One Node One Machine Cluster?

Hi,
I am in the process of building a SQL Server "farm," but having to tone down
the pace due to $$. I have just purchased a RAID1 (2 disc/10K rpm/146 GB)
Channel 0, RAID5 (3 disc/10K rpm/146 GB) Channel 1 server with 2 CPU's. This
summer, I plan to buy an identical machine. They will both run Win 2003 EE,
with SQL Server 2000 EE. Rather than install SQL Server locally on my
existing machine, is there a problem with installing MSCS and a virtual
server, even though I only have the one machine now. Of course, it won't
give me failover protection, but it would give me the configuration I want
when I get my second box. Does this make any sense? Any caveats or words of
wisdom?
PS. The servers will be accessed in OTLP mode by an ADO.NET app running on
Terminal Server (Win 2003), and BizTalk Server 2004 - also on a Win 2003 box.
Most of the ADO.NET traffic will occur during business hours, with BTS
getting busy after hours.
Thanks.
John
Hi
Why don't you rather build a single node cluster? Build a normal cluster
node, but not add another node. Once you have bought your other machine, add
it to the cluster.
Just be aware, it is very difficult to get the exact same hardware months
apart. If you are going to use clustering, make sure all the hardware is on
the Windows Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
A cluster "on the cheap" will just cause you hassles later. I've seen enough
"lets do it with a s little as we can", and the cluster ends up with worse
uptime than a single machine.
Regards
Mike
"JT" wrote:

> Hi,
> I am in the process of building a SQL Server "farm," but having to tone down
> the pace due to $$. I have just purchased a RAID1 (2 disc/10K rpm/146 GB)
> Channel 0, RAID5 (3 disc/10K rpm/146 GB) Channel 1 server with 2 CPU's. This
> summer, I plan to buy an identical machine. They will both run Win 2003 EE,
> with SQL Server 2000 EE. Rather than install SQL Server locally on my
> existing machine, is there a problem with installing MSCS and a virtual
> server, even though I only have the one machine now. Of course, it won't
> give me failover protection, but it would give me the configuration I want
> when I get my second box. Does this make any sense? Any caveats or words of
> wisdom?
> PS. The servers will be accessed in OTLP mode by an ADO.NET app running on
> Terminal Server (Win 2003), and BizTalk Server 2004 - also on a Win 2003 box.
> Most of the ADO.NET traffic will occur during business hours, with BTS
> getting busy after hours.
> Thanks.
> --
> John

One node Cluster for SQL 2005

Hi anyone know if you can cluster sql on a one node cluster in Windows 2003 ?
Regards Craig
Yes you can. You can even cluster SQL 2005 in Virtual Server with two
nodes, but it takes a bit of work.
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Craig Gibb" <Craig Gibb@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E4E75A9E-46BC-4DB4-9D22-B5862BBAFBF1@.microsoft.com...
> Hi anyone know if you can cluster sql on a one node cluster in Windows
> 2003 ?
> Regards Craig
>
|||Hi thanks for the info Geoff just now iam having a problem with DTC and
windows 2003 sp1 i thin there is COM + rollup package for the problem,
but i can′t find it anywhere KB 897667. MS support is closed here and i
would really like to install it this evening any ideas ?
Regards Craig
"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

> Yes you can. You can even cluster SQL 2005 in Virtual Server with two
> nodes, but it takes a bit of work.
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
> "Craig Gibb" <Craig Gibb@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E4E75A9E-46BC-4DB4-9D22-B5862BBAFBF1@.microsoft.com...
>
>
|||Here is what I usually have to do with DTC on a Windows 2003 Server.
HOWTO: Enable DTC Between Web Servers and SQL Servers Running Windows Server
2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555017/en-us
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Craig Gibb" <CraigGibb@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:304D6E36-D457-4FDB-A46D-D3941CA3DF86@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Hi thanks for the info Geoff just now iam having a problem with DTC and
> windows 2003 sp1 i thin there is COM + rollup package for the problem,
> but i cant find it anywhere KB 897667. MS support is closed here and i
> would really like to install it this evening any ideas ?
> Regards Craig
> "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote: