As a SQL Server professional, you may encounter various issues while working with SQL Server clusters. One such issue is the failure of a SQL Server resource to come online on a specific node in the cluster. In this blog post, we will discuss a specific scenario where a SQL Server resource was not able to come online on one node but worked fine on another node.

A client approached me with this issue, and after some investigation, I discovered that the problem was related to a missing registry key on the problematic node. To troubleshoot this, I asked the client to generate the cluster log, which provides valuable information about the cluster’s activities.

Upon analyzing the cluster log, I found that the registry checkpoint for the SQL Server resource was missing on the problematic node. The registry checkpoint is responsible for syncing the values of registry keys for SQL Server in a Windows cluster environment.

To resolve the issue, I re-added the missing checkpoint using a PowerShell command. Once the checkpoint was enabled, the registry values synchronized on both nodes, and the SQL Server resource came online successfully.

This scenario highlights the importance of the registry checkpoint in SQL Server cluster resources. It ensures that the registry keys required for SQL Server’s proper functioning are consistent across all nodes in the cluster.

If you ever encounter a similar issue where a SQL Server resource fails to come online on a specific node, it is worth checking the cluster log and verifying the presence of the registry checkpoint. If the checkpoint is missing, you can re-add it using PowerShell commands.

It is crucial to understand the underlying concepts of SQL Server clusters and their components to effectively troubleshoot and resolve issues. Familiarizing yourself with the cluster log and the role of the registry checkpoint can save you valuable time and effort in resolving cluster-related problems.

Have you ever come across such issues in your SQL Server cluster environment? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!