W2008R2 Failover Cluster : New hotfix to improve performance enables faster failover times in a SQL 2012

After you enable the AlwaysOn Availability Group feature in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based failover cluster, using local and remote Availability Group database replicas, the failover time to the local replica takes longer than expected.
Note This issue occurs because of inter-node communication within the cluster.

To improve the performance of the “AlwaysOn Availability Group” feature in SQL Server 2012 is available for Windows Server 2008 R2.

Important : You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix

To download:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2687741/en-us

Windows 2008R2 – Hyper-V / Cluster. Post SP1 patches

Here is the list of required and optional post Windows 2008R2 SP1 hotfixes.

Please keep in mind that it all depends on which hardware and software combinations are used:

Note:  Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 should be installed at a minimum plus the required hotfixes.

1              Windows & Hyper-V : Required Hotfixes

Validate SCSI Device Vital Product Data (VPD) test fails after you install Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2531907(required for 3+ node Hyper-V clusters)

The network connection of a running Hyper-V virtual machine may be lost under heavy outgoing network traffic on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2263829

The Cluster service stops unexpectedly on a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster node when you perform multiple backup operations in parallel on a cluster shared volume

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2494162(required for Veeam backup software)

MPIO failover fails on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2460971

The MPIO driver fails over all paths incorrectly when a transient single failure occurs in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2522766

Performance decreases in Windows Server 2008 R2 when the Hyper-V role is installed on a computer that uses Intel Westmere or Sandy Bridge processors

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2517329 (for example :  Intel Xeon 5600 series processors )

Stop error 0x0000007a occurs on a virtual machine that is running on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based failover cluster with a cluster shared volume, and the state of the CSV is switched to redirected access.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2494016 (required for Veeam backup software)

Optional Hotfixes

An update is available for Hyper-V Best Practices Analyzer for Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2485986

“0x0000009E” Stop error when you add an extra storage disk to a failover cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2520235

A virtual machine online backup fails in Windows Server 2008 R2 when the SAN policy is set to “Offline All”

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2521348

Cluster node cannot rejoin the cluster after the node is restarted or removed from the cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2549472

Cluster service stops when an error occurs in the registry replication process of a failover cluster in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows Server 2008

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2496034

“0×20001″ Stop error when you start a Linux VM in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550569

A heap memory leak occurs when an application or service queries the MSCluster_Resource WMI class in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2580360

Cluster service initiates a failover after a delay of about 80 seconds when you shutdown the active node in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2575625/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134

New registration entries are added to the Persistent Reservation table when the physical disk resource that is associated with the CSV is taken offline on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based Failover Cluster

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2579052/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134

A transient communication failure causes a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster to stop working

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550886

Cluster service leaks memory when the service handles state change notifications in Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2550894

Hyper-V Export function consumes all available memory in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2547551

Microcode update for Intel processors in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2493989

Corrupted VSS snapshot

http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=975688&kbln=en-us

FIX: The guest operating system may crash (STOP 0xd) when you perform a live migration of Hyper-V virtual machines in a Windows Server 2008 R2 environment

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2636573

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A BIG Thanks to Hans Vredevoort

Find out what hotfix or update replaces other windows updates

Sometimes you need an hotfix but you find that hotfix is currently unavailable for online request. How to find out a superseding hotfix.

I found out the procedure in this wiki page : http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/windows-server-how-to-determine-update-supersedence-and-find-replacing-hotfixes.aspx

 

Comprehensive list of Hyper-V updates ( 2008, 2008R2 and 2008R2SP1 versions )

Quick note: the recommended for all Hyper-V configurations vs. recommended if you meet the scenario documented in the KB.

• Recommended updates for all configurations: Required column = Yes
• Recommended update if you meet the scenario: Required column = Yes, ONLY install if the issue applies to you.

Comprehensive list of Hyper-V updates : Applies To: Windows Server 2008

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd430893(WS.10).aspx

Comprehensive list of Hyper-VR2 updates : Applies To: Windows Server 2008R2

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/1349.hyper-v-update-list-for-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx

List of Hyper-V Packages Updated After the Release of Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) :

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3150.list-of-hyper-v-packages-updated-after-the-release-of-windows-server-2008-r2-service-pack-1-sp1.aspx

NOTE: For Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V systems with SP1 installed, there are two recommended updates for all configurations:

• KB2263829 – Hyper-V networking issue that multiple customers hit; This fix is also published on WU.
• KB2525835 – Security Update

Running Windows 8 Preview as Hyper-V Windows 2008R2 Virtual Machine

If you are planning to run Windows 8 as a Virtual Machine under your current Hyper-V Windows 2008R2 server, here is an update   that enables the Windows Developer Preview or Windows Server Developer Preview to be hosted in a Hyper-V virtual machine on Windows Server 2008 R2:

Hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;2526776

Without this hotfix you may experience one or more of the following issues:

• The Windows Developer Preview or Windows Server Developer Preview virtual machine stops responding.
• The Windows Server 2008 R2 host computer displays a stop error message and restarts automatically. This behavior brings down all other running virtual machines together with the host computer

 

Validate SCSI Device Vital Product Data (VPD) test fails after you install W2008 R2 SP1

If you found this error :” Failed to get SCSI page 83h VPD descriptors for cluster disk
<number> from <node name> status 2″ after applying SP1 to your W2008R2 cluster, Microsoft has released a fix for it.

