Tips of SQL Server 2005 installation in cluster

During the SQL Server 2005 instalaltion in cluster environment, please exactly follow these tips during install process, which will make installation more smoothly.

1. Before installation, please make sure all nodes have need rebooted.
2. Please make sure the setup program is executed on the active node. It is suggested you can move all resources to that active node before installation.
3. Please test admin share (//servername/c$/)& new view command (new view servername) each other between active node and the other 4 passive nodes.
4. To make the SQL Server 2005 installation smoothly, it is strongly suggest the account which is used for SQL Server 2005 cluster installation has domain administrative permission. Also, this domain account should be in the administrators group of all cluster nodes.
5. Please make sure the time of both cluster nodes are synchronized with the DC server, which can make the Kerberos working smoothly. In this way, the communication among all nodes will be ok during installation.
6. Please make sure the task scheduled service is enabled and running on all cluster nodes during installation.
7. It is suggested that you can create a new domain group specified for SQL 2005 on the AD level before installation, which will be used during SQL Server 2005 cluster installation.
8. It is suggested that you can install the SQL Server 2005 from local disk but not CD/DVD. It will make the installation process running happily.
9. In cluster environment installation, please log off all remote connection to the passive nodes because of the following known issue.
You receive error messages when you try to set up a clustered instance of SQL Server 2005
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910851/en-us

Note: please 100% guarantee the hardware stability. If the hardware is not stable, we cannot go any further on the software level.

Reference:
Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2005 
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx

Before Installing Failover Clustering
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189910.aspx

Check Parameters for the System Configuration Checker
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143753.aspx

Thanks and regards,
Michael