SQL Server 2008R2 Cluster on Windows Server 2012R2

My firm is migrating our SQL Server 2008 R2 Cluster to new infrastructure. Our first attempt is to set it up running Windows 2012 R2 Server, a difference from our current Windows 2008 R2 Server environment.

When I attempt to run the SQL 2008 R2 installer to create a new Failover Cluster, the Setup Support Rules check gives me errors about the cluster, that the Cluster Service and Cluster Storage aren't available.

It turns out that SQL 2008 R2 relies on some Windows cluster functionality that is not installed by default in Windows 2012 R2, specifically the Failover Cluster Automation Server.

You can open a PowerShell prompt in Administrator mode and execute the following:

    Get-WindowsFeature RSAT-Cluster*

You'll see that the Failover Cluster Automation Server is not checked off. To install it, execute the following:

    Install-WindowsFeature -Name RSAT-Clustering-AutomationServer

If you quit your SQL Installer and attempt to re-run it to create a Failover Cluster, you'll see that the setup support rules around the cluster now pass.

Next problem: Windows Server 2003 FILESTREAM Hotfix Check: failed

This is a simple fix: Copy c:\Windows\Cluster\Clusres.dll to c:\Windows\system32 and rename the file to W03a2409.dll

The last of the setup support rules should pass.