Windows Server Failover Clustering in the vSphere environment

[as900w]

I have a vSphere environment.

Build a windows Server Failover  Clustering in the vSphere environment.

But validate configuration is failed.

Storage is failed.

Validate SCSI-3 Persistent Reservation

Node ClusterSvr01.itpro.local successfully issued call to Persistent Reservation RESERVE for Test Disk 0 which is currently reserved by node ClusterSvr02.itpro.local. This call is expected to fail.

Test Disk 0 does not provide Persistent Reservations support for the mechanisms used by failover clusters. Some storage devices require specific firmware versions or settings to function properly with failover clusters. Please contact your storage administrator or storage vendor to check the configuration of the storage to allow it to function properly with failover clusters.

Test failed. Please look at the test log for more information.

ClusterSvr01.itpro.local and ClusterSvr01.itpro.local is cluster Server Name.

what should I do?

[HassanAlKak88]

Hello,

First point: are you using RDM or shared VMDK ?

Secondly, kindly check the following guide to setup MWFC with vsphere environment: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.0/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-601-setup-mscs.pdf

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

Cheers,

VCIX6-NV|VCP-NV|VCP-DC|

[as900w]

I using RDM on the first node server ( Add a RDM disk ).

I using share VMDK on the second node server (Add Existing hard disk, and use VMDK file of RDM disk of add to first node server).

[HassanAlKak88]

Kindly share the settings of SCSI controller and the RDM disk options, in order to check the Bus sharing and disk permanent options.

[as900w]

This is set of SCSI Controller and the RDM disk options.

[HassanAlKak88]

Hello,

Turn OFF machines, Go to Disk settings then to sharing and change it to Multi Writer on the two VMs and for all disks.

Turn ON VMs, and validate the cluster.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

Cheers,

VCIX6-NV|VCP-NV|VCP-DC|

[as900w]

The same issue.

[HassanAlKak88]

First of all, please advise about the storage connectivity ? and about the volume mapping to hosts ?

And kindly confirm the below steps are applied:

• Shutdown both nodes.
• Ensure that LUNs are mapped to hosts when these two nodes reside
• In vSphere, choose first node, Edit Settings, Creates a new SCSI controller - set it to SCSI Bus Sharing as Physical:

• Add Hard Disk, choose RDM, select LUN, store with VM, Physical compatibility mode, Multi writer and choose a SCSI Id on a new controller (e.g. 2:0):

• Add more hard disks as necessary, choosing SCSI Ids on the new controller.
• Note the filenames & locations of the RDM mapping file for each new disk.
• Now choose the second cluster node in vSphere, Edit Settings, Again a new SCSI controller is created - set its SCSI Bus sharing to Physical.
• Add Hard Disk, Use Existing Disk, browse to the first file/location noted earlier, choose matching SCSI Id (2:0)

• Add remaining hard disks, in each case matching up the filenames/locations/SCSI Ids with the values for the first node.
• Power ON both nodes.
• On one node, go to Disk Management, Rescan Disks.  Online the disks, initialize them, and create new volumes.
• In Failover Cluster Manager, Test & check the validation.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

Cheers,

VCIX6-NV|VCP-NV|VCP-DC|

[as900w]

This is my operate steps:

Create a VM and install Windows Server 2012, then configure iSCSI role.

Node 1

Right-Click the VM and select Edit settings

Select RDM Disk and click Add

Select Storage

Configure RDM disk

Then Add a RDM disk for shared storage locations needed by nodes of a Microsoft server cluster.

Node 2

Add a Existing Hard Disk.

The existing Hard disk location is <Datastore>\<VM file>\<RDM disk name>

in this case: datastore\Cluster01\Cluster01_1.VMDK

Change the SCSI Bus Sharing to Physical

[HassanAlKak88]

Hello dear @as900w,

I prefer to follow the above steps shared before.

Because you didn't change the bus sharing type on first controller for first node and you didn't change the sharing options on RDM disk to Multi writer on first node.

And you are using the same SCSI controller of OS disk, it is recommended to use a new separated one.

please follow them and waiting the good news.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

Cheers,

VCIX6-NV|VCP-NV|VCP-DC|

[as900w]

I has bend change these, but it's failed.

[HassanAlKak88]

Strange,

we frequently applied this config with success. there is some missed config .

How can I help to check this issue ?

[as900w]

The disk of the node 1

The disk of node 2

Do I need to manually connect to this Shared RDM disk

@HassanAlKak88

Do you have the documents about Windows Server Failover Clustering in the vSphere environment？

[HassanAlKak88]

Hello,

kindly find the following:https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-651-setup-mscs.pdf

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your question have been answered correctly.

Cheers,

VCIX6-NV|VCP-NV|VCP-DC|

[BerndtSchumann]

What type of storage do you use?

[as900w]

iSCSI storage ( Windows Server 2012 R2 ）

[golddiggie]

Which Windows Server release are you using? I've built MS failover clusters using 2012r2 on vSphere 6 and 6.5 environments without much trouble. Simply follow the VMware document for doing so, and you're pretty much good to go. You WILL need to use RDM for the quorum and additional (database) volumes for the VMs. You also need to have only one of the VMs mounting the RDM volume(s) at the start (per the documentation).

I've not (yet at least) built a failover cluster with 2016, but I can't imagine much has changed there. At least not as far as setting up the VMs is concerned.

Also, which version/release of vSphere are you using?

[as900w]

I using version of vSphere is 6.5.

[IT_pilot]

Windows iSCSI is not listed on VMWare HCL as Esxi iSCSI datastore

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=san&productid=39204&releases_filter=408&deviceCategory=san&details=1&partner=110&releases=408&arrayTypes=1&isSVA=0&page=1&display_interval=10&sortColumn=Partner&sortOrder=Asc

[ThereAreSomeWho]

See this KB: VMware Knowledge Base

[Charden312]

Verify that the VM's are not residing on the same ESX Host as you are using Physical RDM Disks