SQL SERVER – The Cluster Resource ‘SQL Server’ Could Not be Brought Online Due to an Error Bringing the Dependency Resource

In my lab setup, I already have a 2 node windows 2012 R2 cluster. I already had one SQL server 2012 instance is working fine without issues. However, when I was trying to install a new additional SQL 2012 instance, the installation reached till the last phase and getting failed with errors related to a cluster resource.

Here is the text of the error message.

The following error has occurred:
The cluster resource ‘SQL Server’ could not be brought online due to an error bringing the dependency resource ‘SQL Network Name(SAPSQL) ‘ online. Refer to the Cluster Events in the Failover Cluster Manager for more information.
Click ‘Retry’ to retry the failed action, or click ‘Cancel’ to cancel this action and continue setup.

When we look at the event log, we saw below message (event ID 1194)

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-FailoverClustering
Date: 20/06/2017 19:55:45
Event ID: 1194
Task Category: Network Name Resource
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: NODENAME1.internal.sqlauthority.lab
Description:
Cluster network name resource ‘SQL Network Name (SAPSQL)’ failed to create its associated computer object in domain ‘internal.sqlauthority.com’ during: Resource online.

WORKAORUND/SOLUTION

To solve this problem, we logged into the domain controller machine and created the Computer Account: SAPSQL (called as VCO – Virtual Computer Object). Gave the cluster name WINCLUSTER$ full control on the computer name. If we carefully read error message, we have the solution already listed there. Then clicked on the retry option in the setup. The setup continued and completed successfully.

Here are the detailed steps (generally done on a domain controller by domain admin):

1. Start > Run > dsa.msc. This will bring up the Active Directory Users and Computers UI.
2. Under the View menu, choose Advanced Features.
3. If the SQL Virtual Server name is already created, then search for it else go to the appropriate OU and create the new computer object [VCO] under it.
4. Right click on the new object created and click Properties.
5. On the Security tab, click Add. Click Object Types and make sure that Computers is selected, then click Ok.
6. Type the name of the CNO and click Ok. Select the CNO and under Permissions click Allow for Full Control permissions.
7. Disable the VCO by right clicking.

This is also known as pre-staging of the VCO.

Hope this would help someone to save time and resolve issue without waiting for someone else assistance. Do let me know if you ever encountered the same.

I have used following two articles to find a solution for the error related to cluster resource.

1. Failover Cluster Step-by-Step Guide: Configuring Accounts in Active Directory
2. Event ID 1194 — Active Directory Permissions for Cluster Accounts

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)

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