Use Validation Tests for Troubleshooting a Failover Cluster
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
The Validate a Configuration Wizard can be useful when troubleshooting a failover cluster. By running tests related to the symptoms you see, you can learn more about what to do to correct the issue.
Important
If a clustered service or application is using a disk when you start the wizard, the wizard will prompt you about whether to take that clustered service or application offline for the purposes of testing. If you choose to take a clustered service or application offline, it will remain offline until the tests finish.
Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).
To use validation tests for troubleshooting a failover cluster
Decide whether you want to run all or only some of the available validation tests. You can select or clear the following tests individually or by category:
Inventory tests: Provide an inventory of the hardware, software, and settings (such as network settings) on the servers, and information about the storage. For more information, see Understanding Cluster Validation Tests: Inventory.
Network tests: Validate that networks are set up correctly for clustering. For more information, see Understanding Cluster Validation Tests: Network.
Storage tests: Validate that the storage on which the failover cluster depends is behaving correctly and supports the required functions of the cluster. For more information, see Understanding Cluster Validation Tests: Storage.
System Configuration tests: Validate that the system software and configuration settings are compatible across servers. For more information, see Understanding Cluster Validation Tests: System Configuration.
In the Failover Cluster Management snap-in, in the console tree, make sure Failover Cluster Management is selected. Then under Management, click Validate a Configuration.
Follow the instructions in the wizard to specify the servers and the tests, run the tests, and view the results.
Additional considerations
To open the failover cluster snap-in, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Failover Cluster Management. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
To view the results of the tests after you close the wizard, choose one of the following:
Open the folder systemroot\Cluster\Reports (on a clustered server).
In the console tree, right-click the cluster, and then click View Validation Report. This displays the most recent validation report for that cluster.
Additional references
For troubleshooting information for failover clusters, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=86170.