A high percentage of my interactions with clients revolve around clustering SQL Server in some manner or another - could be to review a high-availability solution, could be to stand up a new clustered instance of SQL, could be to troubleshoot a system that is having stability issues, etc. In all cases, I start with a set of checklists and informational-gathering sheets and tools to both review the existing state of the system, and also to understand the system we are working with - once we have all the configuration data, we run through the checklists to ensure the system is configured in a manner matching years of best-practices. If we are installing and configuring a new SQL Server instance within a cluster, I usually send the configuration sheets to my clients a few weeks in advance for them to fill-out in preparation for the install event - I've found that in nearly every case where we have all the configuration data prior to the install event, the installation and configuration goes off very smoothly and typically without a hitch...however, whenever the data isn't available, or a client wants to 'wing-it', the percentages of a smooth sail event drop significantly.  Additionally, whenever I arrive onsite to troubleshoot a server issue for a client, using the checklists as a guide to review the configuration generally yields a wide variety of things that are contributing to and/or causing the issue at hand.

These checklists and informational sheets have been put together by myself over years of experience, with input from a variety of sources, most of which are referenced in the first section within the primary document included with the pages - the Installation and Configuration Outline document. This document is the starting point, and contains a plethora of links, supporting documents, and descriptions / experiences with why each setting or configuration recommended in the checklists is so.

The checklists are meant as a guide/verification during the actual server cluster and sql cluster configuration/install, or while reviewing an existing system.

These info-sheet documents are meant to aid in documenting the both the required information for proper/easy Sql cluster configuration (ip’s, network names, user accounts, etc.) as well as your cluster solution as a whole moving forward for reference and supporting documentation purposes.  Each of these documents should be completed in their entirety prior to beginning a cluster/Sql installation/configuration, and as such, can be used also as a guide for required information prior to beginning a configuration.

So, here are the links to the actual checklists, info sheets, the outline document, and the sample completed info sheets (for a guide on the types of things you may want to consider including in the sheets, or as a guide on how you may want to consider filling them out). Note that included with each page is a downloadable word version of the documents as well:

1) Installation and Configuration Outline

This is the primary document and contains a complete outline of what needs to occur and when it needs to occur when preparing for/installing/configuring a cluster solution. At the very top, there are multiple sections which contain reference material for many of the different components of Sql/Windows/Clustering/etc. involved in the process; I’d recommend becoming as familiar with the contents of this document as possible, as it outlines much of the necessary/possible knowledge/best practices/issues/concerns/etc. involved with Sql Server clustering solutions. This document also references all of the other documents included in the attached file. This is supposed to act as an outline/guide for the actual process of preparing for, installing, and configuring a given Sql cluster solution, so typically it is read/followed from the top to the bottom as steps are completed, though you are more than welcome to browse through the entirety of the document(s) and even perform a ‘mock’ walkthrough if you like to become familiar with the process/documents/requirements/etc. 

2) Info Sheet - Cluster Configuration

3) Info Sheet - Node Configuration

4) Info Sheet - Disk Configuration

5) Info Sheet - SQL Configuration

6) Checklist #1 - Pre-Cluster Configuration

7) Checklist #2 - Post-Cluster Configuration

8) Checklist #3 - Pre-SQL Installation

9) Checklist #4 - Post-SQL Installation

10) Sample Completed Info Sheets

Enjoy, send along comments, recommendations, etc.

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