Cluster identification and update navigation in Windows Server 8

As an integral part of Windows Server 8, Cluster-Aware Updating provides a reliable and automatic update function for Server clusters. This tool allows the system administrator to update the server of the Cluster. During the update process, there is little or no loss of availability.

It is designed to reduce service interruptions, eliminate the need for manual updates, and simplify the cluster update process for administrators.

In the Cluster identification and Update navigation (Cluster Aware Update Wizard, CAUW), the monthly Microsoft Security Announcement is processed into a one-click operation, all nodes in the Failover cluster (up to 63 nodes are supported in Windows Server 8) can verify their update level in this operation, and appropriate updates are applied to the cluster in a coordinated manner, make sure that the cluster remains running. This does not eliminate monthly patch releases, but it makes managing and maintaining private clouds much easier.

For workloads that support arbitrary program migration, such as Hyper-V Real-time migration, the cluster identification Update (CAU) is designed to take advantage of these features so that the client has no downtime. This navigation makes it easy to customize updates to adapt to popular local practices, so the administrator can run the customized PowerShell script as part of the new process in the cluster. In addition, CAU is equipped with a scalable design, which means that you can create a new solution (such as cluster firmware update) through different ISV and IHV extensions and adjustments ).

The cluster identification and update function is installed on each cluster node as part of the Microsoft failover cluster function. The failover cluster tool, including CAU, may be installed on Windows Server 8, even if it is not a cluster member, not on Windows 8 client or not part of the remote Server management tool.

In the article "system center connector" published by Microsoft cluster MVP Robert Smit, you can see a complete set of screenshots showing the CAUW at work. He believes that you 'd better use the Management Server to run CAUW because it won't fix the running server of the navigation itself. It shows the processes and choices that involve selection and application updates to a server. Smit has made high comments on its simplicity and Advanced Automation.

Generally, cluster recognition updates enable and automate the process of browsing, downloading, and installing cluster updates from one of the following sources: a) Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), B) windows Update, Microsoft Update, or c) any third-party update source that CAU is compatible. Such a third-party source must develop a suitable plug-in which it may be installed on a computer running the CAU tool. The default plug-in of Windows Server 8 supports WSUS or WU/MU sources for update. This is a way for CAUW to directly integrate into the current infrastructure update, and through the automated end-to-end cluster update process.

The biggest benefit of cluster identification and update is to enable high availability/failover clusters to keep them running. in real time, updates are applied to individual cluster elements. Similarly, the plug-in and automation support of this tool makes it easier to apply (or even roll back) to a cluster than any previous Windows Server version. Flexibility and ease of use have always been a welcome part of server management tools, especially those tasks that may be as tedious or tricky as performing server cluster updates or applying patches to a cluster. I predict that this tool will be a icing on the cake in the Windows 8 Weapons library. It will help us to make the management of SERVER CLUSTERS easier than it is now.