Requirements for using clusters and IPspaces

IPspace naming requirement

The names of IPspaces to which the partner interfaces are assigned must be the same on both storage systems.

For example, in a cluster pair of StorageSystem A and StorageSystem B, if IPspaceA is created on StorageSystem A, an IPspaceA must also exist on StorageSystem B.

IPspace assignment requirement

The partner interfaces on both partners must be assigned to the same-name IPspaces on their respective storage systems.

For example, in a cluster pair of StorageSystem A and StorageSystem B, interface e4 of StorageSystem B is the takeover interface of interface e0 of StorageSystem A, and vice versa. If interface e0 belongs to IPspaceA on StorageSystem A, interface e4 must belong to IPspaceA on StorageSystem B.

Specifying partners in an asymmetric cluster setup

In an asymmetric cluster setup, vFiler unit-IPspace configuration on one cluster partner is different from the other; for example, each partner might have a different number of vFiler units configured in a specific IPspace, or one partner might have no vFiler units.

A "standby" cluster configuration is an example of an asymmetric cluster setup in which one of the hosts is connected to minimal storage of its own. This host takes over its partner's storage and vFiler units if the partner fails. In such a configuration, the standby host might not have enough storage to support the number of vFiler units that the primary host has. To specify the partner interface when setting up such a cluster configuration, you can use the interface name of the partner instead of the IP address.

For example, two storage systems, StorageSystem1 and StorageSystem2, are configured as shown in the following table.

Storage System	vFiler unit (associated IP address)	IPspace	Interface name
Storage System1	vFiler0 (1.1.1.1)	default	e0
	vFiler1 (2.1.1.1)	ips1	e1
	vFiler2 (3.1.1.1)	ips2	e2
Storage System2	vFiler0 (1.1.1.2)	default	e0
			e4a
			e4b

To specify partner interfaces on Storage System1, complete the following step.

Step	Action
1	Create a host-partner relationship in the following way: ifconfig e0 1.1.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 partner e0 ifconfig e1 2.1.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 partner e4a ifconfig e2 3.1.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 partner e4b

To specify partner interfaces on Storage System2, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Create two IPspaces: ips1 and ips2.
2	Assign interface e4a to ips1 and interface e4b to ips2.
3	Create a host-partner relationship on Storage System2 in the following way: ifconfig e0 1.1.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 partner e0 ifconfig e4a partner e1 ifconfig e4b partner e2

Step

Action

Create two IPspaces: ips1 and ips2.

Assign interface e4a to ips1 and interface e4b to ips2.

Create a host-partner relationship on Storage System2 in the following way:

ifconfig e0 1.1.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 partner e0

ifconfig e4a partner e1

ifconfig e4b partner e2