Summary

This Knowledgebase article provides information about this specific release of the Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in V201.5.10

More Information

The Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in provides file and registry filters that replicate critical data and monitor the performance of critical components of the SQL Server application.

Release Notes for:

Supported Versions of Microsoft SQL Server

x86 Platform (32-bit hardware)

• SQL Server 2014 up to SP1 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise 
• SQL Server 2012 up to SP3 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise 
• SQL Server 2008 R2 up to SP3 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
• SQL Server 2008 up to SP4 Standard, Enterprise and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
• SQL Server 2005 up to SP4 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2
• SQL Server 2000 SP4 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2
• MSDE 2000 SP4
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2 

 x64 / Intel 64 Platform (64-bit hardware)

• SQL Server 2014 up to SP1 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
• Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard and Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise 

• SQL Server 2012 up to SP3 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
• Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard and Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise 

• SQL Server 2008 R2 up to SP3 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
• SQL Server 2008 up to SP4 Standard, Enterprise and Express Editions on
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Standard and Enterprise 
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2 Standard and Enterprise
• SQL Server 2005 up to SP4 Standard, Enterprise, and Express Editions
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 SP2

Note: The IA-64 Itanium Platform is not supported 

x86 versions running on x64 platforms

• Support for the 32 bit versions of SQL Server 2005/2008/2008R2 installed on x64 Operating Systems 

New Features

• Added support for the following SQL Server SP versions: 2014 SP1, 2012 SP2 and SP3, 2008R2 SP3, 2008 SP4.
• This version of SQL Server Plug-in v201.5.10 excludes Windows Internal Database instance on Windows Server 2008/2012 from any protection level.

Changed Features

• This plug-in supersedes the previous released Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in v201.5.9

Issues Fixed

• Replication filters may be removed if a database is detected or declared offline (EN-507).

Known Issues

• SQL Server monitoring rules do not use the very same DB connection string as the one specified in the SqlServerConnections.xml (EN-672).
• Applies to SQL Server 2014 using In-Memory Optimized Tables: After a switchover is performed the user might see a warning message in the user-interface or logs stating that a certain Instance/Database is in a recovery state and the "Database Online Status" rule is unable to mark that instance/database as being ONLINE; Example "Rule Triggered: The following databases are not online: Instance/Database RECOVERING. File filters will be removed for these databases. They will be restored when the databases come back online: OFFLINE DBs detected" (Ref-EN-329).
  Explanation/Workaround: This is just a temporary/misreported state, which doesn't affect SQL Plugin functionality. If a database is using in-memory tables, when SQL Server 2014 is started, SQL Server will rebuild the database from the checkpoint files stored on the disk. Once the "In Recovery" state is cleared out, the user can open the Neverfail Heartbeat Management Client -> Applications tab -> Summary tab -> click the Clear button. 
• SQL Server 2012 File Tables are not supported. See Knowledgebase article #2495 - Neverfail for SQL Server Replication Stops in the Presence of SQL Server 2012 File Tables for more information (Ref-13103). 
• MSDTC.log file location changes are not replicated to the passive server(s) (Ref-13106).
  Workaround: Please see Knowledgebase article #2480 - Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in Does Not Replicate MSDTC.Log File Location Changes to the Passive Servers.
• Filter discovery does not protect database snapshots created outside of current database directory (Ref-13236).
• SQL Server Plug-in reverts to the default LocalSystem account if incomplete username credentials are provided for filter discovery (Ref-13245).
• When editing the User Account for Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in, if the Local System account is used, it must be entered with initial caps ("Local System"). Using all lowercase characters will result in the plug-in failing to authenticate (Ref-13246).
• The tempdb.mdf and templog.ldf files are protected when deploying with SQL Server 2004 SP4; this may cause degraded system performance when the Alter Index runs (Ref-13193).
  Workaround: Manually create Exclusion File Filters for the tempdb.mdf and templog.ldf files to prevent the additional overhead caused by replicating temp files.
• This version of SQL Server Plug-in does not support SQL Server 2012 Express Edition (LocalDB) version. Attempting to install Neverfail for SQL Server with LocalDB will cause Neverfail SQL Server/File Filter Discovery to fail with the following message:
  
  The SqlServer/File Filer Discovery failed with the following warning: File Filter Discovery: Plug-in task failed:Errors encountered. Some data may not be protected. Please see logs. (System.ApplicationException: Errors encountered. Some data may not be protected. Please see logs. at SqlServerNFPlugin.x1426749251740f8a.OnUpdateFileFilters())
  
  For more information about this issue, see Knowledgebase article #2496 - SQL Server Filter Discovery Fails With The Message: System.ApplicationException: Errors encountered. Some data may not be protected.

Supporting Documentation

For more information about Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in, please see Knowledgebase article #1331 - Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in - Online Help.

Installation Information

• When deploying SQL Server 2012 or 2014, login credentials will need to be provided. Please see the Login Credentials section of Knowledgebase article #1331 - Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in - Online Help. 
• Initial installations of Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in should be performed via Neverfail Heartbeat/Engine Setup. Subsequent reinstallations and upgrades may be performed using the Applications: Plug-ins tab of the Neverfail Heartbeat Management Client. 
  
  Note: Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in discovery does not support database names containing "{", "}", "(", ")", or " characters. 
  
  Note: Neverfail for SQL Server does not support installation of SQL Server Express LocalDB version. The LocalDB instance must be uninstalled from all Neverfail for SQL Server installations to prevent SQL Server File Filter Discovery from failing. 
• For installation and use of this plug-in, please refer to Knowledgebase article #1331 - Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in - Online Help.

Installation/Upgrade information for Neverfail IT Continuity Engine 7.0

Important: The new SQL Server Plug-in 201.5.10 (22756) is not bundled in Neverfail Engine v8.0. Thus, new installations of this updated SQL Server plug-in version with Engine v8.0 consists in the following steps:

1. Install Engine v8.0 - this will automatically deploy the bundled/old 201.5.7 SQL Server plugin on the SQL Server
2. Using the Neverfail Engine Management Client, upgrade to the new version of the SQL Server 201.5.10 plug-in by following the steps described below:

To upgrade to the latest Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in, follow the steps described in Neverfail IT Continuity Engine v7.0 Administrator Guide  - Applications: Plug-ins section:

1. Uninstall the old SQL Server plug-in.
2. Install the new SQL Server plug-in.

Applies To

Neverfail for SQL Server Plug-in V201.5.10

Related Information

None

KBID-2973