SQL 2008 resource fails to start on one or more cluster nodes, reporting error: Could not open error log file "Operating system error = 3"

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Article ID: 100023726

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Description

Error Message

Event ID 17058
Could not open error log file "Operating system error = 3" (The system cannot find the path specified)

Cause

The SQL Server 2008 Configuration Wizard was not run from the first node that SQL was installed on. 

Per the "Veritas Storage Foundation™ and High Availability Solutions HA and Disaster Recovery Solutions Guide for Microsoft SQL 2008 and 2008 R2" guide, this is a requirement

Since the proper steps were not followed, the following registry keys were not updated:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg0
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg1
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg2

Resolution

1. Export the following keys from a working cluster node:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg0
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg1
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQLServer\\MSSQLServer\Parameters\SQLArg2

2. Import the exported keys on the failing node(s).

3. Once complete, attempt to bring the SQL group online on the problem node(s) and confirm success

Issue/Introduction

After using the SQL Server 2008 Configuration Wizard to create the Service Group, SQL  fails to start on one node.