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On our SharePoint 2010 farm, we are using SQL 2008 R2. Currently, a SQL cluster (with 2 SQL server sitting at same data center) is built to provide auto-failover. However, it has no DR ability.

We are requested to provide DR ability to the system. One of approach we are considering is adding a new SQL server (the 3rd server) at DR site. Then setup mirroring with the SQL cluster. Is it possible for SQL 2008 R2?

I think not many systems is setup in this way. I fail to find any supporting document from Microsoft or from the Internet.

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This article explains the issue pretty well: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff658546(v=sql.100).aspx.

I am using Failover Clustering for most of my highly available DBs (both Oracle and MS SQL). In order to build a cluster you need either a separate SAN/NAS serving as a shared storage for your hosts or use some free 3rd-party mirroring solution like Starwind https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san-free. Obviously this scenario is rather SQL 2008 on top of mirroring but does the same job preventing downtime and data loss.

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    Sorry I am not SQL expert so the article is difficult to me. Do you mean that setup mirroring on a SQL cluster is possible?
    – Mark
    Jun 2, 2017 at 1:23
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    This doesn't answer the question. OP is asking if he can add a mirror when the source instance is already part of a failover cluster.
    – MDMarra
    Jun 2, 2017 at 1:25
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    Failover Cluster is not equal to mirroring. The answer explains the mirroring part pretty well. The idea is that you do not mirror the SQL server/cluster itself but the complete storage behind it.
    – Net Runner
    Jun 6, 2017 at 12:59
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Yes, this is possible. This article outlines the scenarios and gives a sample topology.

Typically, when mirroring is used with clustering, the principal server and mirror server both reside on clusters, with the principal server running on the failover clustered instance of one cluster and the mirror server running on the failover clustered instance of a different cluster. You can establish a mirroring session in which one partner resides on the failover clustered instance of a cluster and the other partner resides on a separate, unclustered computer, however.

If a cluster failover makes a principal server temporarily unavailable, client connections are disconnected from the database. After the cluster failover completes, clients can reconnect to the principal server on the same cluster, or on a different cluster or an unclustered computer, depending on the operating mode. Therefore, when deciding how to configure database mirroring in a clustered environment, the operating mode you use for mirroring is significant.

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