Reboot? How often?

We currently have SQL server EE running on Windows Server 2003 EE in a 2 node
active/passive cluster. We want to restart periodically but not too often.
What is the best way to do this? What I've been doing is move the resources
to the inactive side of the cluster then rebooting the passive node. Then
next time move them back using cluster administrator then rebooting the other
box. Anyone see any potential issues with this approach? Thanks.
Tom
That works, but why do you want to reboot? Are you talking about software/OS
updates.
Cheers,
Rod
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering Website
http://msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
http://www.clusterhelp.com - Cluster Training
"rk rider" <rkrider@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EA70D7F1-C143-4B63-A32D-A59FFC422E1C@.microsoft.com...
> We currently have SQL server EE running on Windows Server 2003 EE in a 2
> node
> active/passive cluster. We want to restart periodically but not too often.
> What is the best way to do this? What I've been doing is move the
> resources
> to the inactive side of the cluster then rebooting the passive node. Then
> next time move them back using cluster administrator then rebooting the
> other
> box. Anyone see any potential issues with this approach? Thanks.
> Tom
|||Because the VP of our dept thinks servers need to be rebooted on a regular
schedule. Personally I see no real reason althought it's nice to test the
fail over periodically in a controlled manner. Personally however, I see no
compelling reason given the stability of Windows server these days. I just
looking for a best practices approach.
"Rodney R. Fournier [MVP]" wrote:

> That works, but why do you want to reboot? Are you talking about software/OS
> updates.
> Cheers,
> Rod
> MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
> http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering Website
> http://msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
> http://www.clusterhelp.com - Cluster Training
> "rk rider" <rkrider@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:EA70D7F1-C143-4B63-A32D-A59FFC422E1C@.microsoft.com...
>
>
|||That is what I am getting at, if you patch monthly then you will reboot
monthly
Cheers,
Rod
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering Website
http://msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
http://www.clusterhelp.com - Cluster Training
"rk rider" <rkrider@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2C3511EB-E75E-4B8F-8A73-53A608994E08@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Because the VP of our dept thinks servers need to be rebooted on a regular
> schedule. Personally I see no real reason althought it's nice to test the
> fail over periodically in a controlled manner. Personally however, I see
> no
> compelling reason given the stability of Windows server these days. I just
> looking for a best practices approach.
> "Rodney R. Fournier [MVP]" wrote:
|||The only issue that I see with it is that you blow away your cache, so when
the SQL Server starts back up, it has to incrementally repopulate that as
queries come in. That leads to performance degradation and heavy
utilization on your disk drives. I see no reason to just arbitrarily reboot
a server, at all. If I have to apply a service pack or hotfix that requires
rebooting, then I obviously reboot. But, that is the only time that I
reboot a machine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Mike
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com
Disclaimer: This communication is an original work and represents my sole
views on the subject. It does not represent the views of any other person
or entity either by inference or direct reference.
"rk rider" <rkrider@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EA70D7F1-C143-4B63-A32D-A59FFC422E1C@.microsoft.com...
> We currently have SQL server EE running on Windows Server 2003 EE in a 2
> node
> active/passive cluster. We want to restart periodically but not too often.
> What is the best way to do this? What I've been doing is move the
> resources
> to the inactive side of the cluster then rebooting the passive node. Then
> next time move them back using cluster administrator then rebooting the
> other
> box. Anyone see any potential issues with this approach? Thanks.
> Tom
|||I agree with the other replies. Windows 2003 is orders of magnitude more
stable than NT 4.0. Your VP needs to update his technical skills or at
least admit that Windows 95 is not the Gold Standard for operating systems
any more.
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"rk rider" <rkrider@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EA70D7F1-C143-4B63-A32D-A59FFC422E1C@.microsoft.com...
> We currently have SQL server EE running on Windows Server 2003 EE in a 2
> node
> active/passive cluster. We want to restart periodically but not too often.
> What is the best way to do this? What I've been doing is move the
> resources
> to the inactive side of the cluster then rebooting the passive node. Then
> next time move them back using cluster administrator then rebooting the
> other
> box. Anyone see any potential issues with this approach? Thanks.
> Tom
|||rk rider wrote:
> We currently have SQL server EE running on Windows Server 2003 EE in
> a 2 node active/passive cluster. We want to restart periodically but
> not too often. What is the best way to do this?
When there are hotfix that require to be applied I install them on the
passive node and reboot it immediately.
Then I download and install it on active node and I schedule a shutdown
(using shutdown.exe or psshutdown from sysinternals) for the following
night.
So, usually I shutdown the system monthly but only if there are high
priority hotfix available...

> Tom
Bye
Luca Bianchi
Microsoft MVP - SQL Server
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com