Looking for some advice. I've just been told that in a couple weeks, I've got some cluster re-arranging to do. (Mind you, I've had a week's vacation scheduled for the last 6 months, so I really only have 1 week to do this ...)
Here's what I have now: Windows 2008 R2 / SQL 2008 R2 cluster (call it "UnusedSQLCluster) - This is a 1 node cluster, at the moment. Windows 2008 R2 / SQL 2008 R2 cluster with 3 named SQL instances - This is a 2 node cluster So here's what they want. Get rid of UnusedSQLCluster; reformat it as a Win2012 R2/SQL 2012 R2 cluster. Move one of the named SQL instances to what used to be UnusedSQLCluster but *keeping* the current instance name and IP address. Got all that? So here's what I think I need to do. Gracefully uninstall the old UnususedSQLCluster (both SQL and Win clusters); (This should be relatively straightforward - uninstall SQL node; evict Windows node) reformat it and install Win 2012 R2/SQL 2012 R2, using a temporary SQL cluster name - "TempSQLCluster". Uninstall SQLInstance01 from the cluster it is in. (this cluster remains in production, servicing the 2 other SQL instances) Rename TempSQLCluster to SQLInstance01, using same IP address, Have I missed a step? BIG QUESTIONS / CONCERNS: 1. It is possible to rename a SQL cluster instance name to something else, that looks straightforward enough. And there is no log shipping, event forwarding, etc, that I know of. I know I may have to do some DNS cleanup. 2. I know that SQL cluster instances register themselves into AD, hence why I want to gracefully uninstall everything. But re-using the same SQL instance name should be OK? Or do I need to clean that object out of AD after uninstalling it? I did this once, months ago, and I know I didn't do all the steps properly at that time, as my boss deleted the AD account of a SQL instance without uninstalling it first. So it's still there in SQL, in a zombie state. What have I missed? What do I need to look out for? (DNS, etc) I'm sure I didn't explain everything clearly enough, so feel free to interrogate further.
