emphasize that Clustering
    > arbitrates ownership so only one node actually controls a resource at any
    > given time.
    >
    > --
    > Geoff N. Hiten
    > Principal SQL Infrastructure Consultant
    > Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > "Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP)" <roy_harvey@snet.net> wrote in message
    > news:5ulab45er6g0o6jh5vuken2466dll25ons@4ax.com...
    >> On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:16:00 +0100, "Edwin vMierlo [MVP]"
    >> <EdwinvMierlo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >>
    >>>> Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load
    >>>> balancing
    >>>> the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just
    >>>> keeps
    >>>on
    >>>> trucking. That can't be done?
    >>>
    >>>common misunderstanding, Microsoft Failover clustering is a "shared
    >>>nothnig"
    >>>cluster model,

    >>
    >> Microsoft failover clustering is not "shared nothing". The disks are
    >> quite clearly shared. The closest SQL Server comes to shared nothing
    >> is distributed partitioned views.
    >>
    >> Roy Harvey
    >> Beacon Falls, CT

    >


  14. #14
    TLG Guest

    Re: Cluster licensing

    I dont think i can glean this permutation from previous posts - I have set up
    fail over cluster (active/passive) with a single instance - license SQL 2005
    standard edition 2 processors to cover either host node. I now wish to add a
    couple of new instances to this configuration - still with same active
    passive arrangement..

    does each instance need additional SQLlicensing? even if its virtual
    environment/machine is using the same hardware resources at all times. If so
    is it possible to add additional instances to the existing 'machine' as you
    would a standard physical setup? Presumably this would not require additional
    licensing.

    Hoping there is some documentation that explains this clearly somewhere..

    thanks




    "Jeff Hughes [MSFT]" wrote:

    > Actually a better definition of the 'shared nothing' model is that although
    > resources (disks, IPs, network names, applications, etc.) can move between
    > nodes in a cluster, one node and ONLY one node has access or "owns" those
    > resources at a time. You can see this with disks in that if you try and
    > access a disk in a cluster owned by another node
    > --
    > Jeff Hughes, MCSE
    > Senior Support Escalation Engineer
    > Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support (Server Core/Cluster)
    >
    >
    > "Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@gmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:OuCnY3ECJHA.1628@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > > Shared Nothing means that no node or instance is dependent on any resource
    > > not on that node or instance. As such, instances cannot access data files
    > > owned by another instance. I agree that the terminology "shared disk" is
    > > very misleading, as is "Active/Active" and all its variants. Mike Hotek
    > > does the rant better than I do on this topic.
    > >
    > > I always use "multi-connected" disk and emphasize that Clustering
    > > arbitrates ownership so only one node actually controls a resource at any
    > > given time.
    > >
    > > --
    > > Geoff N. Hiten
    > > Principal SQL Infrastructure Consultant
    > > Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > "Roy Harvey (SQL Server MVP)" <roy_harvey@snet.net> wrote in message
    > > news:5ulab45er6g0o6jh5vuken2466dll25ons@4ax.com...
    > >> On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:16:00 +0100, "Edwin vMierlo [MVP]"
    > >> <EdwinvMierlo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    > >>
    > >>>> Oh, my understanding was that with active/active that it is load
    > >>>> balancing
    > >>>> the same database on shared storage and if one fails the other just
    > >>>> keeps
    > >>>on
    > >>>> trucking. That can't be done?
    > >>>
    > >>>common misunderstanding, Microsoft Failover clustering is a "shared
    > >>>nothnig"
    > >>>cluster model,
    > >>
    > >> Microsoft failover clustering is not "shared nothing". The disks are
    > >> quite clearly shared. The closest SQL Server comes to shared nothing
    > >> is distributed partitioned views.
    > >>
    > >> Roy Harvey
    > >> Beacon Falls, CT

    > >


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    1

    Re: Cluster licensing

    At what point do you select to make the 2nd hosts inactive?

    We are researching to buy a whole new setup but i can't find out where in the process would i choose "inactive"

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