SQL Server failover cluster, cluster IP already in use error under cluster roles and other resources.

Question

Error: Cluster resource 'AGGROUP' of type 'IP address' in clustered role failed. The error code was '0x13c1' (the cluster IP address already in use)

Confirmed the IP address wasn't a duplicate or used by anything else. After some research I found that this is a virtual IP that is set the same as cluster IP. But I did not explicitly create a Virtual IP. Can I delete this?

Environment Details: Two node cluster in the same subnet. SQL 2017 Always on. OS windows 2019. System Manufacture VMware.
Node1 - 10.x.xx.01
Node2 - 10.x.xx.02
Cluster IP - 10.x.xx.03
Listener IP - 10.x.xx.04

Answer 1

Hi @Sue_8827 ,

The error code was '0x13c1' (the cluster IP address already in use).

After some research I found that this is a virtual IP that is set the same as cluster IP. Can I delete this?

Try not to do this. If you delete this IP address, the cluster will not find the corresponding IP address. It may be wrong in the case of static addresses. Of course, DHCP may also go wrong, it may find another duplicate address. Rather than delete operation that have a greater impact, I recommend modification operation.
You can right-click the cluster name->Properties->give it an unoccupied static IP and bring it online.

Best regards,
Seeya

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Answer 2

@Seeya Xi-MSFT

1. How does this came about? I checked all other clusters I created none of them have this.
2. Is it a virtual IP? What’s the purpose of this if cluster IP is already directing?

Answer 3

Hi @Sue_8827 ,

1. How does this came about? I checked all other clusters I created none of them have this.

I have attached screenshots, please check it out.

Is it a virtual IP? What’s the purpose of this if cluster IP is already directing?

Yes. The Windows cluster uses the virtual network name and virtual IP address as the interface to access it.

If I misunderstood what you mean, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,
Seeya

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Answer 4

Hello

Yes you can remove it, but the cluster will not be accesble anymore through that IP until you set it up again manually for the node.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/networkloadbalancingclusters/remove-nlbclustervip?view=windowsserver2019-ps#:~:text=The%20Remove%2DNlbClusterVIP%20cmdlet%20removes,configuration%20on%20all%20cluster%20nodes.

Best regards,