Sample plan: Microsoft Exchange 2007 Cluster - OS patching

This sample plan shows how you can patch Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1 on a Microsoft Windows cluster. Use this plan as a template for patching Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows clusters. This plan patches the operating systems by running Baselines from a site. Before running the plan, add the Baselines that you want to use to patch the operating systems to a custom site. When you are running the plan, you then select that site to patch the Exchange mailbox server. All sample plans are read-only. To use a sample plan, you must copy it, re-name it.

About this task

Use the Pending Restart settings in the Server Automation application to configure the restart. For this plan, set to Continue plan. With this option, the endpoints are automatically restarted by the Restart Endpoint on Pending Restart and Wait for Restart to Complete Task. To avoid two failovers of the Exchange mailbox server, target the passive node first.

For more detailed information about patching Microsoft Exchange 2007 clusters, see Patching Microsoft Exchange 2007 on Windows clusters.

Complete the following steps to run the sample Automation Plan.

Procedure

  1. Open the Server Automation domain.
  2. From the navigation tree in the Domain Panel, click Automation Plans.
  3. In the Automation Plans dashboard, enter 133 (for the plan ID) and press Enter.
  4. Select the plan from the list of Automation Plans.
  5. Click Copy to copy the Automation Plan, enter a name and then save the copy that you have just created.
  6. To run the copied Automation Plan, click Take Action. The following table shows the parameters and targets that you need to input for each step in the sample Automation Plan.
    Table 1. Plan steps and parameters and targets

    Step Description Parameters and targets
    Step 1 Move Exchange 2007 MailboxServer from Node (121) This step moves the Exchange 2007 mailbox server from the first node that you are patching. Important: It is best practice to patch the passive node first. Target the system or systems for the first set of nodes that you are patching.
    Step 2 Pause Node (Windows 2008-2012) (116) This step pauses the first node in the cluster that you want to patch. Target the system or systems for the first set of nodes that you are pausing in step 1. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 1.
    Step 3 Move Groups from Node (Windows 2008-2012) (114) This step moves groups from the node that you are pausing in step 1. Target the system or systems for the first set of nodes that you are pausing in step 1. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 1.
    Step 4 Dynamically run Baselines from a Site This step runs Baselines from a site to patch the operating system. Target the first node in the cluster. From the Parameters tab, select site that contains the Baselines that you want to run to patch the operating system. For information about how to run Baselines from a site, see ..
    Step 5 Restart Endpoint on Pending Restart and Wait for Restart to Complete (126) This step restarts the computers that you patched in step 3. Only endpoints in a Pending Restart state are restarted. Target the system or systems for the first set of nodes that you are patching. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 1.
    Step 6 Resume Node (Windows 2008-2012) (115) This step resumes the first set of computers that you are patching. Target the system or systems for the first set of nodes that you are patching. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 1.
    Step 7 Move Exchange 2007 MailboxServer from Node (121) This step moves the Exchange 2007 mail box server from the second set of nodes that you are patching. Target the system or systems for the second set of nodes that you are patching.
    Step 8 Move Groups from Node (Windows 2008-2012) (114) This step moves groups from the node that you paused in step 6. Target the system or systems for the second set of nodes that you are patching. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 6.
    Step 9 Dynamically run Baselines from a Site This step runs Baselines from a site to patch the operating system. Target the second node in the cluster. From the Parameters tab, site that contains the Baselines that you want to run to patch the operating system. For information about how to run Baselines from a site, see ..
    Step 10 Restart Endpoint on Pending Restart and Wait for Restart to Complete (126) This step restarts the computers patched in step 8. Only endpoints in a Pending Restart state are restarted. Target the system or systems for the second set of nodes that you are patching. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 6.
    Step 11 Resume Node (Windows 2008-2012) (115) This step resumes the second set of nodes patched in step 8. Target the system or systems for the second set of nodes that you are patching. You can select the Use same targets as option to quickly select the same targets you targeted for step 6.
  7. Click OK to run the Automation Plan.