It’s remarkably simply to add nodes to a SolidFire
Cluster. So easy that these two videos covering “Expanding a SolidFire Cluster”,
cumulatively don’t amount to even 4 minutes viewing time.
Scale on Your Terms: Expanding a SolidFire Cluster
(1:09)
How to Install and Scale Your NetApp SolidFire
Cluster (2:44)
Quick Walkthrough
0) Before you begin:
- The node you are adding has been set up, powered on,
and configured (via the TUI - LACP recommended for the Storage Network)
- Both the major and minor version numbers of the
software on each node in a cluster must match for the software to be
compatible. For example: Element 9.0 is not compatible with version 9.1.
Note: If the node you are adding has a different major
or minor version of NetApp Element software than the version running on the
cluster, the cluster asynchronously updates the node to the version of NetApp
Element software running on the cluster master. After the node is updated, it
automatically adds itself to the cluster. During this asynchronous process, the
node will be in a pendingActive state.
Note: SolidFire version here is 11.0.0.781.
1) Log in to the SolidFire WebUI via the Management
Virtual IP address:
https://sf-mvip.yourdomain.com
2) Go to Cluster > Nodes > Pending
Find your pending node(s) > click on the cog >
click Add
Image: SolidFire WebUI: Cluster > Nodes >
Pending > Add Node
3) “While you wait... When adding a pending node to
your cluster, SolidFire auto-installs the cluster version of Element OS onto
the pending node. This may take a few minutes; when it has completed the
node will show up in the active nodes list. Until then, the node will be in the
PendingActive list.”
Click Sounds Good
Image: Waiting for node(s) to be added to SolidFire cluster
Wait for the node to go from “PendingActive” to “Pending”.
Go to Cluster > Nodes > Active
One the new node is listed under Active nodes, we’re good
to proceed with adding drives.
4) Go to Cluster > Drives > Available
Select the checkbox at the top of the list to
select all available drives.
Select Bulk Actions > Add
Image: Adding Drives to SolidFire cluster
5) Once the ‘Synching to x Block Services’ is complete -
in the ‘Running Tasks’ field view (top right corner icon / Reporting >
Running Tasks) - job done!
APPENDIX: Further Reading
What is the SolidFire Best Practices on adding or
removing drives from a cluster?
For Adding Drives:
- All Block drives should be added and block syncing
complete before adding Slice drives.
-- Element Software 10.x and beyond, it is recommended
to add all block drives at once.
--- This should be done for no more than 3 nodes at
once.
For Removing Drives:
- The Slice drive should be removed and slice syncing
complete before removing the block drives.
-- All Block drives from a single node should be
removed at one time. All block syncing
should be complete before moving on to the next node.
Login to the article at KB.NetApp.com to see more.
APPENDIX: System Tests
on https://NODE_MGMT_IP:442
For Active or Pending nodes. If you connect to https://NODE_MGMT_IP:442 there are a-number-of ‘System
Tests’ you can run:
- Run All Tests
- Test Connect Ensemble
- Test Connect Mvip
- Test Connect Svip
- Test Drives
- Test Hardware Config
- Test Locate Cluster
- Test Network Config
- Test Ping
Image: SolidFire System Tests
Also, the list of ‘System Utilities’
- Control Power
- Create Support Bundle
- Delete All Support Bundles
- Reset Drives
- Reset Network Config
- Reset Node
- Restart Network
- Restart Services
Image: SolidFire System Utilities
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