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Cluster : Configuration > Peers : Managing cluster peers : Creating cluster peer relationships in Data ONTAP 8.2
Creating cluster peer relationships in Data ONTAP 8.2
You can create a cluster peer relationship to connect clusters so that the clusters in the relationship can communicate with each other. You can use the Create Cluster Peering window to configure intercluster LIFs for one or both of the clusters if the intercluster LIFs are not already configured.
Before you begin 
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The source and destination clusters must be running Data ONTAP 8.2.
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The source and the destination clusters must be added to System Manager.
If you added the destination cluster after you opened the source cluster management window, you must close the management window and log in to the source cluster again to view the destination cluster.
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The time on the clusters that you want to connect using an intercluster network must be synchronized within 300 seconds (5 minutes).
Cluster peers can be in different time zones.
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The selected local cluster or remote cluster must not be already in a peer relationship with more than seven clusters.
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Ports with intercluster role must be created if you want to use intercluster ports for hosting the intercluster LIFs.
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Data or intercluster ports must be assigned to a node.
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Data or intercluster ports must be in a healthy state to create intercluster LIFs.
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Each intercluster LIF must have an IP address that is dedicated for intercluster replication.
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The correct maximum transmission unit (MTU) value must be used on the network ports that are used for replication.
The network administrator can identify which MTU value to use in the environment. The MTU value should be set to a value that is supported by the network end point to which it is connected. The default value of 1500 is correct for most environments.
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All paths on a node that are used for intercluster networking must have equal performance characteristics, such as MTU and speed.
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The intercluster network must be configured to provide connectivity among all the intercluster LIFs on all the nodes in the cluster peers.
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Each intercluster LIF on all the nodes in a cluster must be able to connect to every intercluster LIF on every node in the peer cluster.
Steps 
1.
From the home page, double-click the appropriate storage system.
2.
Expand the Cluster hierarchy in the left navigation pane.
3.
Click Configuration > Peers.
4.
Click Create.
5.
In the Create Cluster Peering window, specify the details for the local cluster.
6.
Click View Details to view detailed information about the intercluster LIFs for all the nodes in the cluster.
You can view detailed information only if the LIFs are already present.
7.
In the right pane, select a remote cluster that you want to create a peer relationship with and specify the details for the remote cluster.
The list displays remote clusters that are not already peered with the local clusters.
Note: If System Manager is unable to retrieve the credentials of the selected cluster, use the Authenticate link to enter and save the credentials.
8.
Click Customize to modify the interface name, IP address, network mask, gateway, and port details for the other nodes, and then click Update.
9.
Click Create.

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