Storage Foundation and High Availability Solutions 8.0.2 HA and DR Solutions Guide for Microsoft SQL Server - Windows

Last Published:
Product(s): InfoScale & Storage Foundation (8.0.2)
Platform: Windows
  1. Section I. Getting started with Storage Foundation and High Availability Solutions for SQL Server
    1. Introducing SFW HA and the VCS agents for SQL Server
      1.  
        About the Veritas InfoScale solutions for monitoring SQL Server
      2.  
        How application availability is achieved in a physical environment
      3. How is application availability achieved in a VMware virtual environment
        1.  
          How the VMwareDisks agent communicates with the vCenter Server instead of the ESX/ESXi host
        2.  
          Typical VCS cluster configuration in a virtual environment
      4.  
        Managing storage using VMware virtual disks
      5. Notes and recommendations
        1. Assigning privileges for non-administrator ESX/ESXi user account
          1.  
            Creating a role
          2.  
            Integrating with Active Directory or local authentication
          3.  
            Creating a new user
          4.  
            Adding a user to the role
      6.  
        Modifying the ESXDetails attribute
      7. How VCS monitors storage components
        1.  
          Shared storage - if you use NetApp filers
        2.  
          Shared storage - if you use SFW to manage cluster dynamic disk groups
        3.  
          Shared storage - if you use Windows LDM to manage shared disks
        4.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use SFW to manage dynamic disk groups
        5.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use Windows LDM to manage local disks
        6.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use VMware storage
      8.  
        What must be protected in an SQL Server environment
      9.  
        About the VCS agents for SQL Server
      10.  
        About the VCS agent for SQL Server Database Engine
      11.  
        About the VCS agent for SQL Server FILESTREAM
      12.  
        About the VCS GenericService agent for SQL Server Agent service and Analysis service
      13.  
        About the agent for MSDTC service
      14.  
        About the monitoring options
      15.  
        Typical SQL Server configuration in a VCS cluster
      16.  
        Typical SQL Server disaster recovery configuration
      17.  
        SQL Server sample dependency graph
      18.  
        MSDTC sample dependency graph
    2. Deployment scenarios for SQL Server
      1.  
        Workflows in the Solutions Configuration Center
      2. Reviewing the active-passive HA configuration
        1.  
          Sample Active-Passive configuration
      3.  
        Reviewing the prerequisites for a standalone SQL Server
      4. Reviewing a standalone SQL Server configuration
        1.  
          Sample standalone SQL Server configuration
      5.  
        Reviewing the MSDTC configuration
      6.  
        VCS campus cluster configuration
      7. Reviewing the campus cluster configuration
        1.  
          Campus cluster failover using the ForceImport attribute
        2.  
          Reinstating faulted hardware in a campus cluster
      8.  
        VCS Replicated Data Cluster configuration
      9. Reviewing the Replicated Data Cluster configuration
        1.  
          Sample replicated data cluster configuration
      10. About setting up a Replicated Data Cluster configuration
        1.  
          About setting up replication
        2.  
          About configuring and migrating the service group
      11. Disaster recovery configuration
        1.  
          DR configuration tasks: Primary site
        2.  
          DR configuration tasks: Secondary site
        3.  
          Supported disaster recovery configurations for service group dependencies
      12. Reviewing the disaster recovery configuration
        1.  
          Sample disaster recovery configuration
      13. Notes and recommendations for cluster and application configuration
        1.  
          IPv6 support
        2.  
          IP address requirements for an Active-Passive configuration
        3.  
          IP address requirements for a disaster recovery configuration
      14.  
        Configuring the storage hardware and network
      15. Configuring disk groups and volumes for SQL Server
        1.  
          About disk groups and volumes
        2.  
          Prerequisites for configuring disk groups and volumes
        3.  
          Considerations for a fast failover configuration
        4.  
          Considerations for converting existing shared storage to cluster disk groups and volumes
        5.  
          Considerations when creating disks and volumes for campus clusters
        6.  
          Considerations for volumes for a Volume Replicator configuration
        7.  
          Considerations for disk groups and volumes for multiple instances
        8.  
          Sample disk group and volume configuration
        9.  
          MSDTC sample disk group and volume configuration
        10.  
          Viewing the available disk storage
        11.  
          Creating a dynamic disk group
        12.  
          Adding disks to campus cluster sites
        13.  
          Creating volumes for high availability clusters
        14.  
          Creating volumes for campus clusters
      16. About managing disk groups and volumes
        1.  
