Unmounted volumes are visible on the passive clusternode

Hi,
We operate an window cluster with SQL 2005 as clusterressorce
(active/passive). The cluster works properly. The only issue is that you see
the shared volumes on the passive clusternode. Of course, they are still
inaccessible, but thats why our backup software thinks that there are volumes
to backup and runs in errors while daily backup.
How can we avoid this?

Thanks and Regards

"GumbleManja" <> wrote in message
news:FDDA41CF-109F-4B15-A26F-...
> Hi,
> We operate an window cluster with SQL 2005 as clusterressorce
> (active/passive). The cluster works properly. The only issue is that you
> see
> the shared volumes on the passive clusternode. Of course, they are still
> inaccessible, but thats why our backup software thinks that there are
> volumes
> to backup and runs in errors while daily backup.
> How can we avoid this?

Back up the virtual server name when backing up the sql server?

--
Russ Kaufmann,
MVP, MCSE: Messaging and Security, MCT, MCITP, MCTS and other stuff

ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

If you got to Win2008 or Win2008 R2 this behavior has changed and you cannot
see the drive letters (disks are protected) from the passive nodes

Thanks!
Elden

"Elden" <> wrote in message
news:E7928A78-62D8-4E47-B3F3-...
> If you got to Win2008 or Win2008 R2 this behavior has changed and you
> cannot
> see the drive letters (disks are protected) from the passive nodes

Thanks for the clarification, Elden.

Hi Russ,
thanks for reply. I had a little mistake in my post. We have an
active/active constellation with two SQL-instances, each running on a
separate node. So you have one clustername but because of active/active the
SQL Server clusterressources are on different nodes. So we could not backup
via virtual servername.

Elden wrotes that this issue is fixed in windows 2008. O.K., but at the
node (node1) from where the cluster was installed you do'nt see the moved
volumes at the other node (node2), that's fine. On node2 the "Bug" is given
instead. Therefore there must be a way in Windows 2003 to achive this target.

Regards Peter


"Russ Kaufmann" wrote:

> "GumbleManja" <> wrote in message
> news:FDDA41CF-109F-4B15-A26F-...
> > Hi,
> > We operate an window cluster with SQL 2005 as clusterressorce
> > (active/passive). The cluster works properly. The only issue is that you
> > see
> > the shared volumes on the passive clusternode. Of course, they are still
> > inaccessible, but thats why our backup software thinks that there are
> > volumes
> > to backup and runs in errors while daily backup.
> > How can we avoid this?
>
> Back up the virtual server name when backing up the sql server?
>
> --
> Russ Kaufmann,
> MVP, MCSE: Messaging and Security, MCT, MCITP, MCTS and other stuff
>
> ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
> Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
> Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp
>

"GumbleManja" <> wrote in message
news:BE6F69AD-2F48-4A35-83F6-...
> Hi Russ,
> thanks for reply. I had a little mistake in my post. We have an
> active/active constellation with two SQL-instances, each running on a
> separate node. So you have one clustername but because of active/active
> the
> SQL Server clusterressources are on different nodes. So we could not
> backup
> via virtual servername.

If you have two SQL instances, then you have two clusternames.

> Elden wrotes that this issue is fixed in windows 2008. O.K., but at the
> node (node1) from where the cluster was installed you do'nt see the moved
> volumes at the other node (node2), that's fine. On node2 the "Bug" is
> given
> instead. Therefore there must be a way in Windows 2003 to achive this
> target.

There really isn't a bug. The behavior was by design. However, let's
summarize:

1. You need to back up two physical servers (each node) to get the operating
system disks and any other local disks.
2. You need to back up two virtual servers (the SQL instances) to get the
SQL databases.

I recommend that you talk to your back up vendor and ask them what they
recommend.

Good luck.

--
Russ Kaufmann,
MVP, MCSE: Messaging and Security, MCT, MCITP, MCTS and other stuff

ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp

Hi Russ,
thanks for your reply.

"Russ Kaufmann" wrote:

> "GumbleManja" <> wrote in message
> news:BE6F69AD-2F48-4A35-83F6-...
> > Hi Russ,
> > thanks for reply. I had a little mistake in my post. We have an
> > active/active constellation with two SQL-instances, each running on a
> > separate node. So you have one clustername but because of active/active
> > the
> > SQL Server clusterressources are on different nodes. So we could not
> > backup
> > via virtual servername.
>
> If you have two SQL instances, then you have two clusternames.
I meant:
Two SQL-Server(instance)-clusternames but one "windows" clustername.

> > Elden wrotes that this issue is fixed in windows 2008. O.K., but at the
> > node (node1) from where the cluster was installed you do'nt see the moved
> > volumes at the other node (node2), that's fine. On node2 the "Bug" is
> > given
> > instead. Therefore there must be a way in Windows 2003 to achive this
> > target.
>
> There really isn't a bug. The behavior was by design.

In my opinion it's a error by design. But not only by design, on some
clusternodes in our environment this issue is not given. I don't see one
reason why should I see a volume wich is not accessible.

However, let's
> summarize:
>
> 1. You need to back up two physical servers (each node) to get the operating
> system disks and any other local disks.
> 2. You need to back up two virtual servers (the SQL instances) to get the
> SQL databases.

Exactly we do so but the problem is, that the backupsoftware runs in errors
if it founds visible but inaccessible volumes (because of, there are moved
on the other node) .

> I recommend that you talk to your back up vendor and ask them what they
> recommend.
We will do that.

> Good luck.

Con
I think

> --
> Russ Kaufmann,
> MVP, MCSE: Messaging and Security, MCT, MCITP, MCTS and other stuff
>
> ClusterHelp.com, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner
> Web http://www.clusterhelp.com
> Blog http://msmvps.com/clusterhelp
>

Thanks and greetings
Peter