To access a DBMS server in a non-cluster environment, network clients must connect to a physical server, identified by a network name and IP address. If that server fails, access to the DBMS is impossible.

Windows Failover Clustering enables the creation of virtual servers, identified by a unique network name and IP address (different from the underlying physical server’s network name and IP address). Unlike a physical server, a virtual server is not associated with a specific computer. If the node hosting the virtual server fails, clients can still access the DBMS using the same server name.