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simontyler
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Fault tolerance/HA/cluster optimization question

Hello,

I've set up a cluster using VMware vSphere 5 Essentials Plus license, so far there are 2 nodes running ESXi 5.0.0 and it's not behaving quite the way we expect, probably there is a configuration change required.

The problem is that the cluster will only allow us to power on vms on one host. The expected or desired behaviour is that we want to be able to load up one host entirely, designating certain vms as having High Availability requirement, and load up the second host leaving enough resources to automatically start running the vms designated as high availability. The error message when trying to power up a vm on the failover host: "The current operation cannot be performed because it has been configured as a failover host for a cluster."

Our intent is to migrate the vms from a third host into the cluster, and then format and upgrade the third host to ESXi 5.0.0 and join the cluster. We do not want an entire host reserved.

Can we still have some failover functionality without reserving an entire host? Pretty sure I'm missing something basic, here.

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Cluster Settings:

Turn on vSphere HA is checked

Turn on vSphere DRS is NOT checked (we did not license this feature)

vSphere HA:

Host monitoring status is checked

Admission Control is enabled

1 Failover host is specified

VMware EVC:

Disabled

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Please let me know what further information is required.

Thanks,

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vmroyale
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I would probably go the "Percentage of Cluster Resources Reserved as Failover Spare Capacity" route - check out http://frankdenneman.nl/2011/01/setting-correct-percentage-of-cluster-resources-reserved/ for some great information on this.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com

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vmroyale
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I would probably go the "Percentage of Cluster Resources Reserved as Failover Spare Capacity" route - check out http://frankdenneman.nl/2011/01/setting-correct-percentage-of-cluster-resources-reserved/ for some great information on this.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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mittim12
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Try changing your Adminisson Control Policy to percentage based.

logiboy123
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Disable the admission control policy (testing step only) and see if you can do what you want to do. If you can then this is the problem and you will need to configure the admission control policy to best fit your requirements.

simontyler
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Thank you all for your responses! I made the change to settings as you suggested and this worked for me.

Very much appreciated and regards,

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