We start with an environment consisting of two virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter (VSQL11 y VSQL12), members of the same Active Directory domain (guillesql.local). These machines have already configured the Windows Server 2008 R2 Failover Cluster using Node and Disk Majority. Also, MS DTC is already configured on Failover Cluster too, an optional step prior installing a SQL Server Cluster. Additionally, several disks have been added to the Cluster to be able to install several SQL Server instances. All the shared disks were created using Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 running on Windows Server 2008 R2.

To run the different Windows services (SQL Server, SQL Server Agent and Analysis Services) we will use the same domain account (GUILLESQL\SERVICE_SQL). This is not a good practice (I preferred to use a dedicated account for each service). However, for this test environment is more than enough...

The service account that we will use (GUILLESQL\SERVICE_SQL) is a simple domain account, I mean, with no special privileges nor elevated permissions.

Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 on the first Cluster Node

On one Cluster Node (connected by RDP), for example in our case on VSQL11, we'll install SQL Server 2008 R2 and Analysis Services on Cluster, as shown bellow. The following steps will make a SQL Server and Analysis Services Cluster, having only one Node. Then, on another Cluster Node (VSQL12), we'll make another SQL Server installation (as we'll see later in detail) to add it to the SQL Server / Analysis Services Cluster. Note that a Cluster having only one Node could be a good idea for testing purposes.

Keep in mind that in earlier versions (for instance, on SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000), when installing a SQL Server Cluster on the first Node, SQL Server is installed automatically on all Nodes in the Cluster, so you had to install SQL Server only once (instead of one installation for each Cluster Node, as required on SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2).

Well, it's time to start installing our SQL Server Cluster. Let's begin !

Run the SQL Server Setup. Select the Installation page, and then click New SQL Server failover cluster installation.

In the Setup Support Rules dialog, click OK to continue.

In the Product Key dialog, click Next to continue.

In the License Terms dialog, accept the terms of the license agreement. Click Next to continue.

In the Setup Support Files dialog, click Install.

In the Setup Support Rules dialog, check all the errors and warnings, and then click Next.

You could find out the Microsoft .Net Application Security warning, which occurs when you don't have Internet access from machine where you are installing SQL Server.

In the Feature Selection dialog, choose the SQL Server features you want to install. Click Next to continue.

In the Instance Configuration dialog, specify the SQL Server Network Name and choose if you want to install a Default Instance or a Named Instance. Click Next to continue.

In the Disk Space Requirements dialog, check if you have enough free space to install SQL Server. Click Next to continue.

In the Cluster Resource Group dialog, specify the Resource Group where you wish to perform your SQL Server / Analysis Services installation. Note that, you can choose an existing Resource Group (which must be empty) or a new Resource Group (which will be created during the installation). Click Next to continue.

In the Cluster Disk Selection dialog, select the shared disks (or cluster disks) which you want to be used by SQL Server and Analysis Services. Click Next to continue.

In the Cluster Network Configuration dialog, specify the IP Address you want to be used by SQL Server and Analysis Services. Click Next to continue.

In the Cluster Security Policy dialog, select the Use service SIDs option. Click Next to continue.

In the Server Configuration dialog, in the Service Accounts tab, specify the service accounts you want to be used for each service.

In the Server Configuration dialog, in the Collation tab, specify the collation you want to be used by SQL Server and Analysis Services. To change the collation for a different one, click Customize.

As you might already know, you can choose any Windows or SQL Server collation for SQL Server.

Going back to the installation, in the Database Engine Configuration dialog, in the Account Provisioning tab, specify the Authentication Mode for SQL Server (Windows or Mixed) as well as the users you want to grant elevated privileges on SQL Server (I mean, sysadmin membership).

In the Database Engine Configuration dialog, in the Data Directories tab, specify which folders you want to be used by SQL Server database engine. Click Next to continue.

In the Database Engine Configuration dialog, in the FILESTREAM tab, specify whether you want to enable FILESTREAM or not. Click Next to continue.

In the Analysis Services Configuration dialog, in the Account Provisioning tab, specify the users you want to grant elevated privileges on Analysis Services.

In the Analysis Services Configuration dialog, in the Data Directories tab, specify which folders you want to be used by Analysis Services. Click Next to continue.

In the Error Reporting dialog, click Next to continue.

In the Cluster Installation Rules dialog, check any warning or error, and click Next.

In the Ready to Install dialog, review the Summary and click Install.

A progress bar. It will take several minutes. After that, the installation will be finished.

Add an additional Node to the SQL Server 2008 R2 Cluster

At this time, even having a two Nodes Windows Cluster, only one Cluster Node is running SQL Server. Therefore, we have to run the SQL Server setup on the other Cluster Nodes to add them to the SQL Server Cluster, following the next steps.

Run the SQL Server Setup. Select the Installation page, and then click Add node to a SQL Server failover.

In the Setup Support Rules dialog, check any error or warning, and click OK.

In the Product Key dialog, click Next to continue.

In the License Terms dialog, accept the terms of the license agreement, and click Next.

In the Setup Support Files dialog, click Install.

In the Setup Support Rules dialog, check any error or warning and click Next.

In the Cluster Node Configuration dialog, specify to which Instance you want to add the Cluster Node you are installing. Click Next to continue.

In the Service Accounts dialog, specify the service accounts you want to be used for each service. Click Next to continue.

In the Error Reporting dialog, click Next to continue.

In the Add Node Rules dialog, check any error or warning and click Next to continue.

In the Ready to Add Node dialog, review the Summary and click Install.

A new progress bar. It will take several minutes. After that, the installation will be finished.

At this time, we have installed our SQL Server 2008 R2 (and Analysis Services) Cluster with success, so we should to make the first configuration task (for instance, create Logins, configuring Backups, configuring Maintenance Plans, configuring Instant Initialization File, configuring protocolos, configuring Kerberos for SQL Server and Analysis Services, and so on). .

That's all for today. I hope you enjoy the reading ! Cheers.