The function of the GeoCluster Replicated Disk Status resource (also displayed as GRD Status) varies between Windows 2003 and Windows 2008. In both operating systems, it is automatically created when the first GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource is created in a group. Once the status resource is created, it will exist as long as there is a GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource in the group. When the last GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource in a group is deleted, the status resource will be deleted. Only one status resource is created per group.If the resource is deleted, it will automatically be re-created.
If you are using Windows 2003, the description of the status resource corresponds to various states of your Double-Take data. By reviewing the status descriptions, you can tell at-a-glance the state of your Double-Take data. If you are using Windows 2008, these status descriptions are seen directly in the GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource description, rather than the status resource.
For example, you may see the status "The status of all targets is OK." This indicates the data on each target node is in a good state. Another message may be "Target target_name is queuing. Data in queue on target." This indicates the data on the specified target is not up-to-date. Because
there is data in queue on the target, that has not been written
to disk yet, the target data is out-of-date. Or you may see either of the following status descriptions.
- Target target_name is pending. Data integrity not guaranteed.
- Target target_name is suspect. Data integrity not guaranteed.
These messages indicate the data on the specified target node is not in a good state.
This could be because a mirror is in progress, an operation has
been dropped on the target, or another Double-Take processing issue.As long as the status is pending, data integrity
cannot be guaranteed on the specified target node. Check the Double-Take logs for more information. See Log files for more details.
The text of the descriptions may vary between Windows 2003 and Windows 2008.
Another function of the status resource, for both Windows 2003 and Windows 2008, is to keep you from moving the GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource to another node at the wrong time and potentially corrupting your data. If the GeoCluster Replicated Disk resource was moved while the status resource is in a pending or queuing state, the new node would have incomplete data, which would then be replicated to the other nodes in the cluster. This resource safeguards you from corrupting your data. This happens by removing passive nodes as possible owners and discarding any manual changes made to the possible owners list.