SQL Server in Windows Server Environment

This blog is intended to be a guideline for installing SQL Server in Windows Server environments. This came about as I am heavily involved with virtualizing SQL Server in different Windows environments. Detailed information can be found in kb2681562

I will touch base on the following Windows environments:

1. Windows Server 2012R2
2. Windows Server 2012

SQL Server 2005

Note that SQL Server 2005 (including SPs) and all earlier versions of SQL Server are  not supported on Windows 2012 / R2. An upgrade will be required before housing your SQL environment on Windows 2012 / R2. (If you need help in uninstalling SQL 2005 you can follow kb909967)

Minimum requirements for SQL Server on Windows 2012R2

• SQL Server 2008 – You need to apply SP3 or later. Per MSFT RTM installation of the product is supported but installation of service pack (SP3) after the initial installation is must.
• SQL Server 2008R2 – You need to apply SP2 or later. Refer to Known Setup Issues
• SQL Server 2012 – You need to apply SP1 or later. Refer to Known Setup Issues
• SQL Server 2014 – You can install RTM or later.

Minimum requirements for SQL Server on Windows 2012

• SQL Server 2008 – You need to apply SP3 or later
• SQL Server 2008R2 – You need to apply SP1 or later.
• SQL Server 2012 – You can install RTM or later.
• SQL Server 2014 – You can install RTM or later.

Known SQL Server 2008/R2 Setup Issues

Issue#1 – Cluster Service Verification rule fails with SQL 2008R2 Cluster Instance

When installing a new SQL Server 2008R2 failover cluster instance we kept running into “Cluster Service verification” rule.

Further researches lead me to 2 things which resolved the issue:

• SlipStream installation of SQL2008R2 with SP3 (will blog about this soon)
• An excellent article by Daveberm on how to enable the Failover Cluster Automation Server in the Add Roles and Features via wizard or powershell

Cause

This is caused by COM-based MSCls.dll library not being enabled.

Resolution

• Run the following powershell on each of the nodes to enable the featur

add-windowfeature RSAT -Clustering-AutomationServer

• Run the wizard on each node using Server Manager. Expand Remote Server Administration Tools → Feature Administration Tools → Failover Clustering Tools and click on Failover Cluster Automation Server

In my case I was doing fresh installations (RTM) and needed slipstream in order to install it on Win 2012R2. My next blog will be all about Slipstream and its benefits.

Updates – here is my blog on Slipstreaming SQL Server

~ Adios

Khan

Like us on FaceBook | Join the fastest growing SQL Server group on FaceBook |

Follow me on Twitter