Exchange 2010 SP1: StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1 fails on databases that have only two database copies.
In Exchange 2010 Service Pack 1 we introduced some new DAG management scripts. These scripts can be found in the Exchange Server installation directory \ scripts. (This is usually c:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\v14\scripts).
One of the scripts introduced is the StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1 script. More information on this script can be found at:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff625233.aspx
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd298065.aspx
When administrators utilize this script the following actions are being taken:
1) All database copies are moved to another server in the DAG based on the selection of the next best copy.
2) If the cluster core resources are owned on the node the resources are arbitrated to a different DAG member (thereby moving the Primary Active Manager functionality to another node).
3) The DatabaseCopyAutoActivationPolicy property of the mailbox server is set to a value of BLOCKED thereby preventing the DAG member from receiving or activating database copies.
4) The individual database copies hosted on the DAG member are activation suspended.
5) The node is paused within the cluster service preventing the cluster core resources from arbitrating to the node (and thereby preventing the node from becoming the Primary Active Manager).
When an administrator attempts to place a DAG member into maintenance mode and the DAG member hosts an ACTIVE database that has only two copies the following occurs:
1) The database copy is moved to the other node hosting the passive copy (pending the copy is healthy).
2) The command fails with the following error after the database is moved. (In this example the mounted copy is on server DAG-4).
*Pre StartDagServerMaintenance*
Name Status CopyQueue ReplayQueue LastInspectedLogTime ContentIndex
Length Length State
---- ------ --------- ----------- -------------------- ------------
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-4 Mounted 0 0 Healthy
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-3 Healthy 0 0 7/25/2011 10:17:30 AM Healthy
*StartDagServerMaintenance*
[PS] C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Scripts>.\StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1 DAG-4
The following objects are hosted by 'DAG-4', before attempting to move them off: `n(Database='TESTSCRIPT', Reason='Copy is active'))
Write-Error : The following objects are still hosted by 'DAG-4', even after attempting to move them off: `n(Database='TESTSCRIPT', Reason='Copy is critical for redundancy according to Red Alert script'))
At C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Scripts\StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1:216 char:16
+ write-error <<<< ($StartDagServerMaintenance_LocalizedStrings.res_0014 -f ( PrintCriticalMailboxResourcesOutput($criticalMailboxResources)),$shortServerName) -erroraction:stop
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Write-Error], WriteErrorException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorCommand
*Post StartDagServerMaintenance*
Name Status CopyQueue ReplayQueue LastInspectedLogTime ContentIndex
Length Length State
---- ------ --------- ----------- -------------------- ------------
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-3 Mounted 0 0 Healthy
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-4 Healthy 0 0 7/25/2011 10:33:57 AM Healthy
When an administrator attempts to place a DAG member into maintenance mode and the DAG member hosts an PASSIVE database that has only two copies the following occurs:
1) The command fails with the following error after the database is moved. (In this example the passive copy is on server DAG-4).
*Pre StartDagServerMaintenance*
Name Status CopyQueue ReplayQueue LastInspectedLogTime ContentIndex
Length Length State
---- ------ --------- ----------- -------------------- ------------
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-3 Mounted 0 0 Healthy
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-4 Healthy 0 0 7/25/2011 10:33:57 AM Healthy
*StartDagServerMaintenance*
[PS] C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Scripts>.\StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1 DAG-4
The following objects are hosted by 'DAG-4', before attempting to move them off: `n(Database='TESTSCRIPT', Reason='Copy is active'))
Write-Error : The following objects are still hosted by 'DAG-4', even after attempting to move them off: `n(Database='TESTSCRIPT', Reason='Copy is critical for redundancy according to Red Alert script'))
At C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Scripts\StartDagServerMaintenance.ps1:216 char:16
+ write-error <<<< ($StartDagServerMaintenance_LocalizedStrings.res_0014 -f ( PrintCriticalMailboxResourcesOutput($criticalMailboxResources)),$shortServerName) -erroraction:stop
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Write-Error], WriteErrorException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorCommand
*Post StartDagServerMaintenance*
Name Status CopyQueue ReplayQueue LastInspectedLogTime ContentIndex
Length Length State
---- ------ --------- ----------- -------------------- ------------
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-3 Mounted 0 0 Healthy
TESTSCRIPT\DAG-4 Healthy 0 0 7/25/2011 10:33:57 AM Healthy
Administrators can find manual maintenance mode instructions available in the following blog post:
After completing the manual instructions and when maintenance mode is no longer needed the administrator may utilize the StopDagServerMaintenance.ps1 script to revert the manual changes.