Installing SP3 on failover cluster

[mutley1]

Hi all,

Sorry if i should be posting this on the previous thread (138-465874) but unsure as to the etiquette as that thread was from Feb 2003.

The reference says to install it on the node that 'owns the group' not the one that is on-line. Can someone clarify this for me please as my understanding is that the on-line server is the one that owns the group, i.e. if it fails over, the current on-line node takes ownership, hence it is the on-line that it is installed on?

If it does install on both when just run on the owner node, do you just reboot both servers then all is up to date?

Sorry if i'm being a bit silly, but wasn't sure on the above detail!

Thanks in advance,

Mutley.

 

[mrdenny]

Mutley,
The node that ownes the group is the one that is online. In the cluster administrator it should tell you which node it currently active.

You can also try to install the SP. If you are on the wrong node it will tell you and error out rather quickly.

You shouldn't need to reboot either node when installing the SQL Service pack unless you have something like SMNP running that shares files with SQL Server. Service Pack installs should simple be a service stop and a service start (unless you have files in use by another app).

Denny

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

 

[mutley1]

Thanks Denny. I thought so. I was a little confused reading the other thread as it seemed they were implying it wasn't always the case, but checking cluster Admin, the owner is bound to be the online.

Do you know if hotfixes work in the same way (i.e. only apply to the owner & it will install across as well?), e.g. MS03-031 etc.?

 

[mrdenny]

Yes, that is correct. (I just did it a couple of weeks ago .) Apply to the active and it will carry across.

Denny

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)