PRB: Can’t Write to Cluster Registry in Online() or Arbitrate()

 Last reviewed: January 23, 1998
Article ID: Q179472
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK)
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Quorum device resource DLLs cannot write to the cluster database from either the Arbitrate() or Online() entry points. Calls that attempt to write to the cluster database fail with error 70 (ERROR_SHARING_PAUSED).

CAUSE

When a quorum resource is called for Arbitrate or Online, the cluster database is "in doubt." Anything that is read may be stale and anything that is written may be thrown away. So, the cluster API does not let you write to the cluster registry at this point. It does let you read from the registry, with the caveat that you may be reading stale data.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The quorum resource stores configuration data to avoid a loss of information if the nodes in a cluster are not online at the same time. Specifically, if changes are made to the cluster configuration while node A is down, and node B goes down before node A starts, any changes not stored in a place available to node A are lost.

In this situation, node A checks the quorum resource to see if it has recorded any changes to the cluster configuration. If changes were made, the changes are applied to node A's copy of the cluster database. Since the reference copy of the configuration cannot be checked until the quorum resource is online, the cluster service does not allow write access to the cluster database from calls that are used to make the quorum resource available. 

Keywords          : kbcluster
Version           : win95; WINNT:4.0
Platform          : Win95 winnt
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbnofix

================================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: January 23, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.