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Following are my environment details

  • I have created 2 virtual machines in Azure. node 01 and node 02
  • Both machines are using windows server 2012 R2
  • Attached disks for node 01 and node 02
  • Added node 01 and 02 to fail over cluster

Then I went to following area in Fail over cluster manager to add new Disks

Failover Cluster Manager -> Storage -> Disks

But, I do not see any disks as shown below

enter image description here

When I try to add disks, I am getting below error message

enter image description here

Why I need disks?

I am trying to create file share access using scale out file server feature

I do not see drives in New Share Wizard as shown below

enter image description here

I do understand that once the cluster setup is done we need to add disks to shared volume using "add to cluster shared volume” option http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2013/12/11/scale-out-file-shares-and-continuously-available-file-services.aspx but I do not see any disks!

Update One of friend suggested as follow

To deploy Windows Server Failover Clusters on Microsoft Azure VMs, you would need third-party storage-level replication software like StarWind Virtual SAN or SIOS Data Keeper.

But I am not sure will these third party support all my production requirements.

Steps to configure SQL AlwaysOn FCI in Azure IaaS Cloud with StarWind Virtual SAN Solution http://www.tech-coffee.net/sql-alwayson-fci-in-azure-iaas-cloud-with-starwind-virtual-san-solution/

kudlatiger
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  • cluster manager needs the disk to be offline not online connected to one of the hosts – Sum1sAdmin Apr 27 '16 at 12:21
  • Do I need to add disk on both the nodes? – kudlatiger Apr 27 '16 at 15:23
  • as far as I remember it's just attached to any host but not online – Sum1sAdmin Apr 27 '16 at 15:29
  • Ok, let me add disk to node 01 and node 02 from azure portal and let me keep it offline. will keep you posted. – kudlatiger Apr 27 '16 at 15:45
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    Mentioned StarWind VSAN is available directly in Azure. FYI. https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/partners/starwind/starwindvirtualsan/ – BaronSamedi1958 Apr 30 '16 at 15:54
  • Yes, you need HA shared storage for proper production setup. Here are two deployment guides that will be helpful to you: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/installing-and-configuring-a-sql-server-fci-on-microsoft-azure-vms - for Azure specific setup. https://www.starwindsoftware.com/installing-and-configuring-a-sql-server-2012-failover-cluster - for general SQL FCI deployment. – Strepsils May 02 '16 at 13:30
  • And here is also a great video to better understand the whole concept: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/save-10kon-sql-deployment-in-microsoft-azure P.S: srry for doubleposting – Strepsils May 02 '16 at 13:39
  • Does Microsoft and Azure have tie up? so I have to pay for both the vendors!! – kudlatiger May 02 '16 at 14:30

1 Answers1

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You have to connect shared disk on both nodes. Then you must configure and format share volume on one of the 2 nodes : this should be performed only on first of the File Server VM, not both. On the first node, initialize the iSCSI LUN

The following link is a very complete step by step guide "Deploying a Windows Server 2012 R2 Scale-Out File Server Cluster using Azure VMs" that you should have a look to : https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/josebda/2014/03/29/deploying-a-windows-server-2012-r2-scale-out-file-server-cluster-using-azure-vms/

Just to be sure that you are using a supported configuration for the storage. Do you have the following prerequisites ?

Microsoft server software support for Microsoft Azure virtual machines https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2721672

Requirements for Windows Server Failover Cluster with Azure Iaas VM : Must Run Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2 For Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2, must have hotfix 2854082 installed on all nodes. Must use a single-cluster IP address resource. Must use Azure-hosted storage by using one of the following options: Application-level replication for nonshared storage | Volume-level replication for nonshared storage | ExpressRoute for remote iSCSI Target shared block storage | Azure Files for shared file storage

Stanislas Quastana Pro
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    The iSCSI Target Server configuration shown in the article is not highly available.so I can not use it in production. – kudlatiger Apr 28 '16 at 10:13