Adding a Node to a Single-Node System

This topic describes how to add a second node to a system to create a redundant system. It supplements information in the adding a node guide for your system. (If you need to initially deploy a system, see Deployment.)

To add a node

1. Confirm that the first node is running and healthy with a flashing SYS LED. On a PC or laptop with network connectivity to the first node, connect to the ztC Edge Console and confirm that the Dashboard page displays green check marks with no outstanding issues. Resolve any issues before adding the second node.

   Note: Consider delaying the following steps until a planned maintenance period, because VM performance slows until the nodes complete synchronization in step 6.

2. Connect the P1 port of the second node to your existing LAN, and connect the blue and yellow network cables from the first node to the second node (A2 and A1 ports). Connect the power cable to the second node and verify that the node powers on. For additional information on the network configuration, see Connecting Ethernet Cables.

3. In the ztC Edge Console connected to the first node, open Preferences, click Availability, and click the + (plus sign) to add a second node. Complete the add node wizard to pair the nodes and make the system redundant. In summary:

   1. On the Preparation tab, click Continue to search for the second node that you connected.
   2. On the Discovery tab, when the wizard displays information about the newly discovered second node:
      • If the node is a compatible match for pairing, click Continue to begin the pairing process.
      • If the node is not a compatible match for pairing, click Cancel, correct any issues reported by the wizard, and restart the wizard.
      Note: Before pairing the nodes, you must accept the new support terms described on the Confirming pairing and support levels pop up. Click Continue to accept the terms and begin pairing.
   3. On the Pairing tab, wait for the system to complete the pairing process.
   4. On the Finish page, confirm that the nodes were successfully paired in a redundant configuration.

4. Pairing may take up to 30 minutes to complete, after which the SYS LED on the second node flashes to indicate healthy status, and the add node wizard confirms successful pairing with green check marks on each tab. Click Close to close the wizard and display the Availability page, which now indicates that the Redundant Configuration is Enabled and displays the redundant configuration.

5. In the ztC Edge Console, on the Preferences page, click IP Configuration to verify the network settings. If needed, enter a static IP address for the second node (node1) and click Save.

6. Any existing VMs may synchronize for hours. When the system is synchronized and healthy, the Dashboard page displays green check marks with no outstanding issues. For systems that support fault-tolerant (FT) operation, after synchronization completes, consider updating the Protection Level (HA/FT) setting for each VM as described in Changing the Protection Level for a Virtual Machine (HA or FT).

7. If you have not already done so, register the system to obtain a permanent product license as described in Registering the System and Acquiring a Permanent License.

   If the system is already registered and has Internet access, it automatically updates the product license with the serial number of the second node. If the system has no Internet access, or displays an alert to perform a license check, update the license as described in Managing the Product License.

   Note: You will be unable to perform system software upgrades until the product license is updated.