How to setup a backup server for SQL Server2005 for production (in case the primary server fails

I currently have a SQL Server cluster setup with a Primary DB Server SERVER1 and the Standby server SERVER2. SERVER1 has been failing more than normal is the past few weeks and its takes upto 5 mins for SERVER2 realize that SERVER1 is down. I am looking for a better way to implement a backup server on production with minimum downtime. Please adivse..

you have two options one is Database mirroring and other is log shipping in sql 2005..........but i advise you to go with db mirroring as the downtime is less in high availability mode as you have a witness server and hence the failover will be automatic and within few seconds............but in log shipping only manual failover is possible........refer,

http://dumthata.com/sqlchn/articles/dbmrr.htm

http://dumthata.com/sqlchn/articles/lship.htm

Going forward pls post in the appropriate forum as it would be easier to read through and answer....

How to set SQL Server 2000 send an alert message if any of jobs fails or completes success

Hi!
I have several jobs scheduled to run every evening. Is there a way to
set SQL Server 2000 send an alert message if any of jobs fails or
completes successfully?"Zaur Bahramov" <zaur.bahramov@.mondialgroup.it> wrote in message
news:eGKQs4sqIHA.552@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi!
> I have several jobs scheduled to run every evening. Is there a way to set
> SQL Server 2000 send an alert message if any of jobs fails or completes
> successfully?
>
For each job, you can send a notification. It must be configured in the
job.
The notification can be sent for On Success, On Failure or On Completion.
You would have to set this up for each job individually.
If you are looking for a more centralized management scenario, you would
probably have to code it.
Without thinking about it too much, I would probably create a new job that
is scheduled to run AFTER the other jobs should have completed.
I would use TSQL code to read the msdb database's jobs tables (sysjobhistory
IIRC) to determine the status of the jobs in question, put together the
email
and then send the email out.
Rick Sawtell|||Zaur
Create a job with three steps. First one is doing what you have defined
and goes to the second step if it failed. (Second step sends you email that
Job failed)
, if it succeded gooes to the third step (Second step sends you email that
Job succeded)
"Zaur Bahramov" <zaur.bahramov@.mondialgroup.it> wrote in message
news:eGKQs4sqIHA.552@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi!
> I have several jobs scheduled to run every evening. Is there a way to set
> SQL Server 2000 send an alert message if any of jobs fails or completes
> successfully?
>