Failover Cluster has unexpected storage resource fail-overs

Source: Microsoft Support

RAPID PUBLISHING ARTICLES PROVIDE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM WITHIN THE MICROSOFT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING OR UNIQUE TOPICS, OR IS INTENDED SUPPLEMENT OTHER KNOWLEDGE BASE INFORMATION.

With some vendor storage solutions, you may see unexpected or unwanted cluster resource failover behavior. This is due to the Windows 2008 Cluster feature installation no longer increasing the Disk Timeout Value in the registry from 10 seconds to 20 seconds by default as it did in prior versions of our failover clustering service.

Unexpected or unwanted cluster resource failover behavior

Installation of the Windows Server 2003 Cluster service increased the: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Disk

TimeOutValue

From the 10 second default, to 20 seconds, due to some timing issues with Logical Unit Number (LUN) resets on which it was dependant. These dependencies no longer exist in Server 2008, so this registry setting is no longer�changed�from 10 to 20 seconds�when installing the Failover Cluster service feature in Server�2008.

Some storage vendors require this setting and�a value greater than the default due to timing issues on their storage solutions. Without the setting, the failover cluster service may try to fail-over the resource to the other cluster node(s) due to delays in the storage solution responding.

Contact the vendor of your particular storage solution to find out the recommended setting for this registry key.
WARNING : If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Either add or change the TimeOutValue registry value (DWORD value) in the following registry subkey to the recommended value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Disk

MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENTS AND RELATED GRAPHICS PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE (THE �MATERIALS�) FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE TECHNICAL INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND MAY BE REVISED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM AND EXCLUDE ALL REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND CONDITIONS WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR CONDITIONS OF TITLE, NON INFRINGEMENT, SATISFACTORY CONDITION OR QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE MATERIALS.

Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.