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Pre-stage the cluster name object for a database availability group in Exchange Server

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In environments where computer account creation is restricted, or where computer accounts are created in a container other than the default computers container, you can pre-stage the cluster name object (CNO) and then provision the CNO by assigning permissions to it.

Pre-staging the CNO is also required for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 DAG members due to permissions changes in Windows for computer objects. When deploying a database availability group (DAG) using Mailbox servers that are running Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2, you must pre-stage and provision the CNO, unless you're deploying a DAG without a cluster administrative access point. DAGs without cluster administrative access points don't use CNOs; therefore pre-staging isn't required for those DAGs.

You create and disable a computer account for the CNO, and then either:

  • Assign full control of the computer account to the computer account of the first Mailbox server you're adding to the DAG.

    -Or-

  • Assign full control of the computer account to the Exchange Trusted Subsystem universal security group (USG).

What do you need to know before you begin?

  • Estimated time to complete: 1 minute

  • You must use an account that has permissions to create computer objects in Active Directory.

  • After completing the following steps, allow time for Active Directory replication to occur. After the object is replicated, you can add the first member to the DAG.

Tip

Having problems? Ask for help in the Exchange forums. Visit the forums at: Exchange Server, Exchange Online, or Exchange Online Protection.

Pre-stage the CNO

  1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. Expand the forest node.

  3. Right-click the organizational unit (OU) in which you want to create the new account, select New, and then select Computer.

  4. In New Object - Computer, type the computer account name for the CNO in the Computer name box. This is the name that you'll use for the DAG. Click OK to create the account.

  5. Right-click the new computer account, and then click Disable Account. Click Yes to confirm the disable action, and then click OK.

Assign permissions to the CNO

  1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. If Advanced Features aren't enabled, turn them on by clicking View, and then clicking Advanced Features.

  3. Right-click the new computer account, and then click Properties.

  4. In <Computer Name> Properties, on the Security tab, click Add to add either the computer account for the first node to be added to the DAG or to add the Exchange Trusted Subsystem USG:

    • To add the Exchange Trusted Subsystem, type Exchange Trusted Subsystem in the Enter the object names to select field. Click OK to add the USG. Select the Exchange Trusted Subsystem USG and in the Permissions for Exchange Trusted Subsystem field, select Full Control in the Allow column. Click OK to save the permission settings.

    • To add the computer account for the first node to be added to the DAG, click Object Types. In the Object Types dialog box, clear the Built-in security principals, Groups, and Users check boxes. Select the Computers check box and click OK. In the Enter the object names to select field, type the name of the first Mailbox server to be added to the DAG, and then click OK. Select the first node's computer account, and in the Permissions for <NodeName> field, select Full Control in the Allow column. Click OK to save the permission settings.

How do you know this worked?

To verify that you successfully created the CNO, do the following:

  1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. Expand the forest node.

  3. Open the OU in which you created the account, and then verify that the account is listed.