Archive for the ‘Clustering’ Category
Recently I saw some clusters that are not patched and or where not aware that there were hotfixes.
So here is a list of required and optional Windows 2008R2 SP1 hotfixes.
This list is found on several pages on the web and could be handy.
Windows & Hyper-V : Required Hotfixes
Validate SCSI Device Vital Product Data (VPD) test fails after you install Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2531907 (required for 3+ node Hyper-V clusters)
The network connection of a running Hyper-V virtual machine may be lost under heavy outgoing network traffic on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2263829
The Cluster service stops unexpectedly on a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster node when you perform multiple backup operations in parallel on a cluster shared volume
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2494162
MPIO failover fails on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2460971
The MPIO driver fails over all paths incorrectly when a transient single failure occurs in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2522766
Performance decreases in Windows Server 2008 R2 when the Hyper-V role is installed on a computer that uses Intel Westmere or Sandy Bridge processors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2517329
Stop error 0x0000007a occurs on a virtual machine that is running on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based failover cluster with a cluster shared volume, and the state of the CSV is switched to redirected access.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2494016
Optional Hotfixes
An update is available for Hyper-V Best Practices Analyzer for Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2485986
“0x0000009E” Stop error when you add an extra storage disk to a failover cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2520235
A virtual machine online backup fails in Windows Server 2008 R2 when the SAN policy is set to Offline All
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2521348
Cluster node cannot rejoin the cluster after the node is restarted or removed from the cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2549472
Cluster service stops when an error occurs in the registry replication process of a failover cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2496034
0×20001 Stop error when you start a Linux VM in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550569
A heap memory leak occurs when an application or service queries the MSCluster_Resource WMI class in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2580360
Cluster service initiates a failover after a delay of about 80 seconds when you shutdown the active node in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2575625/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134
New registration entries are added to the Persistent Reservation table when the physical disk resource that is associated with the CSV is taken offline on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based Failover Cluster
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2579052/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134
A transient communication failure causes a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster to stop working
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550886
Cluster service leaks memory when the service handles state change notifications in Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550894
Hyper-V Export function consumes all available memory in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2547551
Microcode update for Intel processors in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2493989
Corrupted VSS snapshot
http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=975688&kbln=en-us
FIX: The guest operating system may crash (STOP 0xd) when you perform a live migration of Hyper-V virtual machines in a Windows Server 2008 R2 environment
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2636573
All the latest Blog post about #System Center and #Cloud Computing.
#scvmm #sysctr #sccm #SystemCenter2012 #Cloud
Microsoft System Center 2012 helps you manage your IT environments across traditional datacenters, private and public clouds, client computers, and devices.
Microsoft System Center 2012 is a comprehensive management platform that enables you to more easily and efficiently manage your IT environments, including your server infrastructure and client devices.
With System Center 2012, you get the most cost effective and flexible platform for managing your traditional datacenters, private and public clouds, and client computers and devices.
#CAU is a great new feature but how does it fit in your infrastructure ?
I have already a WSUS server and I use SCCM ,and I use WSUS for my DTAP environment, and now Do I need another WSUS server ? or can I reuse the old WSUS ?
WSUS 3.0SP2 (on W2K8R2): not yet compatible with Windows Server 2012
You can’t use SCCM to pull the Updates.
So basically install a downstream server for the CAU or primary wsus, if you have more WSUS servers you can sync the updates with powershell to hold the same info on all your other servers.
- Single-click launch of cluster-wide updating operation
- Or a single PS cmdlet
- “Updating Run”
- Physical or VM clusters
- CAU scans, downloads and installs applicable updates on each node
- Restarts node as necessary
- One node at a time
- Repeats for all cluster nodes
- Customize pre-update & post-update behavior with PS scripts
- Updates (GDRs) from Windows Update or WSUS
- Hotfixes (QFEs) from a local File Share
- Simple customization that installs almost any software update off a local File Share
- Adds CAU clustered role
- Just like any other clustered workload
- Resilience to planned and unplanned failures
- Not mutually exclusive with on-demand updating
- Analogy: Windows Update scan on your PC with AU auto-install
- But possible conflicts with Updating Runs in progress
- “Configured, but on hold” functionality
- Compatible with VCO Prestaging
Powershell usage :
Sample: fill in the cluster name and the wsus share.
Invoke-CauScan -ClusterName CONTOSO-FC1 -CauPluginName Microsoft.WindowsUpdatePlugin, Microsoft.HotfixPlugin -CauPluginArguments @{}, @{ ‘HotfixRootFolderPath’ = ‘\\CauHotfixSrv\shareName’; ‘HotfixConfigFilePath’ = ‘\\CauHotfixSrv\shareName\DefaultHotfixConfig.xml’ } -RunPluginsSerially -Verbose
Invoke-CauRun -ClusterName CONTOSO-FC1 -CauPluginName Microsoft.WindowsUpdatePlugin, Microsoft.HotfixPlugin -CauPluginArguments @{ ‘IncludeRecommendedUpdates’ = ‘True’ }, @{ ‘HotfixRootFolderPath’ = ‘\\CauHotfixSrv\shareName’; ‘HotfixConfigFilePath’ = ‘\\CauHotfixSrv\shareName\DefaultHotfixConfig.xml’ } -MaxRetriesPerNode 2 -StopOnPluginFailure –Force
Options: RunPluginsSerially, StopOnPluginFailure, SeparateReboots
- CAU supports only Windows Server 2012 clusters
- Can be installed on Windows 8 Client RSAT package
Make CAU the only tool updating the cluster
Concurrent updates by other tools: e.g., WSUS, WUA, SCCM might cause downtime
For a WSUS-based deployment:
WSUS 4.0: needs a workaround with Beta builds (only) http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/7891.how-wsus-and-cluster-aware-updating-are-affected-by-windows-server-8-beta-updates.aspx
WSUS 3.0SP2 (on W2K8R2): not yet compatible with Windows Server 2012
Think about firewalls on nodes!
Windows Firewall Beta (or non-Windows firewall): create a firewall rule and enable it for domain-scope, wininit.exe program, dynamic RPC endpoints, TCP protocol
Windows Firewall RC: Enable the "Remote Shutdown" firewall rule group for the Domain profile, or pass the “-EnableFirewallRules” parameter to Invoke-CauRun, Add-CauClusterRole or Set-CauClusterRole cmdlets
Make sure GPOs agree
CAU: Understand and Troubleshoot Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29015
CAU Scenario Overview: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831694.aspx
CAU Windows PowerShell cmdlets
‘Update-Help’ downloads the full cmdlet help for CAU cmdlets
Online: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=237675
Starting with Cluster-Aware Updating: Self-Updating: http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2012/05/17/starting-with-cluster-aware-updating-self-updating.aspx