Are you planning to install SQL Server 2005 on a 64-bit cluster? If so, you might encounter some challenges during the installation process. In this article, we will discuss a common issue that can occur and provide a solution to overcome it.
The Problem
Imagine you have prepared your servers with the necessary configurations, including the installation of Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition 64-bit, created the required users and groups, and allocated the appropriate IP addresses and disks. Everything seems to be in order, and you start the installation process.
However, at the very end of the installation, you encounter an error message that says, “The SQL Server service failed to start. For more information, see the SQL Server Books Online topics, ‘How to: View SQL Server 2005 Setup Log Files’ and ‘Starting SQL Server Manually.'” This error can be frustrating, especially after investing a significant amount of time in the installation process.
The Solution
After encountering this error, you might be wondering what went wrong and how to resolve it. One possible solution is related to the number of cores in the CPU. SQL Server 2005 has been known to have trouble with processors that have an uneven number of cores.
To address this issue, you can try adjusting the “/NUMPROC” setting in the “Systems Configuration Utility.” Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the “Systems Configuration Utility” by clicking on Start, then Run, and typing “msconfig”.
- In the “Advanced Options” tab, locate the “BOOT.INI” section.
- Set the “/NUMPROC” value to 2.
- Restart the server.
With this adjustment, you can proceed with the installation of SQL Server 2005. You might notice that the installation process is slightly slower than usual, but it should complete successfully.
Once SQL Server 2005 is installed and the server is restarted, you can install the latest service pack, such as Service Pack 3. After installing the service pack, you can undo the changes made in the “Systems Configuration Utility” and restart the server again. Everything should work smoothly now.
It’s important to note that this issue has been resolved in Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2005. Therefore, if you are using a more recent version of SQL Server, you might not encounter this problem.
Conclusion
Installing SQL Server 2005 on a 64-bit cluster can be a complex process, and you might encounter unexpected errors along the way. However, by understanding the potential issues and their solutions, you can overcome these challenges and successfully install SQL Server.
We hope that this article has provided you with valuable insights and helped you avoid potential installation problems. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us.