DDPC: Single-Node Cluster Upgrade Force-Kills VMs When VM Shutdown Process Skips Running VMs

Summary: Dell Distributed Private Cloud (DDPC) single-node cluster upgrades can force-kill running VMs when VM Shutdown procedure skips cluster VMs because maintenance mode is not enabled. Manually request maintenance mode before the upgrade to migrate VMs. ...

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Symptoms

  • During a single-node upgrade of a DDPC cluster, the node reboots while cluster VMs are still running.
  • VMs are force-killed instead of being gracefully shut down or live-migrated.
  • VM shutdown process reports SUCCESS and VMs shutdown logs an empty local-domain list.
  • Windows VMs may show data corruption, an NTFS dirty flag, or require chkdsk on next boot.

Cause

The single-node upgrade flow for a cluster member does not enable maintenance mode on the endpoint. Because the upgrade request is sent with endpointType="nativeedge" rather than endpointType="cluster", the ECE-agent handler does not build and apply the cluster maintenance configuration. Cluster VMs are therefore not migrated out before the reboot, and the shutdown logic only attempts to shut down non-cluster local VMs. The operation reports SUCCESS, and the reboot force-kills the running VMs.

 

Caution: Force-killing running VMs, especially Windows VMs, can cause file-system corruption, an NTFS dirty flag, or extended chkdsk runs on the next boot.

 

Resolution

A permanent code fix will be in the next available DDPC release. Engineering is evaluating a design change for the single-node cluster upgrade path.

 

Workaround: Before initiating a single-node upgrade, manually request maintenance mode for the endpoint. Maintenance mode triggers VM migration away from the node, preventing the force-kill condition.

 

If maintenance mode is not available for the target release, consider these alternatives:

  • Use the full cluster upgrade path instead of the single-node upgrade path, if supported for the deployment.
  • Manually migrate or gracefully shut down the cluster VMs before starting the upgrade.
  • Schedule the upgrade during a maintenance window and back up critical VM data first.

Affected Products

Dell Distributed Private Cloud, Dell Distributed Private Cloud
Article Properties
Article Number: 000502407
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 03 سبتمبر 2026
Version:  1
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