Hello,
Over this past weekend, I created a test environment in my home lab. This environment contains a 2-Node Windows Server 2016 Failover Cluster with each node having SQL Server 2017 Developer Edition installed with one AlwaysOn Availability Group created and configured. There are actually three Windows Server 2016 in this test lab. One domain controller and the 2 clustered nodes. Here's my question:
While creating the 2-node WFSC, I remember there was a screen asking me to enter the Windows Server Cluster IP. So I provided one. While creating the AlwaysOn Availability Group, there was also a screen asking me to enter the AG name and an IP. So I again provide a static IP for this which was different from the WFSC IP. Once I got everything setup up & running, I was able to connect to SQL Server 2017 instance using only the AG Cluster name which is the whole point behind HA environment. So in SSMS, I connect to the AG using only the AG Cluster name. Everything working beautifully even after a manual failover to my secondary replica. My question is, what is that static IP for the WFSC used for? The one that they asked you when you setup the WFSC. When do I use it?
Thanks