SQL Availability Group and File Server Role Using the Same DNS Name

Question

I'm tasked with setting up a 2 node cluster that will host a MS SQL availability group. I have the servers setup and the AG looks to be working as expected. However, there is another requirement to hang a file share off one of the drives. I'm not crazy about it, but I have to deal with it.

Since this is a windows failover cluster, my understanding is that I need to add the file server role and configure it to host the share. I've done this and it's working but, because the AG and FS roles each need their own IP and DNS name (Example: AG = \\ServerName, FS = \\ServerName-FS), I'm getting pushback from some people because they want the share to answer from the same server name as the SQL instance, as if it were a one-server solution.

I've been looking for a way to accommodate their request, but have come up short. Am I missing something or is this just not possible?

OS = Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

SQL = SQL 2022 Enterprise

All resources are on-prem

Thanks in advance,

Answer 1

[...] I'm getting pushback from some people because they want the share to answer from the same server name as the SQL instance, as if it were a one-server solution.

Create the FileShare resource in the AG resource group and configure it, when doing so add the AG Listener Network Name as a dependency for the FileShare resource, don't create a new one.

It's not a great setup, IMO, but it should work.

From what I see, creating a share in the AG resource group isn't an option.

You need to do the plumbing first, so create the file server, etc., etc., then set it to use the listener network name. You should understand that when you ask to do advanced things, it may not have a GUI to do it and make it easy, you may have to resort to advanced ways. Not saying that's how it should be, just saying that's how it is.