MS SQL 2005...working against me!

[Blunted One]

So I am just getting countless random errors, none of them make sense and here is the latest one I got...

"Neither the partner nor the witness server instance for database "testdatabase" is available. Reissue the command when at least one of the instances becomes available. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 1431)

I guess these error msgs aren't always the real cause of the problem...very very frustrating because I had done everything instructed in order to correct each error I came across with no success.

So I was going to just shoot myself, because these errors made no sense at all! BUT then as I was about to load my revolver I had a thought...maybe...just maybe if I modify the HOST file on each computer to include the information about the other two computers (and itself just in case) it might just work.

IT WORKED!!!!

By modifying the host files to include the IP and FQDN of each computer the database is being mirrored and the witness is also working. PRAISE TO THE GEEK GODS!

To answer a few questions from Sonata...
-These are three basic computers with XP SP2 on them with the principal and mirror running SQL 2005 Developer SP2 (this is key if you don't want to have to use the 1400 trace flag thing) and SQL express on the witness.

-I had tried a lot of code and such so I won't post it all, but mainly I used the ALTER DATABASE, CREATE and DROP commands.

-I was using the local computer to connect to sqlcmd so that is still strange, but isn't hindering the mirror. Tomorrow I am going to run tests to see if it actually will failover and if I can reverse the roles of the principal and mirror.

Have a great holiday season everyone and a Happy New Year to one and all!