You must follow certain requirements and restrictions when setting up a new standard HA pair. These requirements help provide the data availability benefits of the HA pair design.
The following list specifies the requirements and restrictions you should be aware of when setting up a new standard HA pair:
- Architecture compatibility
Both nodes must have the same system model and be running the same ONTAP software and system firmware versions. The ONTAP release notes list the supported storage systems.
ONTAP 9 Release Notes
NetApp Hardware Universe
- Nonvolatile memory (NVRAM or NVMEM) size and version compatibility
The size and version of the system's nonvolatile memory must be identical on both nodes in an HA pair.
- Storage capacity
- The number of disks or array LUNs must not exceed the maximum configuration capacity.
- The total storage attached to each node must not exceed the capacity for a single node.
- If your system uses native disks and array LUNs, the combined total of disks and array LUNs cannot exceed the maximum configuration capacity.
- The total storage attached to each node must not exceed the capacity for a single node.
- To determine the maximum capacity for a system using disks, array LUNs, or both, see the Hardware Universe at hwu.netapp.com.
Note: After a failover, the takeover node temporarily serves data from all of the storage in the HA pair.
- Disks and disk shelf compatibility
- FC, SATA, and SAS storage are supported in standard HA pairs.
- FC disks cannot be mixed on the same loop as SATA or SAS disks.
- AFF platforms support only SSD storage.
No other hard disk drives (HDDs) or LUNs are supported on these
HA pairs.
- Different connection types cannot be combined in the same stack.
- Different types of storage can be used on separate stacks on the same node.
You can also dedicate a node to one type of storage and the partner node to a different type, if needed.
NetApp Hardware Universe
Disk and aggregate management
- Multipath HA connection is required on all
HA pairs except for some FAS22xx, FAS25xx, and FAS2600 series system configurations, which use single-path HA and lack the redundant standby connections.
- Mailbox disks or array LUNs on the root volume
- Two disks are required if the root volume is on a disk shelf.
- One array LUN is required if the root volume is on a storage array.
- Interconnect adapters and cables
The HA interconnect adapters and cables must be installed unless the system has two controllers in the chassis and an internal interconnect.
- Network connectivity
Both nodes must be attached to the same network and the Network Interface Cards (NICs) or onboard Ethernet ports must be configured correctly.
- System software
The same system software, such as SyncMirror, Server Message Block (SMB) or Common Internet File System (CIFS), or Network File System (NFS), must be licensed and enabled on both nodes.
Note: If a takeover occurs, the takeover node can provide only the functionality for the licenses installed on it. If the takeover node does not have a license that was being used by the partner node to serve data, your HA pair loses functionality after a takeover.
- Systems using array LUNs
For an HA pair using array LUNs, both nodes in the pair must be able to detect the same array LUNs.
Note: Only the node that is the configured owner of a LUN has read-and-write access to that LUN. During takeover operations, the emulated storage system maintains read-and-write access to the LUN.