Applying SP on SQL Cluster (active/passive) after new nodes Added

Ran into a problem in scheduling applying the Service Pack to our SQL
2000 active/passive cluster when we add new nodes. 50 plus databases and an
unknown number of apps.
I'm wondering what people do to ensure that no apps/people are trying to
access the databases when the service pack is applied.
Our application staff says there is no way they can guarantee that an
app or person will not try to access one of the databases while the service
pack is being installed.
My plan is to evict one of the existing nodes then add the two new nodes
one at a time and set up the heartbeat. Then install SQL 2000; then apply
SP3a. Yes I know SP4 is available; however, one of the apps will not run
with SP4.
The service pack brings the database engine up in single-user mode during
the SP install. Unless your applications are connecting as SA or
equivalent, there should be no conflict.
If the apps are connecting as SA, change the password before applying the SP
and change it back when you are done. Then fix that glaring security and
managability hole.
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Pat Hall" <PatHall@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FA6E93F9-78FC-497E-A4F0-E4D459F85CA9@.microsoft.com...
> Ran into a problem in scheduling applying the Service Pack to our SQL
> 2000 active/passive cluster when we add new nodes. 50 plus databases and
> an
> unknown number of apps.
> I'm wondering what people do to ensure that no apps/people are trying
> to
> access the databases when the service pack is applied.
> Our application staff says there is no way they can guarantee that an
> app or person will not try to access one of the databases while the
> service
> pack is being installed.
> My plan is to evict one of the existing nodes then add the two new
> nodes
> one at a time and set up the heartbeat. Then install SQL 2000; then
> apply
> SP3a. Yes I know SP4 is available; however, one of the apps will not run
> with SP4.
|||I thought in single-user mode, that any ID could be used and the 1st one
wins. SA or not. I also thought that the service pack brings the database
engine up and down several times while it is applying the service pack.
The other restriction (db_owner, sysadmin, bd_creator) isn't an option for
us either since many of the app IDs are db_owner in their database.
"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

> The service pack brings the database engine up in single-user mode during
> the SP install. Unless your applications are connecting as SA or
> equivalent, there should be no conflict.
>
> If the apps are connecting as SA, change the password before applying the SP
> and change it back when you are done. Then fix that glaring security and
> managability hole.
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>
> "Pat Hall" <PatHall@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FA6E93F9-78FC-497E-A4F0-E4D459F85CA9@.microsoft.com...
>
|||There is single-user mode for a database, and then there is single-user mode
for the entire database service. The SP starts the entire service in
single-user mode and immediately claims the connection.
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Pat Hall" <PatHall@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:98107803-0953-4B12-986E-FB82CDCBA45B@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
>I thought in single-user mode, that any ID could be used and the 1st one
> wins. SA or not. I also thought that the service pack brings the
> database
> engine up and down several times while it is applying the service pack.
> The other restriction (db_owner, sysadmin, bd_creator) isn't an option for
> us either since many of the app IDs are db_owner in their database.
> "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:
|||Thanks. So do I even need to get all the apps down before I start applying
a service pack? I would think so, so they close out of what they are doing
in an orderly fashion. Just not worry about them trying to get in while the
service pack is running.
"Geoff N. Hiten" wrote:

> There is single-user mode for a database, and then there is single-user mode
> for the entire database service. The SP starts the entire service in
> single-user mode and immediately claims the connection.
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>
> "Pat Hall" <PatHall@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:98107803-0953-4B12-986E-FB82CDCBA45B@.microsoft.com...
>
|||You need a standard practice for maintenance, regardless of whether you are
applying a hotfix or an internal update. This includes procedures for
stopping and starting the entire system.
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Pat Hall" <PatHall@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D497CBD2-637D-490C-9BAD-6AA49F145000@.microsoft.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Thanks. So do I even need to get all the apps down before I start
> applying
> a service pack? I would think so, so they close out of what they are
> doing
> in an orderly fashion. Just not worry about them trying to get in while
> the
> service pack is running.
> "Geoff N. Hiten" wrote: