Incorrect Microsoft Cluster Service Quorum Root Path May Cause Cluster to Stop Responding (Hang)

If you type the incorrect path for the Root Path to be used for Quorum logging, this can cause the Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) to stop responding (hang). The Cluster service generates the following error message when you type a path with invalid characters:

This problem can occur if you use a forward slash (/) character. If you use a forward slash, the Cluster service may stop responding. This occurs because, according to the logic of the operating system, a forward slash is a typing error, and it is supposed to be a back slash (\) character. The Cluster service does not make this assumption; it interprets it truly as a forward slash, and then it stops responding because this is an invalid character.

Start the Cluster service with the Quorum logging disabled, and correct the Quorum path designation. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

\MSCS\ is the default directory for Quorum logging if you change the directory to the following: When you make the change in Cluster Administrator, it may accept this path and assume the path of \MSCS\Quorum\. When the Cluster service is started, it may not work at all because it looks for the exact path of \MSCS/Quorum\ and generates the following error message: This can cause the entire Cluster to stop responding. Use caution when changing the Quorum Root Path because the Cluster service does not interpret invalid characters like the operating system does.