Starting with ONTAP 9.6, MetroCluster IP configurations with supported Cisco switches can share existing networks for ISLs, rather than using dedicated MetroCluster ISLs. Earlier ONTAP versions require dedicated ISLs.
MetroCluster IP switches are dedicated to the MetroCluster configuration and cannot be shared. Therefore, a set of MetroCluster IP switches can only connect one MetroCluster configuration. Only the MetroCluster ISL ports on the MetroCluster IP switches can connect to the shared switches.