Adding a node to an active VCS cluster
Whilst on a customer site in Scotland earlier this month, I was asked by the end-user to add a new node to an existing VCS; Primarily they were going through a hardware upgrade so they wanted the resilience of a third node.
In this article we will add a third node (vcsdevnod03) to the existing 2 node cluster.
Installing VCS software
Install the VCS cluster software on the new node (vcsdevnod03) from the software media.
NOTE: When asked to configure it, select 'No'.
Configuring the new node
- On the third node, change directory to the software media, and start the VCS installation/configuration process with the -addnode option. For example:
# cd /cdrom/VRTSvcs
# ./installsf -addnode - When prompted, enter the name of an existing cluster node:
Enter a node of SF cluster to which you want to add a node: vcsdevnod01
- At this point the install process will probe the existing node
Checking communication on vcsdevnod01 .................. Done
Checking release compatibility on vcsdevnod01 .......... Done - The install process will provide the clustomer name and the names of the oher members of the cluster, if this is correct simply reply 'y' when prompted:
Following cluster information detected: Cluster Name: vcsdev
Cluster ID: 3
Systems: vcsdevnod01 vcsdevnod02
Is this information correct? [y,n,q] (y)? y - The install process will now perform the necessary communication checks and run states for all cluster nodes:
Checking communication on vcsdevnod03 ................. Done
Checking VCS running state on vcsdevnod01 ............. Done
Checking VCS running state on vcsdevnod02 ............. Done
Checking VCS running state on vcsdevnod03 ............. Done - You now be prompted to enter the name of the new node into the cluster:
Enter the system names separated by spaces to add to the cluster:? vcsdevnod03
- Once additional checks are completed, you will be prompted to confirm that this new node is to be a member of the VCS cluster:
Checking communication on vcsdevnod03.................. Done
Checking release compatibility on vcsdevnod03.......... Done
Do you want to add the system(s) vcsdevnod03 to the cluster vcsdev? [y,n,q] (y)? y - The install process will now discover the network interfaces available for usage, enter the appropriate entries for your NICs:
Discovering NICs on vcsdevnod03 ... Discovered nxge0 nxge1 nxge2 nxge3
To use aggregated interfaces for private heartbeat, enter the name of an aggregated interface.
To use a NIC for private heartbeat, enter a NIC which is not part of an aggregated interface.
Enter the NIC for the first private heartbeat link on vcsdevnod03: [b,q,?]? nxge2
Would you like to configure a second private heartbeat link? [y,n,q,b,?] (y)? y
Enter the NIC for the second private heartbeat link on vcsdevnod03: [b,q,?]? nxge3
Would you like to configure a third private heartbeat link? [y,n,q,b,?] (n)? n
Do you want to configure an additional low priority heartbeat link? [y,n,q,b,?] (n)? n
Checking Media Speed for nxge2 on vcsdevnod03 ......... 1000
Checking Media Speed for nxge3 on vcsdevnod03 ......... 1000 - Confirm the NICs to be used:
Private Heartbeat NICs for vcsdevnod03:
link1=nxge2
link2=nxge3
Is this information correct? [y,n,q] (y)? y - In the case where you have configured a virtual cluster IP
Cluster Virtual IP is configured on the cluster vcsdev
A public NIC device is required by following services on each of the newly added nodes:
Cluster Virtual IP
Active NIC devices discovered on vcsdevnod03: nxge0 nxge1
Enter the NIC for the VCS to use on vcsdevnod03: (nxge0)
nxge0
Verify configuration
Confirm the configuration by running the following commands on vcsdevnod03:
# lltstat -nvv
# cat /etc/llttab
# cat /etc/llthosts
# gabconfig -a
# cat /etc/gabtab
# vxfenadm -d
# cat /etc/vxfenmode
# cat /etc/VRTSvcs/conf/config/main.cf
NOTE: ClusterServices Sg should have vcsdevnod03)
Final process
If all of the above settings are right then dump the VCS configuration in memory to main.cf
# haconf -makerw