The List Potential Cluster Disks storage validation test may display a warning message that resembles the following: “Disk with identifier <value> has a Persistent Reservation on it. The disk might be part of some other cluster. Removing the disk from validation set”

The  hotfix resolves an issue in which the storage test incorrectly runs on disks that are online and not in the Available Storage group.

More details:

You configure a failover cluster that has three or more nodes that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

You have cluster disks that are configured in groups other than the Available Storage group or that are used for Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV).

These disks are online when you run the Validate SCSI Device Vital Product Data (VPD) test or the List Potential Cluster Disks storage validation test

More info : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2531907

 

Hotfixes for SCVMM 2008 R2

Hi

Here is the recommended hotfixes for System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2

Recommended updates for the Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) Server and Admin Console

2308590 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2308590) Description of the System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 hotfix rollup package: September 14, 2010

982523 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982523)   Description of the System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Admin Console hotfix rollup package: June 8, 2010

Windows Server 2008 – Recommended updates for Microsoft Hyper-V Server and for the VMM server

The following list applies only to systems that are running Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1

954563 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954563)   Memory corruption may occur with the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1

955805 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955805)   Certain applications become very slow on a Windows Server 2008-based or Windows Vista SP1-based computer when a certificate with the SIA extension is installed

956774 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956774)   A Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) client cannot handle files that have paths that contain the volume GUID in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Vista

958124 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958124)   A wmiprvse.exe process may leak memory when a WMI notification query is used heavily on a Windows Server 2008-based or Windows Vista-based computer

The following list applies to systems that are running Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

968936 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968936)   A rollup hotfix package for Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering WMI provider

970520 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970520)   The Wmiprvse.exe process creates a memory leak on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 if you remotely monitor this process by using the WMI interface on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP

971244 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971244)   Windows Remote Management (WinRM) does not accept HTTP authorization requests that are larger than 16 KB on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista

971403 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971403)   The “Win32_share” WMI class cannot enumerate file shares or create file shares on a node in a Windows Server 2008 failover cluster

To see a list of recommended Hyper-V updates for Windows Server 2008 and for Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008, visit the following Microsoft TechNet website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd430893(WS.10).aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd430893(WS.10).aspx)

Windows Server 2008 – Recommended updates for Hyper-V Failover Cluster nodes

957311 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957311)   Recommended hotfixes for Windows Server 2008-based server clusters

Windows Server 2008 R2 – Recommended updates for Microsoft Hyper-V Server and for the VMM server

981314 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/981314)   The “Win32_Service” WMI class leaks memory in Windows Server 2008 R2 and in Windows 7

981845 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/981845)   The Windows Remote Management service stops responding in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

To see a list of recommended Hyper-V updates for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, visit the following Microsoft TechNet website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff394763(WS.10).aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff394763(WS.10).aspx)

Windows Server 2008 R2 – Recommended updates for Hyper-V Failover Cluster nodes

974930 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974930)   An application or service that queries information about a failover cluster by using the WMI provider may experience low performance or a time-out exception

980054 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980054)   Recommended hotfixes and updates for Windows Server 2008 R2-based server clusters

Recommended updates for Windows Server 2003 systems that have Virtual Server installed

936059 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936059)   An update is available for the Windows Remote Management feature in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP

Recommended updates that should be applied to Windows 2000 systems before a P2V is performed

834010 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/834010)   A deadlock occurs when a program that uses WMI calls the LoadLibrary() or the FreeLibrary() function in Windows 2000

843527 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/843527)   The Win32_SCSIController WMI class cannot obtain SCSI controller information after you install the MS04-011 security update

892294 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892294)   A WMI event notification query does not detect a user permissions change on Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003

More info : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2397711

Enhances the performance of the Cluster WMI (MSCluster) calls by SCVMM

 
The cluster team is constantly trying to optimize VMI performance, and this especially true for Hyper-V and SCVMM integration.

If you are using SCVMM or WMI,  Microsoft Cluster Team recommend installing the following hotfix on all cluster nodes which enhances the performance of the Cluster WMI (MSCluster) calls by SCVMM: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974930

(Thanks to Symon Perriman)