Networking a Qumulo Cluster with a Unified Networking Configuration

This section explains how to network a cluster with platforms that use a unified networking configuration.

Tip
To identify the eth port, run the following command:

for i in /sys/class/net/eth*; \
  do echo $i; \
  cat $i/device/uevent | \
  grep -i pci_slot; \
  done

Prerequisites

Note
Before you create your Qumulo cluster, if your client environment requires Jumbo Frames (9,000 MTU), configure your switch to support a higher MTU.

Your node requires the following resources.

A network switch with the following specifications:
- Ethernet
- Fully non-blocking architecture
- IPv6 capability
Compatible networking cables
A sufficient number of ports for connecting all nodes to the same switch fabric
One static IP for each node, for each defined VLAN

Recommended Configuration

This platform uses a unified networking configuration in which the same NIC handles back-end and front-end traffic. In this configuration, each networking port provides communication with clients and between nodes. You can connect the NIC’s ports to the same switch or to different switches. However, for greater reliability, we recommend connecting both ports on every node to each switch.

We recommend the following configuration for your node.

Your Qumulo MTU configured to match your client environment
Two physical connections for each node, one connection for each redundant switch
One Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) port-channel for each network on each node, with the following configuration
- Active mode
- Slow transmit rate
- Access port or trunk port with a native VLAN
DNS servers
A Network Time Protocol (NTP) server
Firewall protocols or ports allowed for proactive monitoring
Where N is the number of nodes, N-1 floating IP addresses for each node, for each client-facing VLAN

Connecting to Redundant Switches

For redundancy, we recommend connecting your cluster to dual switches. If either switch becomes inoperative, the cluster is still be accessible from the remaining switch.

Connect the two NIC ports on your nodes to separate switches.
The uplinks to the client network must equal the bandwidth from the cluster to the switch.
The two ports form an LACP port channel by using a multi-chassis link aggregation group.
Use an appropriate inter-switch link or virtual port channel.

Connecting to a Single Switch

You can connect a your cluster to a single switch. If this switch becomes inoperative, the entire cluster becomes inaccessible.

Connect the two NIC ports on your nodes to a single switch.
The uplinks to the client network must equal the bandwidth from the cluster to the switch.
The two ports form an LACP port channel.

Four-Node Cluster Architecture Diagram

The following is the recommended configuration for a four-node cluster connected to an out-of-band management switch and redundant switches.