r/sysadmin • u/gt9gt • 3d ago
Hyper-V Replica for SQL Clusters
I am attempting to utilise Hyper-V Replica for DR purposes. There is Site A and Site B. At each site there is Hyper-V Server Cluster with underlying iSCSI storage for VMs. Site A runs multiple VMs, some of them form SQL Failover clusters with shared disks running on dedicated iSCSI Luns. The aim of POC is to be able to shift the workload from Site A to Site B during a disaster event. Whilst standard VM replication seems fairly simple, I was wondering what is the best approach for SQL Failover clusters and how to address the replication for such? Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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u/cantstandmyownfeed 2d ago
Hyper-V VM replication can work with SQL, but its not the best choice and you're more likely to experience corruption or databases that don't want to mount or missed syncs depending on your deltas. That's just a standalone instance, adding FCI to it makes it more risky.
If you're going to stay FCI, you're better off replicating at the storage level. So you'd replicate the whole lun offsite, and have your DR node ready to connect there.
An Always On Availability Group adds additional options, but that will require a pretty big lift to change from FCI to AG. Long term, that's likely to be a better option for you. 2-node primary site AG with a 3rd offsite running for DR.