How to install service packs in a cluster (174799)

SUMMARY

This article outlines the procedure for installing a service pack on Microsoft Windows Clustering. The process of applying a service pack to a server cluster is the same as applying it to Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition Server. However, special consideration must be taken to ensure a high level of access for clients when you perform this system maintenance.

Note You must install Service Pack 3 (SP3) at the end of the Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition installation to complete the installation. This is the only scenario where you cannot bypass a previous service pack and apply a later one.

MORE INFORMATION

You can install Windows NT Server and Windows 2000 service packs on server cluster nodes using the following procedure. Always install the same service packs or hotfixes to each node. Use this procedure to install the service packs unless otherwise directed by a particular service pack version.

Check the System event log for errors and ensure proper system operation.
Make sure you have a current backup and updated emergency repair disk for each system. In the event of corrupt files, power outage, or incompatibility, it may be necessary to revert back to the state of the system prior to attempting to install the service pack.
Open Cluster Administrator, right-click Node A, and then click Pause Node.
Expand Node A, and then click Active Groups. In the left pane, right-click the groups, and then click Move Group to move all groups to Node B.
Install the service pack on Node A, and then restart the computer.
Check the System event log for errors. If you find any errors, troubleshoot them before continuing this process.
In Cluster Administrator, right-click Node A, and then click Resume Node.
In Cluster Administrator, right-click Node B, and then click Pause Node.
Right-click Node B, and then click Move Group for all groups owned by Node B to move all groups to Node A.
Install the service pack on Node B, and then restart the computer.
Check the system event log for errors. If you find any errors, troubleshoot them before continuing this process.
In Cluster Administrator, right-click Node B, and then click Resume Node.
Right-click each group, click Move Group, and then move the groups back to their preferred owner.

Note To apply Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) on a clustered node, the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC) service must be started. If a clustered MSDTC resource has not been created in a cluster, the MS DTC service cannot be started. In this case, the installation of Windows Server 2003 SP1 on the cluster node will fail. For more information For more information about how to create a clustered MS DTC resource, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

301600 How to configure Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator on a Windows Server 2003 cluster

If you want to install MSDTC as a clustered resource for the first time before you install Windows Server 2003 on a clustered node, we recommended that you follow these steps:

Create the MS DTC resource in the Cluster Group.
Bring the MS DTC resource online.
Bring the Cluster Group that contains the MS DTC resource online on the cluster node where you want to install Windows Server 2003 SP1.
Move all other resource groups to a cluster node that is not being updated.
Pause the cluster node where you want to install Windows Server 2003 SP1 so that resources cannot fail over and come online when the service pack is being applied.