Series 5 - Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU)

CAU allows patching Windows cluster nodes with minimum downtime. Below is a self-updating process.


Step 1.   You can get to CAU in both ways:
In FCM right click on the Windows cluster name -> More Action -> Cluster Aware Updating
or In Server Manager -> Tools -> Cluster-Aware Updating

Step 2.   Select the Windows cluster name to connect -> Click Connect -> Configure cluster self-updating options. This step creates CAU role.

Step 3.   Read the details in the wizard.

Step 4.   Add the CAU role by checking the box as shown in the diagram.

Step 5.   Specify a schedule to update. For ease we create a daily schedule at midnight.

Step 6.   In Advanced Options take default values

Step 7.   Check recommendations on updates

Step 8.   Review confirmation summary page before the run

Step 9.   Now CAU role has been successfully created

Step 10.   Before we kick off auto updating, it's recommended to run a readiness test. In the CAU window click on the link in the right pane that says "Analyze cluster updating readiness". Our test went through with only one warning. Since we're not using proxy servers let's safely ignore it.

Step 11.   Also click on "Preview updates for this cluster" to see what updates are going to be applied. We can see all three nodes need a new virus definition file for Windows Defender. Node A requires a Cumulative Update as well.

Step 12.   At our scheduled time the auto updates kicks off.

Step 13.   One hour later there was a failover happening and node A was rebooted.

Step 14.   Finally all three nodes are updated successfully. 

Step 15.   You can click "Generate report on past Updating Runs" to display a report with updating details.