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You cannot add or remove features to a SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 failover cluster

Article ID: 2547273 - View products that this article applies to.

SUMMARY

SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 does not support adding or removing features or components to an existing failover cluster instance. For example, you cannot add the Database Engine to an existing Analysis Services-only failover cluster or add Analysis Services to an existing Database Engine-only failover cluster. On the same note removing features from a clustered instance is also not supported.

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MORE INFORMATION

The option to add or remove features is not supported either when running the setup through SQL Server Installation Center or when running the setup from a command prompt. For more information on the what happens when you try to add a feature through setup you can refer to the following forum post:

Why do I get ‘Rule “Existing clustered or clustered-prepared instance” failed’ error while adding new features to an existing instance of SQL Server Failover Cluster?
(http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlforum/archive/2011/04/19/forum-faq-why-do-i-get-rule-existing-clustered-or-clustered-prepared-instance-failed-error-while-adding-new-features-to-an-existing-instance-of-sql-server-failover-cluster.aspx)

If you need to add or remove features to an existing installation you need to reinstall the virtual instance with the required features. For additional information you can refer to the following topics in SQL Server Books Online:

How to: Remove a SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance (Setup)
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190438.aspx)
How to: Create a New SQL Server Failover Cluster (Setup)
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179530.aspx)

Note: The SQL Server Analysis Services resource is a part of any SQL Server failover cluster’s resource group where Analysis Services is installed. Although it is possible to install both Database Engine and Analysis Services in the same resource group, it is generally recommended to install them as separate instances. Analysis Services is not dependent on SQL Server, and it should be installed to a separate resource group for maximum availability and performance.

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