          Importing a disk group and mounting a volume
        2.  
          Unmounting a volume and deporting a disk group
        3.  
          Adding drive letters to mount the volumes
      17. Configuring the cluster using the Cluster Configuration Wizard
        1.  
          Configuring notification
        2.  
          Configuring Wide-Area Connector process for global clusters
        3.  
          Adding nodes to a cluster
    3. Installing SQL Server
      1.  
        About installing and configuring SQL Server
      2.  
        About installing multiple SQL Server instances
      3.  
        Verifying that the SQL Server databases and logs are moved to shared storage
      4.  
        About installing SQL Server for high availability configuration
      5.  
        About installing SQL Server on the first system
      6.  
        About installing SQL Server on additional systems
      7.  
        Creating a SQL Server user-defined database
      8. Completing configuration steps in SQL Server
        1.  
          Moving the tempdb database if using Volume Replicator for disaster recovery
        2.  
          Assigning ports for multiple SQL Server instances
        3.  
          Enabling IPv6 support for the SQL Server Analysis Service
  2. Section II. Configuring SQL Server in a physical environment
    1. Configuring SQL Server for failover
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring a new server for high availability
      2.  
        Tasks for configuring an existing server for high availability
      3. About configuring the SQL Server service group
        1.  
          Service group requirements for Active-Active configurations
        2.  
          Prerequisites for configuring the SQL Server service group
        3.  
          Creating the SQL Server service group
      4. Configuring the service group in a non-shared storage environment
        1.  
          Assigning privileges to the existing SQL Server databases and logs
        2.  
          Enabling fast failover for disk groups (optional)
      5.  
        Verifying the SQL Server cluster configuration
      6.  
        About the modifications required for tagged VLAN or teamed network
      7.  
        Tasks for configuring MSDTC for high availability
      8. Configuring an MSDTC Server service group
        1.  
          Prerequisites for MSDTC configuration
        2.  
          Creating an MSDTC Server service group
      9.  
        About configuring the MSDTC client for SQL Server
      10.  
        About the VCS Application Manager utility
      11.  
        Viewing DTC transaction information
      12.  
        Modifying a SQL Server service group to add VMDg and MountV resources
      13.  
        Determining additional steps needed
    2. Configuring campus clusters for SQL Server
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring campus clusters
      2.  
        Modifying the IP resource in the SQL Server service group
      3.  
        Verifying the campus cluster: Switching the service group
      4.  
        Setting the ForceImport attribute to 1 after a site failure
    3. Configuring Replicated Data Clusters for SQL Server
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring Replicated Data Clusters
      2.  
        Creating the primary system zone for the application service group
      3.  
        Creating a parallel environment in the secondary zone
      4.  
        Setting up security for Volume Replicator
      5. Setting up the Replicated Data Sets (RDS)
        1.  
          Prerequisites for setting up the RDS for the primary and secondary zones
        2.  
          Creating the Replicated Data Sets with the wizard
      6. Configuring a RVG service group for replication
        1.  
          Creating the RVG service group
        2. Configuring the resources in the RVG service group for RDC replication
          1.  
            Configuring the IP and NIC resources
          2. Configuring the VMDg or VMNSDg resources for the disk groups
            1.  
              Modifying the DGGuid attribute for the new disk group resource in the RVG service group
            2.  
              Configuring the VMDg or VMNSDg resources for the disk group for the user-defined database
            3.  
              Adding the Volume Replicator RVG resources for the disk groups
            4.  
              Linking the Volume Replicator RVG resources to establish dependencies
            5.  
              Deleting the VMDg or VMNSDg resource from the SQL Server service group
        3. Configuring the RVG Primary resources
          1.  
            Creating the RVG Primary resources
          2.  
            Linking the RVG Primary resources to establish dependencies
          3.  
            Bringing the RVG Primary resources online
        4.  
          Configuring the primary system zone for the RVG service group
      7.  
        Setting a dependency between the service groups
      8. Adding the nodes from the secondary zone to the RDC
        1.  
          Adding the nodes from the secondary zone to the RVG service group
        2.  
          Configuring secondary zone nodes in the RVG service group
        3.  
          Configuring the RVG service group NIC resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
        4.  
          Configuring the RVG service group IP resource for failover
        5.  
          Configuring the RVG service group VMNSDg resources for fail over
        6.  
