Dual installation

jlac

Can two enterprises to share a new cluster server? One is working with v3.70 and the other with v.401.

Actually each one has it´s own "little" server and database, but is it possible to install in the same volume two different versions?

It's the same service version?

Thanks

Marije_Brummel

If your question is: can you run diffent versions on 1 SQL server the answer is yes.

kine

And do not forget: there is no enough fast HW on the world (I mean which you can buy with your budget... :-) which can support two live Navision DB with good performance!!!

ara3n

well you could have a test db or a db for reporting purposes Or for consolidation purposes. But usually you have a sepparate box for that.

jlac

In this case, we can share HW resources, because in the same server we can have two diferent installations, versions, and BD ithout any problem. Is that correct?

Thanks

DenSter

It is technically possible to have one SQL Server with Navision databases with different versions on it. You have to make sure you have the right extended procedures if you intend to connect using Windows Authentication, but I've read that that works also.

jlac

Sorry, but i did'nt say. In both cases are native dabase format. It could improve anything to migrate to SQL? In one case are 100 users and the other 300 users.

Thanks

DenSter

With two different version on native database servers I would personally go with one version per machine. I do think it is technically possible, although for sure it is not supported by Microsoft.

Marije_Brummel

You can have 30 native servers on one machine all with different versions.

Different versions at a customers site mostly happens when a customer migrates to a newer version. It is then mostly a temporary issue. The live database then ususaly has the most memory usage.

It realy depends on your requirements, how many users, what processes, what other applications are running etc.

DenSter

I know you can have many different versions, and I do, on my development machine. I just think that for a production environment the rules are a bit stricter. If I screw up one of my development databases I can easily recreate a new one because I don't *NEED* the data, for production systems that's not that easy.

All I am saying is that I would choose to keep different versions on different boxes for a production environment, just to be safe.

bbrown

If both versions are being used in production, then they must also be independently licensed.

jlac

Of course, each one it has it's own license, and each one has it's own partner. Actually each one has it's own machine, but we're thinking on spend a lot of money in a dual cluster with Fiber San store, Fiber Library, etc. And I only want to know if both enterprises can share that investment.

Reading your posts I think there is not unanimity about the answer...

Thanks

bbrown

I see two possible approaches here:

1. Build an Active-Passive cluster. This configuration is supported by Navision. Both services would run off the same computer and swith to the other one during a failure. As mentioned above, this would mean they are sharing the cpu resources. which may impact performance. I would store their databases on different disk sets within the shared disk array.

2. Build an Active-Active cluster. This would give each service its own computer to run on and only run on a single during a failure. I am not sure this is supported by Navision.

A cluster will only protect you against the failure of a duplicated component.

jlac

But in active/pasive, in each node cluster, I How I configure both server? May I create two bat files each one with:
SERVER SERVERNAME=navi1, NETTYPE=TCP, DATABASE=E:\BDNAVISION\DB1.FDB

and the other one changing the "1" for "2". After that, I would start both services, but in actual enviroment test, when I want to start the second service I receive the error 1, "Incorrect Function"

What I am doing bad?

Thanks

bbrown

You configure the Navision service as either a generic service or application. Only one is running and the cluster manager will fail it over to the other node.

Send me your email.. I have a document that may help.

jlac

Thanks, Brian. I hope that notes will be util...

But now I want to know how I can to start two SERVER services, to run both databases !

Thanks

bbrown

You would setup each service on a different server with its fail-over on the other server. As I said earlier, I am not sure this is supported by Navision.

Another option is a 3 node cluster:

Node 1 (database 1 Active)

Node 2 (database 2 Active)

Node 3 (passive - Both databases)

DenSter

http://www.mibuso.com/howtoinfo.asp?Fil ... Type=howto that's where you find out how to do it.

Note that this is NOT recommended for production environments. Navision developers do stuff like this because it's easy to recreate a database if you don't care about the data. For mission critical applications, like ERP systems, you should have a separate machine dedicated for each version. If you ever have issues with either one, and you need support, and MS finds out you have more than one version on one machine you will either not get support at all, or you will have to pay for it.

bbrown

In a 3 node cluster the only time both databases would be using the same computer is if both production servers failed at the same time. a somewhat unlikely occurence.

jlac

Thanks, Denster

But One possible is upgrade the version that actually is on 3.70 to same version than other one. In that case, could we share a brand new BIG server with two service instances?

How could I do it? When I've tried in a testing enviroment, to register two services, I have done without problems. But when I want to start the second service I receive " error 1: Incorrect Function "

Why?

Thanks

bbrown

error 1: Incorrect Function

The server may not have sufficient memory to start the second services. Try lowering the DBMS cache setting on both services. It seems that the 1 GB DBMS limit (actually ~850 MB) is shared by all instances. Anytime I have setup mulitple services (development or testing) I have had to lower the DBMS settings. Set your DBMs so your combined total is below this limit.

Since Navision seems to share its DBMS ache with all running Navision services, this is a good argument not to run mutiple services in production.

Marije_Brummel

bbrown wrote:

You configure the Navision service as either a generic service or application. Only one is running and the cluster manager will fail it over to the other node.

Send me your email.. I have a document that may help.

Documents? I love documents. Can you please send it?

mb@verito.nl

jlac

So, must I throw away the idea of having two services simultaneusly in same machine?

Thanks.

Savatage

At the end of the day it's still your decision.

The vibe I'm getting from the previous posts suggest your better off running two different machines, especially since the cost of hardware today is fairly low.

---

Not that this has anything to do with this post - but on my other pc I'm looking at buy.com's Fantom Drive 500GB for $199.95

I remember paying $1000.00 for 1 GB only 15 yrs ago. wow!

jlac

For all who need the same situation this is the process:
1) One normal installation
2) Copy the folder where the SERVER service is installed to another new folder for the new service
3) register the service to call the other database.
4) start the service
5) modify the hosts file with a new line of IP and netbios name machine. (can be the same machine that our first running database service)
6) In the case of the same machine, both SERVER services has to have different TCP ports, so make a new line in windows services files
7) Steps 5 and 6 are too for each navision client
8) start navision client, you can choose each database server, but remember to change the license file too, if is necesary.

Now, it goes my question:
¿Anybody knows if is there any way to associate the automatic change the correct License files when you open the other dabase?

bbrown

Install the license with each server instance. The license that is used is the one in the server folder, not the one at the client.

jlac

But, which is the secret to install the license for each server instance?
I think we did that well. Actually we only must to open one database (in 3000 port) and the other database specifying the port too (3001)

A thing call my attention; It we open the first dabase, we don't need to specify any port, but for the second is necessary if we want to open it.

Is there any way to avoid the need to specify the TCP port?

Marije_Brummel

You can update your hosts and services files.

http://www.mibuso.com/howtoinfo.asp?Fil ... Type=howto