Automatic System Recovery (ASR) Backup Cannot Access System State or Cluster Quorum (813551)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you run the Automated System Recovery (ASR) Wizard in the Windows Backup program, the backup may be unsuccessful and you may notice the following error logged in the backup progress report:
Error: Could not access portions of directory System State\Cluster Quorum.
You may not have permission to open the file, or the directory may be missing or damaged.
Please contact the owner or administrator.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if you try to back up the Local Quorum resource in a single-node Windows Server 2003 cluster.

The Windows Server 2003 Backup utility does not currently support the backing up of the Local Quorum cluster.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows Backup cannot back up and restore the cluster database (ClusDB) because there is no quorum log.

By default, local quorum clusters do not have quorums because the ClusDB does not need to be synchronized between multiple cluster nodes. Because they do not have a quorum, there is no quorum log and Windows Backup cannot back up or restore the ClusDB.

For additional information about Automated System Recovery, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/windowsnetserver/proddocs/entserver/asr_overview.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/29/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB813551
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