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AI Data Engine

Cable your data compute nodes for AI Data Engine

Contributors netapp-dbagwell netapp-driley
PDFs

Connect your data compute nodes to the host network and cluster network switches to enable AI workload processing and integration with your AFX 1K storage system. This procedure uses connections for both host network access and cluster communication, allowing the nodes to leverage the existing cluster infrastructure without powering down the AFX system.

About this task

These procedures show common configurations. The specific cabling depends on the components ordered for your storage system.

Note You do not need to power off the AFX 1K storage system when cabling the NetApp data compute nodes. You can add the data compute nodes to an existing AFX 1K storage system that is already powered on and configured. For third-party servers, refer to the installation documentation for your server model for specific cabling instructions.
Before you begin

  • You have an existing AFX 1K storage system installed. For information on installing the AFX 1K storage system, refer to AFX 1K storage system installation documentation.

  • You have the required network switches installed and configured. Contact your network administrator for information about connecting the system to your network switches.

  • You have reviewed the cabling requirements for your third-party servers or NetApp-provided data compute nodes. For information about the cabling configuration, see cabling requirements for the data compute nodes.

Note Three NetApp-provided data compute nodes are required to deploy AI Data Engine.

Step 1: Connect the data compute nodes to the host network

For NetApp-provided data compute nodes, you can connect the data compute node ports to your host network.

Steps

  1. Connect port e4b from the following data compute nodes to Ethernet data network switch A:

    • Data Compute Node 1, port e4b

    • Data Compute Node 2, port e4b

      100GbE cables

      100 Gb Ethernet cable
      Cable to Ethernet network

  2. Connect port e5b from the following data compute nodes to Ethernet data network switch B:

    • Data Compute Node 1, port e5b

    • Data Compute Node 2, port e5b

      100GbE cables

      100 Gb Ethernet cable
      Cable to Ethernet network

Step 2: Cable the cluster connections

For NetApp-provided data compute nodes, use 4x100GbE breakout cables to connect the e4a/e5a ports for the cluster connections.

Steps

  1. Connect port e4a from the following data compute nodes to a non-ISL port on cluster network switch A:

    • Data Compute Node 1, port e4a

    • Data Compute Node 2, port e4a

      4x100GbE breakout cables

      100 Gb Ethernet cable
      Cable to Ethernet network

  2. Connect port e5a from the following data compute nodes to a non-ISL port on cluster network switch B:

    • Data Compute Node 1, port e5a

    • Data Compute Node 2, port e5a

      4x100GbE breakout cables

      100 Gb Ethernet cable
      Cable to Ethernet network
What's next?

After you've cabled the hardware, power on your data compute nodes.