I'm in the process of building a new data center. My current data center will migrate over to this new one. After that is done, I'll build another new data center, so that I can have 2 active/active web sites.
At my current data center I have implemented SQL Mirroring for my application databases. My new data center will utilize a SANs device and all instances of Windows will be running in VMWare's vShpere environment.
I've not set up a failover cluster before, but the documentation looks straight forward. I'm thinking of creating a SQL failover cluster @ my new data center & then configure Transaction Replication from my current data center to the new one, until we make the final move, at which point I can kill the replication. I assume this replication can be accomplished - please advise if not.
When I build my 2nd new data center I have 2 options: build a similar SQL failover cluster & use transaction replication between the sites or use a single SQL failover cluster, with one server at each site. My 2 new data centers will be connected with a high-speed VPN tunnel.
How practical are my choices?
Can either be done with Standard edition?
What sort of complications can I expect down the road, when I need to upgrade to a new release of SQL?
I'm I over simplifying this?
Thanks in advance.
BigSam