SQL Server 2012 Virtual Lab with Clustering using Hyper-V

After having a great opportunity to attend a Beta course for Hyper-V with Windows 2012 at Learning Tree, I decided to finally do what I have been planning to do for a while; build a fully working SQL Server Clustered Virtual Lab.

I had been practicing with Hyper-V before I attended training, but the training helped fill in the gaps on the network/windows/virtualization side of things for me. So I have finally put together documentation with screen shots so that anyone can create their own virtual lab at home. You may have to upgrade to Windows 8 for this unless you have another way of running a Hyper-V Server. Anyhow, the link for the Virtual Lab setup is now a permanent fixture to the menu of this site (look up at the top!) and or just click here.

I used the latest and greatest to put this together (Windows 8 Pro running Hyper-V, Windows Server 2012 Core and Full Editions, and SQL Server 2012). I’m trying to bring future SQL Server students and enthusiasts closer to having their own Clustered SQL Server virtual lab without having to shuffle all over the internet putting bits and pieces of information together to get it done. Additionally, I have tried to use as little resources as possible in terms of RAM and disk space so that it those who have thin budgets (like myself) will find this tutorial useful.

I hope you enjoy, and I hope you learn a lot, and I definitely hope that if you see any mistakes to please help me fix them by adding comments on the tutorial pages. The final result should be a full working SQL Server Clustered Instance using SQL Server 2012 and Windows 2012.

Thanks!