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

About configuring disaster recovery with the DR wizard

Note:

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

The Disaster Recovery Configuration Wizard (DR wizard) assists you to perform the following tasks for the selected service group:

  • Clone the storage configuration (Volume Replicator replication) or prepare a temporary storage configuration for application installation (array-based hardware replication)

  • Clone the service group

  • Optionally, configure Volume Replicator replication, or configure the VCS hardware replication agent settings for EMC SRDF or Hitachi TrueCopy

  • Configure global clustering

    Warning:

    To use the Disaster Recovery Configuration Wizard in an array-based hardware replication environment that is not configured by the wizard, you must first run the wizard to configure global clustering before configuring replication.

The wizard allows you to exit after the logical completion of each task. Each time you re-start the wizard, you specify the primary site system, service group, secondary site system, and replication method, as described in the following procedure. Clicking Next then takes you to the start page of the process following the one that you had last completed.

The DR Wizard list of service groups shows only those that contain a MountV resource. For a dependent service group to be listed, the parent service group must also contain a MountV resource.

Warning:

Once you have completed configuring replication and global clustering with the DR wizard, you cannot use the wizard to change the method of replication.

Before running the DR wizard to configure disaster recovery, ensure that you meet the following prerequisites:

  • InfoScale Enterprise is installed and a cluster is configured at the secondary site. Ensure that the name assigned to the secondary site cluster is different than the name assigned to the primary site cluster.

  • Your application or server role is configured for HA at the primary site and all required services are running at the primary site.

  • The clusters taking part in the DR configuration should have distinct names.

  • Enough free disk space is available at the secondary site to duplicate the storage configuration at the primary site.

  • Global Cluster Option (GCO) is installed at the primary and secondary site, and one static IP address is available at each site for configuring GCO.

  • For IPv4 networks, static IP addresses are available to enter for the following (for IPv6, they are generated during configuration):

    • One static IP address per application service group to be cloned.

    • One static IP address at each site for configuring GCO.

    • If using Volume Replicator for replication, a minimum of one static IP address per site for each application instance running in the cluster.

  • The service group to be cloned can use either IPv4 IP addresses or IPv6 addresses but not a mixture of both.

  • To configure IPv6 settings, the wizard must be launched from a system on which the IPv6 stack is installed.

  • For Volume Replicator replication, the service group to be cloned cannot contain a child service group.

  • A VCS user is configured with the same name and privileges in each cluster.

  • If a firewall exists between the wizard and any systems it needs access to, the firewall is set to allow both ingoing and outgoing TCP requests on port 7419.

Note:

The DR wizard does not support Volume Replicator configurations that include a Bunker secondary site.

In addition, see the following replication prerequisites, depending on the replication method you are using:

See Setting up security for Volume Replicator.

See Requirements for EMC SRDF array-based hardware replication.

See Requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy array-based hardware replication.