What to do if a SharePoint hotfix installation failed?

Question

Hi,

I installed the a hotfix in a SharePoint farm (two front end + one index) but one server failed to install because we accidentially install the hot fix on two servers at the same time. After the installation failed on that one particular server,  the server is acting weird. For example, when I install a wsp, it will get stuck in the deploying state, waiting for the server to response.

So, what can I do to make sure my hotfix is install properly on the farm? And is there anyhing I can backup so that I can roll back the change? 

The hotfix I installed is this one: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953749/

Thanks,
Kenny

Answer 1

Here are somethings to try to fix the issue: (and in this order)

- Run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard on the server causing the issue. Don't detach it from the farm, but just run it with your current settings.

See if it fixes the issues. If not...

- Set the NLB to go to the WFE which isn't having any issues.
- Run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard, but this time have it set to detach the server from the farm.
- After it is detached, Run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard again... attaching the server back to the farm.

That should do it.

Tell us how it goes.

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SharePoint's green status ball of doom...

Answer 2

I would first check to make sure that all of the versions are the same in the farm.  Go to Operations>Servers in Farm and check to see what the version says in the version column.  Then confirm what version you are running with this article:

http://mindsharpblogs.com/penny/articles/481.aspx

If you have servers which are not the same version all around I would try to reinstall the Hotfix on the server(s) that are not at the version they are suppose to be after the application of the hotfix.  If that fails then unfortunately you are going to have to completely pull the server from the farm and then uninstall MOSS 2007 completely.  Then reinstall and apply the appropriate hotfixes following the installation instruction carefully.  With hotfixes or SP's there is no rollback functionality so not much you can do other than what I suggested above.

HTH,

Cheers,

Jason Medero
SharePoint MVP

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Jason Medero, WSS MVP, B&R Business Solutions, www.sharepointblogs.com/jasonmedero

Answer 3

Basically it depends on when the error took place. If it took place when you were running the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard to install the hotfix on both server at the same time, most likely it is an issue with the hotfix not properly installed. The binaries are already there but not installed on the server. Even if it shows the same version, it might not be properly installed on your server.

There is no harm doing what I instructed as it wouldn't make the matter worse (My MSFT did it a few times on a server before to fix an issue). The only note perhaps is to reroute the traffic to the working WFE before doing the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard because it could shut down and restart various services.

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SharePoint's green status ball of doom...

Answer 4

Thanks for the replies.

All three sharepoint servers share the same version (12.0.0.6318).  I am going to try to re-run the configuration wizard on the not working WFE and see if that resolves the issue.

But man.. if the installation failed, i will have to reinstall MOSS...that's a lot of work... Hopefully, I don't have to go that path.

THanks,
Kenny