XADM: Installation of Exchange Server 5.5 Service Packs Is Incomplete If Exchange Server Is Installed Before Cluster Server (221393)

SYMPTOMS

If you install Exchange Server version 5.5 Standard or Enterprise Edition on a computer running Windows NT Server before you install the Cluster Server service on that server, installation of any Exchange Server 5.5 service packs does not finish.

CAUSE

Exchange Server 5.5 service packs are "cluster aware," that is, they know that the Exchange Server computer is running on a Cluster Server node. When you apply a service pack, a dialog box is displayed that contains the following message:

Select the cluster group configured for Exchange Server. The Exchange Server resources will be added to this group.

The default group is the cluster group. If you click Continue, the following error message is displayed:

This cluster group does not contain the appropriate system resources. Select a group that contains an IP address, a network name, and a shared hard disk.

Because there is no such group, you cannot continue the service pack installation.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, perform the following steps:

Back up the Exchange Server databases.
Remove Exchange Server from the second Cluster Server node.
Install Exchange Server Enterprise Edition on the Cluster Server. For instructions on how to install Exchange Server on a Cluster Server, see the Cluster.doc file on the Exchange Server version 5.5 CD-ROM.
Restore the Exchange Server databases.