Clustering between different CPU Architectures

I have a Sql Server 2005 Instance that I would like to use in a cluster, but
I do not have another IA64 machine to cluster against. Can I cluster this
server against a x86 or a x64? I realize the performance will be different
between the two, but it is acceptible in this condition.
Thanks
Bryan
If by 'cluster it', you meant failover clustering, this is not supported, and
I don't think you can do it (I have never tried). If you go through all the
trouble to achieve HA with clustering, you really should do it properly.
Linchi
"Bryan Aldrich" wrote:

> I have a Sql Server 2005 Instance that I would like to use in a cluster, but
> I do not have another IA64 machine to cluster against. Can I cluster this
> server against a x86 or a x64? I realize the performance will be different
> between the two, but it is acceptible in this condition.
> Thanks
> Bryan
|||Thanks for your reply.
We curently have two active/passive fail over clusters in our network and
they are between x86 and x64 cpu architectures, however, they are both
running 32-bit windows server 2003 and 32-bit sql server 2005.
A "Not Supported" configuration actually means a lot, so we will probably
not do it.
Thanks for your input.
Bryan
"Linchi Shea" wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
> If by 'cluster it', you meant failover clustering, this is not supported, and
> I don't think you can do it (I have never tried). If you go through all the
> trouble to achieve HA with clustering, you really should do it properly.
> Linchi
> "Bryan Aldrich" wrote:
|||Linchi is correct, you can't mix x86 & x64 within the same cluster. Don't
even try it.
Cheers,
Rodney R. Fournier
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering Website
http://www.msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
http://www.clusterhelp.com - Cluster Training
ClusterHelp.com is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
"Bryan Aldrich" <BryanAldrich@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B93BDA6F-B5AF-4FC1-842A-2CB4801E45F3@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Thanks for your reply.
> We curently have two active/passive fail over clusters in our network and
> they are between x86 and x64 cpu architectures, however, they are both
> running 32-bit windows server 2003 and 32-bit sql server 2005.
> A "Not Supported" configuration actually means a lot, so we will probably
> not do it.
> Thanks for your input.
> Bryan
> "Linchi Shea" wrote:
|||The problem is that the binaries are laid down at installation or patch time
from the same set through remote installation.
If you installed the IA-64 bits, these would not operate on an x86 or x64
host. If you installed the x64 bits, they would not work on an x86 or IA-64
host. If you installed the x86 bits, on both the IA-64 and x64 hosts, the
binaries would install to the WOW64 registry keys, which would not replicate
through the x86 host.
Although you can run asymmetrical hardware, although not supported, you
cannot run on mixed CPU architectures.
For HA support, the entire cluster configuration must be listed on the
Hardware Compatibility List, not just the individual components. Those
systems have always (mostly?) been symmetrical configurations.
Sincerely,
Anthony Thomas
"Rodney R. Fournier [MVP]" <rod@.die.spam.die.nw-america.com> wrote in
message news:ORchkA0LHHA.4992@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Linchi is correct, you can't mix x86 & x64 within the same cluster. Don't
> even try it.
> Cheers,
> Rodney R. Fournier
> MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
> http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering Website
> http://www.msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
> http://www.clusterhelp.com - Cluster Training
> ClusterHelp.com is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
>
> "Bryan Aldrich" <BryanAldrich@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B93BDA6F-B5AF-4FC1-842A-2CB4801E45F3@.microsoft.com...
and[vbcol=seagreen]
probably[vbcol=seagreen]
supported,[vbcol=seagreen]
properly.
>
|||What are any issues between going Intel and AMD in the same physical DB
cluster? Is this doable?
"Anthony Thomas" wrote:

> The problem is that the binaries are laid down at installation or patch time
> from the same set through remote installation.
> If you installed the IA-64 bits, these would not operate on an x86 or x64
> host. If you installed the x64 bits, they would not work on an x86 or IA-64
> host. If you installed the x86 bits, on both the IA-64 and x64 hosts, the
> binaries would install to the WOW64 registry keys, which would not replicate
> through the x86 host.
> Although you can run asymmetrical hardware, although not supported, you
> cannot run on mixed CPU architectures.
> For HA support, the entire cluster configuration must be listed on the
> Hardware Compatibility List, not just the individual components. Those
> systems have always (mostly?) been symmetrical configurations.
> Sincerely,
>
> Anthony Thomas
> --
> "Rodney R. Fournier [MVP]" <rod@.die.spam.die.nw-america.com> wrote in
> message news:ORchkA0LHHA.4992@.TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> and
> probably
> supported,
> properly.
>
>
|||"Todd" <Todd@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10B4834B-045F-4A71-AC2D-B1A7B5F97C8B@.microsoft.com...
> What are any issues between going Intel and AMD in the same physical DB
> cluster? Is this doable?
x86 for both? No problem other than supportability issues. x64 and ia64?
Nope, can't do it because the programs applications are different types.
Russ Kaufmann
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp
The next ClusterHelp classes are:
Denver starting Feb 12th
NYC starting Feb 19th
\
|||AMD makes both x86 and x64. Intel makes IA-32 (x86), IA-EM64T (x64
compatible), and the only one that makes IA-64 (EPIC).
When you say mixed, between which architectures are you speaking about?
For x86, it would be doable, but you would definitely see a performance
variation just like any other asymmetrical system.
However, there would be no compatibility for IA-64 (AMD does not make an
EPIC processor), and on x64, there are software implementation differences;
namely, AMD implements a 40-bit memory architecture, while IA-EM64T is still
only a 36-bit address space; how this would interfere with the WOW modes and
registry replication, I am not sure about.
None of these, of course, would be listed on the HCL, and therefore, would
not be supportable.
My understanding is that you already own an EPIC installation. If you apply
all of the updates and patches, OS and SS, then it would be possible to run
an x86 installation against a mixed EPIC and IA-EM64T architecture in WOW
mode, but you would have to run the EPIC (the more powerful processor) host
as the standby system as the 32-bit WOW-based installation would now be the
slowest platform.
You would be better off buying two new AMD multi-core hosts that were
symmetrical than attempt anything someone here might propose.
Sincerely,
Anthony Thomas

"Todd" <Todd@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10B4834B-045F-4A71-AC2D-B1A7B5F97C8B@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> What are any issues between going Intel and AMD in the same physical DB
> cluster? Is this doable?
> "Anthony Thomas" wrote:
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