Pacemaker fencing not working after update: "error: Unknown fence agent: fence_azure_arm"
This document (000022058) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability 15 SP4
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability 15 SP5
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability 15 SP6
Situation
A previously working cluster, after updating packages, started to show errors in the logs such as:
2025-06-22T04:03:44.770841+00:00 node02 pacemaker-controld[10642]: error: Unknown fence agent: fence_azure_arm
2025-06-22T04:03:44.770895+00:00 node02 pacemaker-controld[10642]: error: Can't get fence agent 'fence_azure_arm' meta-data: No such agent
2025-06-22T04:03:44.770938+00:00 node02 pacemaker-controld[10642]: warning: Failed to get metadata for rsc_st_azure (stonith:(null):fence_azure_arm): No such device
...
2025-06-22T04:00:08.303816+00:00 node02 pacemaker-fenced[10636]: error: Unknown fence agent: fence_azure_arm
2025-06-22T04:00:08.303910+00:00 node02 pacemaker-fenced[10636]: error: Can't get fence agent 'fence_azure_arm' meta-data: No such agent
2025-06-22T04:00:08.303956+00:00 node02 pacemaker-fenced[10636]: error: Could not retrieve metadata for fencing agent fence_azure_arm
In addition, when a cluster node fencing operation was required, the logs contained messages such as:
2025-09-19T12:50:07.053149+00:00 node02 pacemaker-fenced[5455]: notice: Remapping 'reboot' action targeting node01 using rsc_st_azure to 'off' because agent 'fence_azure_arm' does not support reboot
2025-09-19T12:50:07.053243+00:00 node02 pacemaker-fenced[5455]: warning: Cannot execute '/usr/sbin/fence_azure_arm': No such file or directory
2025-09-19T12:50:07.063607+00:00 node02 pacemaker-execd[5456]: error: Unknown fence agent: fence_azure_arm
As a result, fencing operations did not work.
Resolution
Enable the Public Cloud Module (if not already enabled, as it provides the required Azure specific Python 3.11 dependencies), and install the fence-agents-azure-arm package.
Cause
The updated fence-agents package no longer includes the Azure fence agent binary (/usr/sbin/fence_azure_arm). The package was split, and a new package, fence-agents-azure-arm, was introduced specifically for the Azure fence agent. This package requires Azure specific Python 3.11 packages, so the Public Cloud Module must be enabled.
For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 and later, the fence-agents-azure-arm package is available in the SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension, the same location as the fence-agents package.
Disclaimer
This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
- Document ID:000022058
- Creation Date: 23-Sep-2025
- Modified Date:25-Sep-2025
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications
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