Stage 5: Configuring network interfaces

When this stage is necessary

If you configured your interfaces using setup when you first applied power to your storage systems, you do not need to configure them again. If you want to configure your interfaces for automatic takeover, complete the steps in Configuring dedicated and standby interfaces. Otherwise, you can proceed to Stage 6: Checking and testing cluster configuration.

Note
For information about configuring a cluster to use FCP, see "How Data ONTAP supports FCP with clustered systems" in the Block Access Management Guide.

What the networking interfaces do

When a node in a cluster fails, the surviving node must be able to assume the identity of the failed node on the network. Networking interfaces allow individual nodes in the cluster to maintain communication with the network if the partner fails. See the Data ONTAP Network Management Guide for a description of available options and the function each performs.

Note
Be sure you read and understand the material in Configuring network interfaces for clusters before configuring your cluster's network interfaces.

You should always use multiple NICs with VIFS to improve networking availability for both single storage systems and clustered storage systems.

Network connection requirements

Both nodes in the cluster must have interfaces that access the same collection of networks and subnetworks.

Information needed for configuration

You must gather the following information before configuring the interfaces:

The IP address for both the local node and partner node
The netmask for both the local node and partner node

Configuring networking for the cluster

To configure the networking interfaces on a cluster, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Determine whether to use shared interfaces or dedicated and standby interfaces. For more information, see Configuring network interfaces for clusters.
2	Configure your interfaces on one node using the procedures outlined in Configuring shared interfaces or Configuring dedicated and standby interfaces.
3	Repeat Step 2 on the other node.
4	If you want to configure automatic takeover for any of your interfaces or VIFs, complete the steps outlined in Configuring dedicated and standby interfaces.