High-availability option for SQL Server that requires storage shared between nodes, a premium file share for example.
Also called FCI, FCI.
Read more: Microsoft Learn
In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains Failover cluster instance in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft's database engine. It can hold Veeam's configuration database in place of PostgreSQL, and is protected with a dedicated plug-in, Veeam Explorer, and application-aware processing plus log backup.
- General-purpose v1
The older storage account kind (
Storage), which lacks access tiers, Archive and premium file shares and retires on 13 October 2026. Converting to ZRS requires first upgrading to GPv2, a one-way change. - Premium
Hosting plan for Azure Functions that keeps instances pre-warmed to avoid cold starts and supports VNet integration. Executions time out after 30 minutes by default, which host.json can extend.
- File share
Created within a storage account, an Azure Files share works like a shared drive on an office network: clients connect to it using NFS or SMB.