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.