Correcting Cluster Installation Error Due to Failure to Configure Cluster Service

Summary

An error message indicating failure to configure the DPX Cluster Service when installing DPX on a Windows cluster node is related to permissions on the cluster name account. This article provides procedures to correct the error condition.

Symptoms

After installing DPX on the first node in the cluster, the following message displays in the installation readme file, which displays after the installation completes:

*Error: Error when Configuring Cluster service. Please use Windows Cluster Administrator *

Resolution

On the Windows node where you unsuccessfully installed DPX, do the following;

1. Go to Failover Cluster Manager, select Cluster Events, select Query, in the Event IDs field enter 1194, and select OK.
2. Select the error event with a time stamp corresponding to the installation attempt. Event details display at the bottom of the window.

The following is a sample, with key terms highlighted for illustrative purposes:

Cluster network name resource 'Catalogic Software DPX Network Name' failed to create its associated computer object in domain 'business.com' for the following reason: Unable to create computer account.
The text for the associated error code is: Access is denied.
Please work with your domain administrator to ensure that:
- The cluster identity 'Cluster Name Account$' can create computer objects. By default all computer objects are created in the 'Computers' container; consult the domain administrator if this location has been changed.
- The quota for computer objects has not been reached.
- If there is an existing computer object, verify the Cluster Identity 'Cluster Name Account$' has 'Full Control' permission to that computer object using the Active Directory Users and Computers tool.

This error means that the cluster name account does not have the security rights to create the computer object in Active Directory for the DPX cluster virtual node. Properly configure the cluster name account in Active Directory to complete the DPX installation.

The cluster name account, also called the cluster name object, is the computer account of the cluster itself. This account is created automatically by the Create Cluster Wizard and has the same name as the cluster. The cluster name account is important, because through this account other accounts are automatically created as you configure new services and applications on the cluster. If the cluster name account is deleted or permissions are taken away from it, other accounts required by the cluster cannot be created until the cluster name account is restored or the correct permissions are reinstated.

In the example procedures below, the cluster name account is called FileServerClust, as seen in the illustrations.

Use either of the following two procedures to configure the DPX cluster computer object. Procedure A configures the cluster name account with required permissions; Procedure B uses pre-staging of the DPX cluster computer object within the domain.

Procedure A. Configure the Cluster Name Account with proper security rights to create the DPX Cluster computer object.

The cluster name account requires Create Computer Objects and Read All Properties permissions in the default computer's container, which is used for adding computer accounts to the domain.

1. On a domain controller, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers. If the User Account Control dialog box displays, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
2. In the View menu, ensure that Advanced Features is selected. When Advanced Features is selected, you can see the Security tab in the properties of accounts (objects) in Active Directory Users and Computers.
3. Right-click the default Computers container or the default container, where computer accounts are created in your domain, and then click Properties. Computers are located in Active Directory Users and Computers/domain name/Computers.
4. On the Security tab, click Advanced and then click Add.
5. Click Object Types, ensure that Computers is selected, and click OK.
6. Under Enter the object name to select, enter the Cluster Name Account, and click OK.
7. In the Permission Entry for container dialog box, locate the Create Computer objects and Read All Properties permissions. Ensure the Allow check box is selected for each permission.
   
   

Procedure B. Pre-staging the DPX Cluster Computer Object within the Domain.

Before beginning, ensure that you know the name of the Cluster Name Account and the name that the DPX clustered service or application will have.

1. On a domain controller, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers. If the User Account Control dialog box displays, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
2. In the console tree, right-click Computers or the default container where computer accounts are created in your domain. Computers are located in Active Directory Users and Computers/domain name/Computers.
3. Click New and then click Computer.
4. Enter the name that will be used for the DPX Cluster Name and then click OK.
5. Right-click the computer account you just created, and then click Disable Account. If prompted to confirm your choice, click Yes.
6. On the View menu, ensure sure that Advanced Features is selected.
   When Advanced Features is selected, you can see the Security tab in the properties of accounts (objects) in Active Directory Users and Computers.
7. Right-click the Computer account you just created, and then click Properties.
8. On the Security tab, click Add.
9. Click Object Types and ensure that Computers is selected, and then click OK. Then, under Enter the object name to select, type the Cluster Name Account, and then click OK. If a message appears, saying that you are about to add a disabled object, click OK.
10. Ensure that the cluster name account is selected, and then, next to Full Control, select the Allow check box.
    
    

Once you have completed one of the procedure above, proceed with the following:

• If you have only installed DPX on one of your cluster nodes, proceed with installing DPX on the remaining cluster nodes. All DPX Cluster resources automatically become online.
• If you have already installed DPX on all clustered nodes, go to the Failover Cluster Manager, expand Services and Applications, and select Catalogic Software DPX. To the right you will see DPX Cluster Name and Catalogic Software DPX Cmagent in an offline state. Right-click Catalogic Software DPX Cmagent and select Bring this resource online. The Catalogic Software DPX Cmagent will also bring the DPX Cluster Name to an online state. Once both resources are online, you will be able to back up your cluster successfully using DPX.