Cannot start a WSFC node with -ForceQuorum in a cluster that's lost quorum

Question

Hi,
I've got a really simple setup: a two node healthy cluster constisting of SRV1 and SRV2. Current Vote is 1 for SRV1 and 0 for SRV2. To simulate a lost node (and in this case cluster losing quorum) I remove SRV1 from the network. Failover Cluster Manager
(FCM) on SRV1 pretty instantly reports the status of the nodes as:
SRV1 - UP
SRV2 - DOWN
Fine. On SRV2 however, nothing happens in FCM for some time. After about a minute, FCM loses contact with the cluster. When I try to reconnect FCM to the local node (SRV2), I get the following error:
Node 'SRV2' is in the process of being started. The remote server has been paused or is in the process of being started.
Waiting does not help - the problem persists. I then resort to PowerShell and "Start-ClusterNode -ForceQuorum". It responds with State=Joining. But the node is never started. Cannot connect to it in FCM. And any other PowerShell command (e.g. Get-ClusterNode)
returns "The remote server has been paused or is in the process of being started".
What am I doing wrong? How can I manually force a node to start in a cluster that's lost quorum?
Kindly,
Fredrik

Answer 1

Hi Fredrik,
Could you clarify how you “remove SRV1” did you use the FCM or unplug-in the network? If you use FCM the cluster resource will move two SRV2 automatically and you needn’t to
force the SRV 2 up, but why you say the cluster resource is:
SRV1 - UP
SRV2 – DOWN
Does the SRV1 has “removed” right? if it is mistype and the scenario is
SRV1 – DOWN, it must your cluster may have some incorrect configuration, please run the cluster validation first then post the warning and error section. With two node witness we need to use Node and Disk Majority quorum mode please confirm
you have choose the correct witness mode.
The related KB:
Appendix B: Additional Information About Quorum Modes
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770830(v=ws.10).aspx
Overview and Requirements for a Two-Node Failover Cluster
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772544(v=ws.10).aspx
I’m glad to be of help to you!
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