Implementing cluster-aware updating

In Chapter 7, Implementing a Windows Server Failover Cluster, we learned about failover clustering regarding the network, storage, and overall requirements. Now, we wish to focus on how to keep failover clustering up to date and operating at peak performance.

Let’s continue learning more about Windows Server Failover Clustering features by introducing cluster-aware updating.

Introduction to cluster-aware updating for Windows Server failover clusters

Cluster-aware updating (CAU) is a feature introduced with Windows Server 2012 that allows administrators to manage Windows Updates for an entire cluster of hosts and services. CAU attempts to reduce or eliminate the amount of service and guest downtime while providing an automated approach for applying orchestrated updates and maintenance across an entire failover cluster. During what’s called an updating run, CAU puts each node into a temporary maintenance mode and fails over any...