Redudancy for a Standalone SQL server

Here is my Question...

I have 3 server hardware and the whole purpose is to make one as a web server and another one a SQL server. The purpose of the 3rd server is purely a backup server, what that means is, in case if my web server nor my database server fails, I should be able to use the 3rd server as a backup. How do I achive this without using MS cluster service.

I can use NLB for Web, but what about SQL server ?

All I need to know is ,other than MS cluster service, is there any way I can create a backup SQL database server ( secondary database server) in case the primary fails with very minimal down time? I need my secondary ( backup) server up and running when the primary fails. I don't want to use Cluster service because of the cost for storage and license.

Any idea will be welcomed. I could have used the datamirroring option of the 2005 , but this is for a production deployment and is not recomended by microsoft. also, restore the backup from primary and make it work is not welcomed.

Thanks

Plakeezhu.

Database Mirroing is recommended and supported with the SP1 release.

I don't understand the comment about the "restore the backup from primary and make it work is not welcomed."

Thanks,

Mark