Cluster management

A cluster is managed using a command-line session or the SAN Volume Controller console over an Ethernet connection.

Each SAN Volume Controller node has two Ethernet ports that can be used for management. Ethernet port 1 must be configured and connected on the configuration node. Ethernet port 1 must be connected on all cluster nodes. The use of Ethernet port 2 is optional. At any point in time, only one node in the cluster can operate as the focal point for configuration and monitoring requests. This node is called the configuration node. It is the only node that activates the cluster IP addresses. You can use one or more of these addresses to access the cluster through the SAN Volume Controller graphical user interface or the command-line interface (CLI).

At any point in time, only one node in the cluster is assigned the role of configuration node. The configuration node is the only node that has active cluster IP addresses, and is the only node that receives cluster management requests.

You can assign IPv4 addresses, IPv6 addresses, or both to a cluster. When a node has been added to a cluster, you can display the cluster IP addresses on the front panel by selecting Cluster from the menu.

Each SAN Volume Controller cluster has one or two cluster IP addresses, as well as Small Computer System Interface over Internet Protocol (iSCSI IP) addresses.

Note: Cluster IP addresses that are assigned to a cluster are different from iSCSI IP addresses and are used for different purposes. If iSCSI is used, iSCSI addresses are assigned to node ports. On the configuration node, a port has multiple IP addresses active at the same time.