title: SQL Server Cluster VIP traffic flow
body: <p>I have searched on SO and on Google to find an answer, I could not. I did not know if my query was correct. The closest one on SO is this one <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5840436/how-to-monitor-sql-server-network-traffic">How to Monitor SQL Server Network Traffic</a>. </p>
  
  <p>Here is the scenario, I have a SQL Server 2008 cluster and the virtual IP and name for the SQL Server instance. The clients are connecting to the SQL instance in the cluster using the VIP. </p>
  
  <p>Everything works fine, except occasionally some of the clients see timeouts while trying to connect to SQL Server instance (3-4 times a day). That's when I thought I will monitor the traffic between one of such client node and the cluster. When I see the network traffic between the cluster and the client, I see the packets going between the client IP and the IP of the node on which SQL Server is currently running (not the VIP). My understanding was if I monitor the traffic on the client side, I should see the traffic flowing between the client IP and the VIP, not the client IP and the IP of the actual node within the cluster running SQL Server. Am I missing something? Thanks.</p>