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Windows Cluster Failover configuration and Troubleshoot

Jayakumar D (EXT) / TELC 0 Reputation points
2025-09-24T16:32:11.67+00:00

Hi,

HP ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus 2 node cluster using daily frequently facing below mentioned issue

The Cluster service is shutting down because quorum was lost. This could be due to the loss of network connectivity between some or all nodes in the cluster, or a failover of the witness disk.

Run the Validate a Configuration wizard to check your network configuration. If the condition persists, check for hardware or software errors related to the network adapter. Also check for failures in any other network components to which the node is connected such as hubs, switches, or bridges.

how to add the Quorum disk i am using HP MSA 2060 SAN Storage we need create the volume and Add to Quorum configuration in windows Server 2022 standard

Windows for business | Windows Server | Storage high availability | Clustering and high availability
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  1. Joseph Tran 3,040 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-09-24T17:13:51.3933333+00:00

    For a 2-node cluster, you must have a quorum witness (disk witness or file share/cloud witness) to avoid split-brain scenarios. Since you have an MSA SAN, a Disk Witness is the best fit.

    Here’s the step-by-step to create and configure a quorum disk witness using your HPE MSA 2060:

    1. Prepare the Quorum Disk on the MSA
    • Log in to the MSA 2060 SMU (Storage Management Utility).
    • Create a new volume (LUN) on your storage pool.
      • Keep it small (typically 1–2 GB is enough for a witness).
      • Present this LUN to both cluster nodes.
      • Assign the same LUN ID on all paths for consistency.
    • Ensure multipath (MPIO) is installed and working on both nodes.
    1. Configure the Quorum Disk in Windows

    On both nodes:

    • Open Server Manager → Tools → Computer Management → Disk Management.
    • Bring the new LUN online, initialize it (GPT or MBR), and create a simple volume (format NTFS/ReFS).
      • Assign a drive letter (temporary, e.g., Q:).
      • Name it something like ClusterQuorum.
    • Don’t store any data on it — it’s reserved for cluster use.
    1. Add the Disk to the Cluster

    On one node:

    • Open Failover Cluster Manager (FCM).
    • Go to Storage → Disks → Add Disk.
      • You should see the new LUN available.
      • Add it to the cluster.
      • It will now appear under Cluster Disks.
    1. Configure Quorum Settings

    In FCM, right-click the cluster name → More Actions → Configure Cluster Quorum Settings.

    Choose Select the quorum witness → Configure a disk witness.

    Select the quorum disk you just added.

    Finish the wizard.

    => Your quorum disk is now active.

    1. Verify
    • In FCM → Cluster Name → Nodes, check that both nodes are Up.
    • Under Cluster Core Resources → Disk Witness, confirm it shows Online.
    • Run Validate a Configuration (from FCM → right-click cluster) to ensure your storage/network passes all checks.

    Tip: In 2-node clusters, using a disk witness is generally preferred if you already have shared storage. Alternative options:

    • File Share Witness (on a 3rd server, not part of the cluster).
    • Cloud Witness (uses Azure).
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  2. Jayakumar D (EXT) / TELC 0 Reputation points
    2025-09-25T03:17:01.9633333+00:00

    Thanks for your input

    I Will check and update

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