I’m currently designing a SQL Cluster at a customer site. With Microsoft SQL Server 2008 some new features and requirements comes in place. Below some useful SQL Server 2008 links that gave me a good overview,

Failover Cluster Step-by-Step Guide: Configuring the Quorum in a Failover Cluster: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770620.aspx

A failover cluster is a group of independent computers that work together to increase the availability of applications and services. The clustered servers (called nodes) are connected by physical cables and by software. If one of the cluster nodes fails, another node begins to provide service (a process known as failover). Users experience a minimum of disruptions in service.

Getting Started with SQL Server 2008 Failover Clustering: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189134.aspx

SQL Server failover clustering provides high-availability support for an entire SQL Server instance. SQL Server failover clusters are built on top of Windows Server failover clusters. To create a SQL Server failover cluster, you need to first create the underlying Windows Server failover cluster.

IPD Guide: Microsoft SQL Server 2008: http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/B/C/5BC966BC-47D8-41DF-95F2-FA9A2D816258/SQL%20Server%202008.zip

This guide, when used in conjunction with product documentation, will help companies confidently plan the implementation of a SQL Server 2008 infrastructure. It addresses fundamental tasks to help the reader identify which SQL Server roles will be needed as well as to determine the infrastructure’s components, server placement, and the fault-tolerance configuration to meet necessary requirements.

Microsoft SQL Server Best Practices: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc966412.aspx

Running Microsoft SQL Server 2008 in Hyper-V: Running SQL Server 2008 in a Hyper-V Environment – Best Practices and Performance Recommendations.

Six Failover Clustering Benefits Realized from Migrating to SQL Server 2008:

• Author: Joseph Sack
• Technical Reviewer: Burzin Patel, Juergen Thomas, Lindsey Allen, Justin Erickson

SQL Server 2008 failover clustering introduces several supportability, reliability, and availability improvements. The following list details the more significant and immediate benefits of making the move to SQL Server 2008 Failover Clustering.

Full story here: http://sqlcat.com/top10lists/archive/2008/11/20/six-failover-clustering-benefits-realized-from-migrating-to-sql-server-2008.aspx