Install Backup Exec Media server on Clustered SQL DataBase Server

Hi there,

Found the link below to a TN which might help you. You'd basically install Backup Exec on the cluster nodes in the same way you'd install an application like Exchange. The important thing is to install to the same location, and to run the cluster configuration wizard from within BE. I'd recommend going with the MSDE if that is what Symantec recommend. The reason for this is that BE might fail over, but leave the SQL DB on the other node if that doesn't fail over too. OR...BE can initiate a failover, and whatever other applications you're hosting on that cluster are affected when they don't fail over.

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO11618

The link below gives you an idea o fthe types of clusters you can install too...

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO11609

Thanks!

Hi

Thank you for your comment and link information.

I have some questions for MSDE on clustered environment.

If I install MSDE for BE Database into the clustered environment, Does MSDE become one of Clustered Applications or Is it installed as standalone application on each node?

Thanks!

Not too sure of that one, but I do know that MSDE is ALWAYS stand-alone. So when you run the wizard, it has to configure the MSDE correctly. When you fail over to the standby node, MSDE, and therefore the BEDB, will follow.

Hi

Thank you for your comment.

As BE DataBase, I will use MSDE.

Thanks!

Good...post back with an update on whether it is working, and you can then close this off...

Just for info if you install Backup Exec on the nodes of the cluster using the default MSDE/Express database and then run the cluster wizard what you end up with is 2 MSDE/Express instance that have specified the same location (on a shared volume) to the BEDB MDF and LDF files. Then the MSDE/Express SQL services are only set to be running when the active node owns the shared volume and the BE services start on the same node - kind of a simple way of clustering when MSDE/Express is involved as we are only really clustering the data location that the application relies on, not the application itself.

The other option is to install BE on a completely different server but have an existing clustered SQL instance to select to install BE into as a customized install - this results in the BEDB being clustered with full SQL clustering however BE itself won't be clustered.

The final option would in theory be use a full clustered SQL instance and install BE on each node in the cluster as well - this configuiration isn't handled by any wizard in the product and is very difficult to install.

General recommedations for all scenarios are:

1) Don't put the BEDB in the same instance as any critical business applications

2) If not using the default MSDE/Express instances then don't call the instance BKUPEXEC

3) If a busy CASO configuration is involved then we recommend some form of full SQL (clustered or not) instance is used instead of MSDE/Express (at least for the CAS itself, MMS can stil be on MSDE.)

Hi

Thank you for your comment.

The first option using cluster wizard is only clustered MSDE/Express SQL Service and BE is not clustered. If failover process happend in the cluster, MSDE/Express SQL Service is failover but BE is just start the service on passive node.   

My understandint is correct, isn't it?

In the second option, if I use the clustered SQL-DB as user/device licesence mode, the clustered SQL-DB requires an addtional user/device license for Backup Exec media server, I think.

I think Only Backup Exec media server communicate to SQL-DB. So it only needs one user/device SQL-DB license for Backup Exec media server. It does not matter there are any remote agents for backup.

Is it correct?

I want to know how to count SQL DB licenses for using SQL-DB as BE database. But I can not find out yet. If you have any information, Please tell me.

I want to avoid the last option because it is complicated and I can not guarantee the behavior for our customer.

Thanks!!

Hi

I found a post regarding license  for cluster environment by myself.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/licenses-needed-migration

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/besr-licensing-activepassive-cluster-scenario

But, I can not decide how many licenses I should prepare.

We are planning following system;

  1.Standalone Backup Exec Media server

  2. Active-Passive 2 nodes cluster SQL Database Server

In this case, How many SQL Agent Licenses should I prepare?

Thanks,

Don;t get confused between BE licenses to backup a SQL database and the licenses you might need to install a SQL Database

MSDE/SQL Express are free and Microsoft allows companies to bundel these editions with other products.

If however you decide that you need the Backup Exec database to run in an instance that requires more ability than the MSDE/Express editions can provide then you will need to source appropriate SQL licenses to cover your installation.

Thank you for your coment.

Im sorry for making confuse you.

I know I need appropriate SQL licenses if I use SQL DB instead of MSDE/SQL Express.

In the new system design, I will use MSDE/SQL Express for Backup Exec Database.

  1. Standalone Backup Exec Media server with MSDE/SQL Express

  2. Active-Passive 2 nodes cluster SQL Database Server with BE SQL Agent

The Backup Exec will backup the cluster SQL Database using BE SQL Agent installed on the cluster.

In this case, How many BE SQL agent licens should I prepare?

On the other hand, I would like to know wheter Backup Exec Agent like SQL Agent or Windows Remote Agent communicate to Backup Exec Background Database or not. Because if I chose SQL DB as Backup Exec Background Database, I have to prepare appropriate SQL licenses for Backup Exec.

Thanks!!