Tag Archives: Windows Server 2012

Cluster Aware Updating – Cluster CNO Name 15 Characters (NETBIOS name length) GUI Issue

Posted on by
2

There seems to be a small bug in the Cluster Aware Updating GUI when the cluster name exceeds 15 characters. In our example we’ll look at a cluster with the name XXXCLUSSQLSERVERS or xxxclussqlservers.test.lab. We’ll try to connect to that cluster to do some cluster aware updating.

Click on the dropdown arrow and select our cluster

image

 

Once selected, click “Connect”

image

 

Now we’re greeted by this little message

image

No, you didn’t make a typo as you selected the cluster from the drop down list. You also know that your cluster is up and running. So what happened? Well, the GUI queries AD and returns the CNOs it finds. Those are limited to the NETBIOS name and as such maximal 15 characters long. In this case the name is XXXCLUSSQLSERVERS and this gives a CNO of XXXCLUSSQLSERVE, which is not found as a cluster.

The fix is easy and simple. Just type in the cluster name. XXXCLUSSQLSERVERS and voila. You can connect and are on your way.

image

Let’s see if the FQDN is accepted as well, shall we? And yes, the below screenshot proves this.

https://blog.workinghardinit.work/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/image43.png

Conclusion

So this is not a problem once you know this Smile. The CAU GUI returns the cluster CNO name and that’s the NetBIOS name which can be only 15 characters long. Selecting it in CUA to connect to the cluster doesn’t work. You need to fill out the complete name. As we demonstrated the CAU GUI does also accept a FQDN. To prevent running into this issue consider not making your cluster names longer than 15 characters as then the CNO and the cluster name will be identical and is a smart thing to do as you’ll avoid possible duplicate CNOs trying (and failing) to be created or other bugs Winking smile.

In PowerShell you always submit the cluster name so you don’t hit this issue. Perhaps the GUI drop down list could translate the CNOs into the actual cluster names?

Money Saving Hero of 2012: Windows 2012 In Box Deduplication Delivers Big Value

Posted on by
3

To wave goodbye to 2012 I’m posting the latest screenshot of the easiest and very effective money saving feature you got in Windows Server 2012 than RTM in August. Below you’ll find the status report of a backup LUN in a small environment.  Yes those are real numbers in a production environment.image

If you are not using it; you’re really throwing away vast amounts of money on storage right this moment. If you’re in the market for a practical, economical and effective backup solution my advice you to  is the following. Scrap any backup vendor or product that prevents it files of LUNs being duplicated  by Windows Server 2012.  They might as well be robbing you at gun point.

You can pay for a very nice company new years party with these savingsMartini glassParty smile

I wish you all a great end of 2012 and a magnificent 2013 ahead. In 2013 we’ll push Windows Server 2012 into service where we couldn’t before (waiting for 3 party vendor support and if they keep straggling they are out of the door) and work at making our infrastructure ever more resilient an protected.  With System Center SP1 some products of that suite will make a come back in our environment. 10Gbps is bound to become the standard all over our little data center network and not just our most important workloads.

I’m Presenting At The Belgian TechDays 2013

Posted on by
Reply

A little end of year news flash for you all. I already mentioned the contribution the local Belgian MVPs and MEET members are making to the TechDays in 2013 and now I can tell you I’m joining them for a presentation as well on March 7th in the 16:15-16:30 time slot . In the talk Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Networking Evolved I’ll be discussing some of the network improvements in Windows Server 2012. Some are very well known others a bit less but they all work together to make Windows Server 2012 a very capable operating system that’s future proof.

Hyper-V benefits from a range of new features introduced across the entire network stack in Windows Server 2012. Some of these are native networking improvements in the operating system itself. Others leverage technology that requires supported Network Adapters & Switches that benefits Hyper-V hosts and the virtual machines that run on top of it. Come and see how even the most demanding workloads can now be virtualized without sacrificing performance, reliability, security or scalability. These features vary from easy & transparent, with almost zero configuration, to complex, requiring more design and implementation considerations. Join me for an overview of these network improvements, how they work and what they can do for your business.

We’ve been running Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V in production since August & September 2012. So we put our money where our mouth is. If you hurry up and register before the end of the year you can still get the early bird price.

TechDays Early bird banner wide

Your company cannot lose here. You gain insight & knowledge, your employer gets a well prepared and motivated employee. How’s that for a nice new years gift?

You Got To Love Windows Server 2012 Deduplication for Backups

Posted on by
3

I’ve discussed this before in Windows Server 2012 Deduplication Results In A Small Environment but here’s a little updated screenshot of a backup volume:

image

Not to shabby I’d say and 100% free in box portable deduplication … What are you waiting for Winking smile