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Expand NetApp HCI compute resources

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After you finish NetApp HCI deployment, you can expand and configure NetApp HCI compute resources by using NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control.

What you'll need

  • Ensure that the vSphere instance of NetApp HCI is using vSphere Enterprise Plus licensing if you are expanding a deployment with Virtual Distributed Switches.

  • Ensure that none of the vCenter or vSphere instances in use with NetApp HCI have expired licenses.

  • Ensure that you have free and unused IPv4 addresses on the same network segment as existing nodes (each new node must be installed on the same network as existing nodes of its type).

  • Ensure that you have the vCenter administrator account credentials ready.

  • Ensure that you have performed the following actions with each new node:

    • Installed the new node in the NetApp HCI chassis by following the installation instructions.

    • Cabled and powered on the new node

  • Ensure that each new node uses the same network topology and cabling as the existing storage or compute clusters.

Steps

  1. Open the IP address of the management node in a web browser. For example:

    https://<ManagementNodeIP>

  2. Log in to NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control by providing the NetApp HCI storage cluster administrator credentials.

  3. Select Expand at the top right corner of the interface.

    The browser opens the NetApp Deployment Engine.

  4. Log in to the NetApp Deployment Engine by providing the local NetApp HCI storage cluster administrator credentials.

    Note You cannot log in using Lightweight Directory Access Protocol credentials.

  5. On the Welcome page, select Yes and select Continue.

  6. On the End User License page, read the VMware End User License Agreement and select I accept to accept the terms and select Continue.

  7. On the vCenter page, complete the following steps:

    1. Enter a FQDN or IP address and administrator credentials for the vCenter instance associated with your NetApp HCI installation.

    2. Select Continue.

    3. Select a vSphere datacenter where you want to add the compute nodes, or select Create New Datacenter to add the compute nodes to a new datacenter.

      Note If you select Create New Datacenter, the Cluster field is automatically populated.

    4. If you selected an existing datacenter, select a vSphere cluster with which the new compute nodes should be associated.

      Note If NetApp HCI cannot recognize the network settings of the cluster you have selected for expansion, ensure that the vmkernel and vmnic mapping for the management, storage and vMotion networks are set to the deployment defaults. See supported networking changes for more information.

    5. Select Continue.

  8. On the ESXi Credentials page, enter an ESXi root password for the compute node or nodes you are adding.

    You should use the same password that was created during the initial NetApp HCI deployment.

  9. Select Continue.

  10. If you created a new vSphere datacenter cluster, on the Network Topology page, select a network topology to match the new compute nodes you are adding.

    Note You an select the two-cable option only if your compute nodes are using the two-cable topology and the existing NetApp HCI deployment is configured with VLAN IDs.

  11. On the Available Inventory page, select the nodes you want to add to the existing NetApp HCI installation.

    Important For some compute nodes, you might need to enable EV at the highest level that your vCenter version supports before you can add them to your installation. You need to use the vSphere client to enable EVC for these compute nodes. After you enable it, refresh the Inventory page and try adding the compute nodes again.

  12. Select Continue.

  13. Optional: If you created a new vSphere datacenter cluster, on the Network Settings page, import network information from an existing NetApp HCI deployment by selecting the Copy Setting from an Existing Cluster checkbox.

    This populates the default gateway and subnet information for each network.

  14. On the Network Settings page, some of the network information has been detected from the initial deployment. Each new compute node is listed by serial number, and you need to assign new network information to it. For each new compute node, complete the following steps:

    1. Hostname: If NetApp HCI detected a naming prefix, copy it from the Detected Naming Prefix field, and insert it as the prefix for the new hostname.

    2. Management IP Address: Enter a management IP address for the new compute node that is within the management network subnet.

    3. vMotion IP Address: Enter a vMotion IP address for the new compute node that is within the vMotion network subnet.

    4. iSCSI A - IP Address: Enter an IP address for the first iSCSI port of the compute node that is in the iSCSI network subnet.

    5. iSCSI B - IP Address: Enter an IP address for the second iSCSI port of the compute node that is in the iSCSI network subnet

    6. Select Continue.

  15. On the Review page in the Network Settings section, new nodes are shown in the bold text. To make changes in any section, do the following:

    1. Select Edit for that section.

    2. After you finish, select Continue on any subsequent pages to return to the Review page.

  16. Optional: If you do not want to send cluster statistics and support information to NetApp hosted SolidFire Active IQ servers, clear the final checkbox.

    This disables real-time health and diagnostic monitoring for NetApp HCI. Disabling this feature removes the ability for NetApp to proactively support and monitor NetApp HCI to detect and resolve issues before production is impacted.

  17. Select Add Nodes.

    You can monitor the progress while NetApp HCI adds and configures the resources.

  18. Optional: Verify that any new compute nodes are visible in the VMware vSphere Web Client.

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