The various MetroCluster configurations have key differences in the required components.
In all configurations, each of the two MetroCluster sites is configured as an ONTAP cluster. In a two-node MetroCluster configuration, each node is configured as a single-node cluster.
| Feature | IP configurations | Fabric-attached configurations | Stretch configurations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four- or eight-node | Two-node | Two-node bridge-attached | Two-node direct-attached | ||
| Number of controllers | Four | Four or eight | Two | Two | Two |
| Uses an FC switch storage fabric | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Uses an IP switch storage fabric | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Uses FC-to-SAS bridges | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Uses direct-attached SAS storage | Yes (local attached only) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Supports ADP | Yes (starting in ONTAP 9.4) | No | No | No | No |
| Supports local HA | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Supports automatic switchover | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports unmirrored aggregates | Yes (starting in ONTAP 9.8) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports array LUNs | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |