SQL Server 2012 Failover Cluster Installation – Step by Step Guide – Part 2

Good Day .. today i complete my SQL 2012 Server Lab installation, in part 1 of this article we have prepared our environment for the SQL installation, and as agreed we are going to use the Integrated Installation method.

Before we start the installation we need to install .Net framework 3.5 on both SQL nodes otherwise the installation will fail. to do that we will use Server Manager to add features.

Click to specify an alternate path for the .Net framework installation files.

Insert the CD for the Windows Server 2012 R2 and type in the path for the .NetFramework files under \Sources\SXS

Finalize the setup on both nodes.

Iam going to use a SQL 2012 SP1 media, Load your media and fire up the installation. Choose to install a New SQL Server failover cluster installation

Fix any errors you receive before proceeding with the installation.

Type in your product Key and continue, i will be installation the Evaluation edition.

Now this is a new step in the SQL Server installation that downloads updates for the SQL Server installation.

Wait for the updates to be downloaded if any, and proceed with the install setup files step.

Check for any warnings or errors to repair.

Select SQL Server Feature Installation

Select the features you require.

Review any problems that might block this setup based on the selected features.

Choose the Virtual name for the SQL Server that will be used by your applications or users.

Specify the name for the SQL Server cluster resource group.

Select the Disks that would be added to the Cluster group, the first disk will automatically be used as the default location for all Databases.

Specify the cluster network and the IP Address for your SQL Cluster.

Now define the Logon account for each SQL Service, If you configure services to use domain accounts, Microsoft recommends that you configure service accounts individually to provide least privileges for each service, where SQL Server services are granted the minimum permissions they need to complete their tasks. Please review the Server Configuration – Service Accounts for Service Accounts explanation and requirements. for my lab i am using the same account for all services.

I am going to use Windows mode authentication.

Choose the Database and Logs location.

Specify both the Service Account and Data location for the analysis services.

Click next to only install the Report server files, after the installation use the Sharepoint Central Administration to complete the configuration.

Ok we are fine with the Rules check.

Confirm to start the installation , Setback and wait :)

The installation should go smoothly.

You can see the SQL CLuster group is automatically created.

Now let’s start adding the Second node to the SQL Cluster. Launch the SQL installation from the second node.

Click on  Add node to a SQL Server failover cluster

Installation steps are the same, so i am not going to repeat them. i will only list any additional steps.

Confirm and start the installation for the second node.

We are done…

You can select a preferred node for your cluster if required, test your SQL Cluster group failover between the two nodes

Open the SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the Virtual name for the SQL cluster that you have chosen during the installation.

With this step i am finalizing this article, i hope it was informative.