          Adding nodes from the secondary zone to the SQL Server service group
        7.  
          Configuring the zones in the SQL Server service group
        8.  
          Configuring the application service group IP resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
        9.  
          Configuring the application service group NIC resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
      9. Verifying the RDC configuration
        1.  
          Bringing the service group online
        2.  
          Switching online nodes
      10.  
        Additional instructions for GCO disaster recovery
    4. Configuring disaster recovery for SQL Server
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring disaster recovery for SQL Server
      2.  
        Tasks for setting up DR in a non-shared storage environment
      3.  
        Guidelines for installing Veritas InfoScale Enterprise and configuring the cluster on the secondary site
      4.  
        Verifying your primary site configuration
      5. Setting up your replication environment
        1. Requirements for EMC SRDF array-based hardware replication
          1.  
            Software requirements for configuring EMC SRDF
          2.  
            Replication requirements for EMC SRDF
        2. Requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy array-based hardware replication
          1.  
            Software requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy
          2.  
            Replication requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy
      6.  
        Assigning user privileges (secure clusters only)
      7. About configuring disaster recovery with the DR wizard
        1.  
          Configuring disaster recovery with the DR wizard
      8.  
        Cloning the storage on the secondary site using the DR wizard (Volume Replicator replication option)
      9.  
        Creating temporary storage on the secondary site using the DR wizard (array-based replication)
      10.  
        Installing and configuring SQL Server on the secondary site
      11.  
        Cloning the service group configuration from the primary site to the secondary site
      12.  
        Configuring the SQL Server service group in a non-shared storage environment
      13. Configuring replication and global clustering
        1.  
          Configuring Volume Replicator replication and global clustering
        2. Configuring EMC SRDF replication and global clustering
          1.  
            Optional settings for EMC SRDF
        3. Configuring Hitachi TrueCopy replication and global clustering
          1.  
            Optional settings for HTC
        4.  
          Configuring global clustering only
      14.  
        Creating the replicated data sets (RDS) for Volume Replicator replication
      15.  
        Creating the Volume Replicator RVG service group for replication
      16. Configuring the global cluster option for wide-area failover
        1.  
          Linking clusters: Adding a remote cluster to a local cluster
        2.  
          Converting a local service group to a global service group
        3.  
          Bringing a global service group online
      17.  
        Verifying the disaster recovery configuration
      18.  
        Adding multiple DR sites (optional)
      19.  
        Recovery procedures for service group dependencies
      20.  
        Configuring DR manually without the DR wizard
    5. Testing fault readiness by running a fire drill
      1.  
        About disaster recovery fire drills
      2. About the Fire Drill Wizard
        1.  
          About Fire Drill Wizard general operations
        2. About Fire Drill Wizard operations in a Volume Replicator environment
          1.  
            Preparing the fire drill configuration
          2.  
            About running the fire drill
          3.  
            About restoring the fire drill configuration
          4.  
            About deleting the fire drill configuration
        3.  
          About Fire Drill Wizard operations in a Hitachi TrueCopy or EMC SRDF environment
      3.  
        About post-fire drill scripts
      4.  
        Tasks for configuring and running fire drills
      5. Prerequisites for a fire drill
        1.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in a Volume Replicator environment
        2.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in a Hitachi TrueCopy environment
        3.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in an EMC SRDF environment
      6. Preparing the fire drill configuration
        1.  
          System Selection panel details
        2.  
          Service Group Selection panel details
        3.  
          Secondary System Selection panel details
        4.  
          Fire Drill Service Group Settings panel details
        5.  
          Disk Selection panel details
        6.  
          Hitachi TrueCopy Path Information panel details
        7.  
          HTCSnap Resource Configuration panel details
        8.  
          SRDFSnap Resource Configuration panel details
        9.  
          Fire Drill Preparation panel details
      7.  
        Running a fire drill
      8.  
        Re-creating a fire drill configuration that has changed
      9.  
        Restoring the fire drill system to a prepared state
      10. Deleting the fire drill configuration
        1.  
          Fire Drill Deletion panel details
      11.  
        Considerations for switching over fire drill service groups

