SQL Server 2012 on a Windows 2012R2 Cluster – Things to watch out for

While performing a new installation of SQL Server 2012 on a Windows 2012R2 cluster, I learned a few things along the way and I want to share them with you.

There are 3 main area to watch out when building the cluster and SQL Server

1.      Integration Services (SSIS) is not cluster aware. You can get SSIS working in the cluster. However, if you have a SSIS package that is executing and the cluster fails over (from active to passive node) the SSIS package will not continue to execute. In fact you have to restart the SSIS package execution. Therefore you need to build some logic in you package to detect if the SSIS package execution was completed or not and if not, who to roll back the changes and re execute it. There is also a fix to allow remote connection to SSIS which can break too

2.      Reporting Services (SSRS) will not start after applying patches. It appears that the patch can/does break SSRS but it’s an easy fix 

3.  Always On Availability Groups does not work between clusters. That is, if you have a cluster (say 2 nodes) and you want to replicate with Always On Availability Groups to another cluster (again say a 2 node cluster), this will not work! There is no documentation from Microsoft support about this. So be aware of this limitation

Below are the links that help with the issues notes above and others I found useful when building a Windows 2012R2 cluster and SQL Server 2012.

Integration Services (SSIS) in a Cluster is not Cluster Aware

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh213127.aspx

Configure the Integration Services Service as a Cluster Resource

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231005.aspx

Grant Access to the Integration Services Service

http://mssqltrek.com/2011/12/07/connecting-to-the-integration-services-service-on-the-computer-mirrorstand-failed-with-the-following-error-access-is-denied/

Connect to a Remote Integration Services Server

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa337083.aspx

Cannot Start SQL Server Reporting Services after applying an update

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2745448

Before Installing Failover Clustering

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189910.aspx

SQL Server Failover Cluster Installation

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231721.aspx

Create a New SQL Server Failover Cluster (Setup)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179530.aspx

Error during Installation of an SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2013/09/30/error-during-installation-of-an-sql-server-failover-cluster-instance.aspx

Please let me know if you find any other useful information and/or links in this topic.

Thanks and enjoy.

Rudy