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Reboots for DAG members

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Reboots for DAG members - 9.Aug.2011 3:59:14 PM

Bribo

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Joined: 9.Aug.2011
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HI, I've read several articles about reboting DAG members, and all state that I must failover the databases. Is there a way to reboot some members with out failing over? Here is the stuation. We have a 2 node DAG with all roles on each server. We are using a stretched DAG across two AD sites, one in New Orleans and one in Houston. I need to add memory to the ESX host in N.O. I'll be shutting down all VMs on the host, including one DAG mamber and the FSW. I have a maintenance window, so I'd rather not failover the DBs. I'm thinking if I take down the DAG member and the FSW, the DBs wouldn't mount anyway, so failing over would be a waste of time. What is the proper procedure for doing so? Or do I have no choice but to failover?

Thanks!

< Message edited by Bribo -- 9.Aug.2011 4:05:23 PM >

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 9.Aug.2011 5:28:32 PM

vojinle

Posts: 7
Joined: 26.Jan.2009
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Proper way to reboot DAG member is:
- Start EMS
- cd $exscripts
- .\StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1 -serverName <server>
- Reboot
- Start EMS
- cd $exscripts
- .\StopDagServerMaintenance.ps1 -serverName <server>
- .\RedistributeActiveDatabases.ps1 -DagName <dag_name> -BalanceDbsByActivationPreference:$true -Confirm:$false

Vojin

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 9.Aug.2011 5:34:15 PM

Bribo

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Joined: 9.Aug.2011
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Yes, I understand the normal way is to use the maintenance scrpits. The maintenance scripts switchover the DBs. As I said in my post, I don't want to switchover, as the DBs wont mount anyway, since there will be no quorum.

Thanks for the reply anyway, but I'm not sure it addresses my question.

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 10.Aug.2011 8:56:51 AM

guyforkes

Posts: 15
Joined: 24.Mar.2011
Status: offline

Why don't you move your FSW to Houston (or you can create an Alternative FSW in Houston). Then if your databases are active in Houston and your FSW is also in Houston you can shut down the server in NO.

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 10.Aug.2011 2:06:03 PM

travis.sheldon

Posts: 359
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I would second the alternative FSW.

Do you have DAC enabled on your DAG?

quote:

ORIGINAL: guyforkes

Why don't you move your FSW to Houston (or you can create an Alternative FSW in Houston). Then if your databases are active in Houston and your FSW is also in Houston you can shut down the server in NO.

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 10.Aug.2011 6:15:38 PM

Bribo

Posts: 3
Joined: 9.Aug.2011
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I do not have DAC enabled, as my understanding was that with only two servers, it is not used. That was from the MS Exchange team. I also have activation blocked on the Houston Server, as I really don't want that one coming active on it's own, only if I explicitly failover in a DR situation. I'll look at the alternate FSW though, as I would need that anyway if the N.O. site is gone due to disaster.

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 11.Aug.2011 4:07:08 PM

turbomcp

Posts: 21
Joined: 27.Jul.2006
Status: offline

why not do this:
change your fsw to be so other server in houston(the other site)
easily done and no downtime
then unblock activation on that node
switch them over(the databases)
(dont know what your cas setup and ad but check that)
shut down the primary one.
do whatever you need to do
bring it online
switch fsw back to primary site
switch databases again
block activation again on failover site
done.
(forgot to mention alt fsw require manual intervention, failover manually to use fsw this doesnt)
enable dac anyway

< Message edited by turbomcp -- 11.Aug.2011 4:08:30 PM >

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RE: Reboots for DAG members - 14.Aug.2011 6:33:53 AM

Henrik Walther

Posts: 6928
Joined: 21.Nov.2002
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Status: offline

Simply blocking database activation on the server in DR site would be the simplest way to achieve...

Alternatively, you could dismount DBs before shutdown.

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