Run chkdsk on a clustered system

 

Do you need to run chkdsk on a clustered system? The first step is to disable the cluster service to ensure you only have one of the cluster nodes on.

On the cluster node, log on to Windows.

Go to the Device Manager
Click on View
Click on Show Hidden Devices
Click on Non Plug and Play devices
Right Click on Cluster Disk Driver and choose Properties
Click on Driver Tab
Change the Startup Type to Demand

Go to Services and Applications
Then Services
Then Find ClusSrv
Right Click and choose Properties
Change Startup to Manual

Now Reboot

This will cause the cluster service to control the operating system instead of the drives. During the reboot, your system might run chkdsk while booting. If chkdsk does not run during boot up, then you will need to run CHKDSK /F from a command prompt on the drive in question.

After chkdsk has completed, verify you have access to the drives and data.

Reboot

Change the Cluster Disk Driver back to System by following the steps below:
Go to the Device Manager
Click on View
Click on Show Hidden Devices
Click on [Non Plug and Play devices
Right Click on Cluster Disk Driver and choose

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Properties
Click on Driver Tab
Change the Startup Type to System

You will need to set the ClusSvc Service back to Automatic by following the steps below:
Go to Services and Applications
Then Services
Then Find ClusSrv
Right Click and choose Properties
Change Startup to Automatic

Reboot and verify the Cluster is working properly.

Bring the other node(s) of the cluster online and ensure everything is working properly. Test fail-overs and fail-backs to ensure your cluster system is working as designed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ron Crumbaker is the PC systems administrator at MPD Inc., a military and government contractor in Owensboro, KY. He is the administrator for SMS 2.0, SMS 2003, Exchange 2000, Active Directory, Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, PC desktops, workstations and laptops.

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If you are looking for more information about Chkdsk you can find expert advice from our Chkdsk utility series.

This was first published in February 2005

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