What is a cluster connection and how do I select an appropriate network interface for it?
Applicable Products
- QuTS hero h5.3.0 or later
- High Availability Manager 1.0 or later
Concept
A cluster connection is a management and service interface used by two NAS devices that form a high-availability (HA) cluster. It is a virtual interface that provides users with a unified access point (IP address or hostname) to connect to services on the cluster. In the event of a failure, when the roles of the nodes switch, the cluster connection automatically switches to the new active node, allowing users to continue accessing cluster services without any network configuration changes.
When creating an HA cluster, the network interface you select for the cluster connection will become the primary cluster interface. You can set up secondary cluster interfaces after the cluster is created by going to the "Settings" page in High Availability Manager.
Recommendation
When setting up the cluster connection during cluster creation, please note the following requirements and considerations:
- Use the same network interface on both NAS devices
- You must use the same network interface on both NAS devices.
For example, if you are using Adapter 1 on the active node device for the cluster connection, you must also use Adapter 1 on the passive node device for the cluster connection. - The network interfaces for the cluster connection cannot have vSwitch adapter bindings.
- You must use the same network interface on both NAS devices.
- Assign static IP addresses in the same subnet
- You must assign static IP addresses to the same network interface on both node devices.
- Ensure the two static IP addresses between the two node devices are in the same subnet.
- Connect both NAS devices to the same network switch
- The cluster connection should go through the same network switch. This ensures the stability and scalability of the cluster network while supporting multiple devices accessing the cluster services simultaneously.
- Ensure network speed and quality
- The speed and latency of the cluster connection directly impact the client access experience. It is crucial to ensure that the selected network cables and devices offer optimal performance, avoiding poor network quality or excessive latency that could affect the stability of the cluster services.
