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Frank Martin
Asked: 2015-04-23 01:24:06 +0800 CST

Can we use FILESTREAM in case of SQL Server cluster

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I saw this point on Technet article about RBS.

The local FILESTREAM provider is supported only when it is used on local hard disk drives or an attached Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) device. You cannot use the local RBS FILESTREAM provider on remote storage devices such as network attached storage (NAS).

Does it mean we cannot use FILESTREAM in case of SQL Failover Cluster because Failover Cluster only works on NAS? But the thing is NAS is made available locally when setting Failover Cluster so may be FILESTREAM will work but I am not sure about it.

sql-server-2012

2 Answers

  1. It will not work most likely. Depending on the Failover cluster type, the underlying partition (ReFS / NTFS) and also the Storage System.

    According to Technet article Install SQL Server with SMB Fileshare as a Storage Option SMB 3 is not supported. You can have a look at the requirements in Use Cluster Shared Volumes in a Failover Cluster. However, it seems to work with Microsoft SMB 3 (even though it is specified that it does not work).

    If you use VmWare there is extensive documentation on that side in book Virtualizing SQL Server with VMware: Doing IT Right.

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  2. We have a scenario where .Net application is not able to access FileStream using the .Net SqlFileStream API. MSFT confirmed that the API is not supported when the FileStream is in CSV. We have to go non-CSV volume for FileStream contents.

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