Booting Node May Prevent Running Node from Accessing Quorum Disk (248663)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
This article was previously published under Q248663

SYMPTOMS

If the network connection between cluster nodes does not function properly on Windows NT 4.0-based computers that are configured as part of a cluster with a quorum disk, a cluster node that is starting can prevent a node that is currently running from gaining access to the quorum disk. This may cause the cluster on the running node to stop and all processing to be moved to the second node.

During Windows NT 4.0 arbitration when a communication loss occurs, drives owned by the non-quorum owner may not have their cache flushed during arbitration.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date      Time        Size      File name      Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------
   11/22/1999   02:43p    29,424   Clusdisk.sys   x86
   11/22/1999   02:42p   175,888   Clusres.dll    x86
   11/22/1999   02:36p    49,360   Clusdisk.sys   Alpha
   11/22/1999   02:36p   281,872   Clusres.dll    Alpha

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about clusters and quorum disks, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

245626 INFO: Use the -localquorum Switch to Install a Single-Node MSCS Cluster

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/26/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbnetwork KB248663
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