HOWTO: Upgrade a Clustered MSMQ SQL to SQL Enterprise Edition

You can only install Microsoft Message Queue Server (MSMQ) site controllers in a cluster environment from Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition. This is because you must install the limited version of Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5 from the Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition CD first. You can then upgrade this limited version of SQL Server to SQL Server 6.5 Enterprise Edition after completing the installation of MSMQ. It is not possible to install MSMQ on a cluster when SQL Server 6.5 Enterprise Edition is already installed.

The limited version of SQL Server that comes with Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition does not cluster in the same way that SQL Server 6.5 Enterprise Edition does. This limits the upgraded SQL Server from having its own Virtual Server ID (Resource Name and IP Address). It also restricts the clustered SQL Server to an Active/Passive configuration.

MSMQ Routing Servers and Independent clients do not have any requirement for SQL Server and, in general, are easier to install and maintain within a Microsoft Cluster environment.

The "What's New in SQL Server 6.5" documentation, included with SQL Server version 6.5 Enterprise Edition, states in one section that upgrading the limited SQL Server version to the full SQL Server 6.5 Enterprise Edition cannot be done, but in another place implies that it can be done. This article explains how to perform the upgrade.

Only upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition versions of the software has been tested. This process does not apply if the Windows NT Option Pack has already been used to update the cluster. Installation of an MSMQ Primary Site Controller (PSC) on a cluster can only be done in conjunction with Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack. Therefore, it is only possible to upgrade an MSMQ Primary Enterprise Controller (PEC) or Backup Site Controller (BSC) that has not had Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack installed.

Use the following steps to upgrade:

1. In Cluster Administrator, move the cluster group containing MSMQ to the node on which MSMQ was first installed. This will be the node where the SQL Server program group exists. You should be working at the console of this node.
2. In Cluster Administrator, take the following services offline:
   MSMQ
   MSDTC
   SQL Server
   SQL Executive
3. In Cluster Administrator, pause the second node of the cluster. To do this, right-click the node name in the left pane of Cluster Administrator and select Pause Node.
4. In Cluster Administrator, right-click the SQL Server resource and click Properties on the shortcut menu. Click the Registry Replication tab. Remove all the entries (three) under Registry Replication by selecting each entry and then clicking Remove. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
5. In Cluster Administrator, right-click the SQL Executive resource and click Properties on the shortcut menu. Click the Registry Replication tab. Remove the single entry under Registry Replication. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
6. Run SQL Server Setup to upgrade SQL Server.
7. Run nhloader and reinstall Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS). When prompted, choose Reinstall. At the end of this setup, you are prompted to restart the computer; do so.
8. After restarting, start Cluster Administrator again. Take the MSMQ, MSDTC, SQL Server, and SQL Executive services offline. (You may have to wait for them to finish coming online before you can do this.)
9. Right-click the SQL Executive resource and open the Properties dialog box. Click the Registry Replication tab. Click Add and type the following string:

         SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SQLExecutive
   							

10. Right-click the SQL Server resource and open the Properties dialog box. Click the Registry Replication tab. Click Add and type the following string:

          SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSSQLServer
    							

    Click Add again and type the following:

          Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer
    							

    Click Add a third time and type the following:

          Software\ODBC
    							

11. Resume the second node of the cluster. To do this, right-click the node name in the left pane of Cluster Administrator and select Resume Node.
12. Bring all the services in the MSMQ cluster group online. To do this, right-click the group name in the left pane of Cluster Administrator and select Bring Online.