Cloning the storage on the secondary site using the DR wizard (Volume Replicator replication option)

The DR wizard enables you to clone the storage configuration present at the primary site on to the secondary site. To do this successfully, the systems at the secondary site must have adequate free storage. If you have created the configuration but there is a mismatch in the volume sizes, the wizard can correct this and then complete the configuration.

Note:

The DR wizard cannot be used if you are setting up DR in a non-shared storage environment.

If you have not yet started the wizard, refer to the following topic before continuing with the storage cloning procedure:

To clone the storage configuration from the primary site to the secondary site (Volume Replicator replication method)

  1. If you have not yet done so, start the Disaster Recovery Configuration Wizard and specify the information for the primary site system, the service group, and the secondary site system. In the Replication Options panel, select the Volume Replicator replication method and click Next.
  2. Review the information in the Storage Validation Results panel. This panel compares the configuration at the secondary site with that on the primary. If the storage is already configured identically on both sites, the panel shows that results are identical. Otherwise, the panel shows the differences and recommended actions. You can toggle between a summary and detailed view of information about the differences.

    The detailed view shows the following:

    Disk Group

    Displays the disk group name that needs to be created on the secondary site.

    Volume

    Displays the list of volumes, if necessary, that need to be created at the secondary site.

    Size

    Displays the size of the volume that needs to be created on the secondary site.

    Mount

    Displays the mount to be assigned the volume on the secondary site.

    Recommended Action

    Indicates the action that needs to be taken at the secondary to make the configuration similar to that on the primary.

    • If the volume does not exist, a new volume will be created.

    • If the volume exists but is of a smaller size than that on the primary, the volume will be expanded to the required size.

    • If the volume is of a greater size than that on the primary, the volume will be recreated using the appropriate size.

    • If the volume is the same as that on the primary, the message indicates that the volumes are identical and no action is required.

    The summary view shows the following:

    Disk groups that do not exist

    Displays the names of any disk groups that exist on the primary but do not exist on the secondary.

    Existing disk groups that need modification

    Displays the names of any disk groups on the secondary that need to be modified to match the primary.

    Free disks present on secondary

    Displays the list of free disks that exist on the secondary along with details about the free space and total disk space information.

    If the panel displays a message indicating that the available disks are inadequate to clone the primary site configuration on the secondary, you can free some disks on the secondary or add more storage. Then, click Refresh/Validate to have the wizard update its information about the secondary storage configuration.

    You continue with the wizard to provide information for the recommended actions. Before proceeding to the service group configuration, the wizard ensures that the configuration of the disk groups and volumes for the service group is the same at the primary and secondary site.

    Click Next.

  3. In the Disk Selection for Storage Cloning panel, for each of the disk groups that does not exist or is not same as the corresponding disk group at the primary site, select disks that the wizard can use to create the respective disk groups at the secondary site.

    Selecting Disks

    For each of the disk groups that needs to be created, select the required disks from the Available Disks pane. Either double-click on the host name or the >> button to move the hosts into the Selected disks pane.

    Under the Available Disks label, a drop-down list allows you to filter available disks by disk enclosure name. The default is All, which displays all free disks available on all enclosures.

    Click Next.

  4. In the Volume Layout for Secondary Site Storage panel, complete the requested information:

    Disk Group

    Displays the disk group name to which the volume belongs.

    Volume (Volume Size)

    Displays the name and the size of the volume, corresponding to that on the primary, that needs to be created on the secondary.

    Available Disks

    Select the disks on which you want the wizard to create the volumes. From the Available Disks pane, either double-click on the disk name or the >> button to move the disks into the Selected Disks pane. For each disk group the Available disks pane displays the list of disks that are part of the disk group.

    Select disks for each unavailable volume that you want to clone on to the secondary.

    Layout

    By default, the same layout as the one specified for the primary volume is selected. Click Edit to change the layout to suit your specific requirements.

    Selected Disks

    Displays the list of disks that have been moved in from the Available Disks pane.

    View Primary Layout

    Displays the volume layout at the primary site. Use this information as a reference to specify the details for the Secondary layout.

    Click Next.

  5. In the Storage Configuration Cloning Summary panel, review the displayed information. If you want to change any selection, click Back. Otherwise, click Next to allow the wizard to implement the storage configuration at the secondary site.

    Note:

    On the VEA GUI of the secondary site, a Windows dialog box might appear prompting you to format a disk. Click Cancel to close the dialog.

    The appearance of this dialog box has no impact on the operations being performed by the DR wizard. You can safely ignore it.

  6. In the Implementation panel, wait until the status for all the completed tasks is marked with a check symbol, indicating successful completion. Wait until the wizard completes cloning the storage. The progress bar indicates the status of the tasks. If some task could not be completed successfully, then the task is marked with an (x) symbol. The Information column displays details about the reasons for task failure. Click Next.
  7. In the Storage Cloning Configuration Result screen, view the results and click Next.
  8. In the SQL Server Installation panel, review the information. If the application is already installed on the secondary site nodes, click Next to proceed with service group cloning.

    Otherwise, proceed with installation on the required nodes as follows:

    • Before you begin installation, ensure that your disk groups are imported and volumes are mounted. If volumes were mounted as drive paths (folder mount) on the primary site, the wizard does not mount the volumes on the secondary site. You must manually format the volumes and assign the drive path to the volumes using Veritas Enterprise Administrator. Use the same letters and folder names that were assigned on the primary site.

    • The system may get restarted when the SQL installation is complete. Therefore, if you are running the DR wizard from a system where you need to install SQL, click Finish to exit the wizard before proceeding with installation. Afterwards, restart the Disaster Recovery wizard and continue through the wizard from the Welcome panel.

    • If the DR Wizard is run from a remote node, you can keep the wizard running on that node while you install the application locally on each of the required nodes. Once application installation is complete, click Next to proceed with service group cloning.