Deploy HyperScale X Using Bonded VLAN Topology with Management Network

HyperScale X nodes can be deployed in environments that use tagged virtual LANs (VLANs), bonded network interfaces, and a dedicated management network.

In this topology:

Bonded interfaces are used for data protection traffic across multiple tagged VLANs.
Each VLAN is assigned its own IP address.
One VLAN must remain routable and is used for CommServe registration and data protection operations.
Additional VLANs can be configured as non-routable networks and are used exclusively for data protection traffic.
Bonded interfaces are also used for storage pool communication and replication between HyperScale X nodes.
A dedicated 1 GbE management interface is used for management communication, such as connecting to the CommServe server and accessing DNS services.
The management interface cannot be configured with bonding.

The following bonding modes are supported:

Mode 1 (Active-Backup), which provides fault tolerance through a standby interface.
Mode 4 (802.3ad), also known as Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), which provides network redundancy and load distribution.

This deployment method is recommended for environments that require network segmentation, network resiliency, and management network isolation.

Use this procedure to deploy the HyperScale X software using the Hyperscale ISO 3.2312 or higher version.

Note

During the setup process, ensure that the following passwords do not contain the special characters ', ", /, ~, or \:
- Root password
- Restricted shell user (cvbackupadmin) password
- CommServe connection password
When deployment is complete:
- Password-based root access is disabled.
- Firewall protection is enabled.
- Ransomware protection is enabled automatically.

Before You Begin

If you plan to connect to an existing CommServe server, gather the following information before you begin:
- The fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the CommServe server.
- The credentials of an administrative user.
- Confirmation that TCP ports 8400 and 443 are open between the nodes and the CommServe server.
Verify the requirements needed to set up the Bonded VLAN Topology With Management Network.

Tip

Keep the network names, VLAN IDs, and IP addresses listed in the Network Requirements section of Bonded VLAN Topology With Management Network handy before you start the configuration. This will help you accurately enter the required values during deployment.
Verify that the required VLANs have been created on the network switches and that VLAN tagging has been configured correctly.
Verify that at least one VLAN is routable and can communicate with the CommServe server.
Verify that all additional VLANs required for data protection traffic are available and accessible from all nodes.
Verify that the network switches are configured for the selected bonding mode.
- For Active-Backup deployments, verify that the required interfaces are connected and operational.
- For LACP deployments, verify that the required port-channels have been created for both the data protection and storage pool networks.
Verify that the same bonding mode will be used for both the data protection and storage pool interfaces.
Verify that the management network is routable and can communicate with the required infrastructure services, including DNS and the CommServe server.
Verify that all nodes can communicate with each other on the storage pool network.
The Managed Service Provider (MSP) administrator or the tenant administrator performing the installation must obtain the authorization code.

For instructions on activating the authorization code, see User Administration and Security.

Procedure

Log on to one of the nodes using the system console as described in Setting up a Static IP For IPMI. (Do not use PuTTy / SSH to setup the nodes.)
Launch the network configuration interface using the following command:
```
# hsxsetup
```
The Network Configuration page appears.
Configure the routable data protection VLAN interface (bonded) as follows:
1. Click Create bond.
  
  The Create bond dialog box appears.
  1. From the Interfaces list, select the 2 interfaces that will form the data protection bond. (For example, enpsf3 and enpsf5)
    
    Tip
    
    Hover the cursor over the interfaces to display the speed and MAC address of the physical interface.
  2. From Bonding mode list, select either active-backup (Mode 1) or LACP (Mode 4).
    
    Note
    
    The same bonding mode must be used for both the data protection and storage pool interfaces.
  3. Click CREATE.
  The bond1 interface appears in the Network Configuration page.
2. Click Create VLAN.
  
  The Create VLAN dialog box appears.
  1. From the Interface list, click bond1.
  2. In the VLAN ID box, enter the VLAN ID associated with the routable VLAN network and then click CREATE.
  The bond1 interface appears with the VLAN ID in the Network Configuration page. (The VLAN ID will be different, depending on the VLAN ID in your environment.)
3. From the Network Type list, select CommServe Registration.
  
  Note
  
  This network will perform the same role as the data protection network and will also be used to register the node to the CommServe server.
4. Add the IP Address and Netmask in the respective boxes.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image:
Configure additional data protection VLAN interfaces (bonded) as follows:

(Repeat this step to add all the VLANs available in your environment.)
1. Click Create VLAN.
  
  The Create VLAN dialog box appears.
  1. From the Interface list, click bond1.
  2. In the VLAN ID box, enter the VLAN ID associated with the additional data protection VLAN network.
  3. Click CREATE.
  The new bond1 interface appears with the VLAN ID in the Node and Network Configuration page.
2. From the Network Type list, select Data Protection.
3. Add the IP Address and Netmask in the respective boxes.
4. Repeat this step to configure ALL the VLANs available in your environment.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image: (The number of VLANs may vary depending on the number of VLANs available in your environment.)
Configure the storage pool interface (bonded) as follows:
1. Click Create bond.
  
  The Create bond dialog box appears.
2. From the Interfaces list, select the 2 interfaces that will form the storage pool bond. (For example, enpsf4 and enpsf6 .)
  
  Tip
  
  Hover the cursor over the interfaces to display the speed and MAC address of the physical interface.
3. From Bonding mode list, select either active-backup (Mode 1) or LACP (Mode 4).
  
  Note
  
  The same bonding mode must be used for both the data protection and storage pool interfaces.
4. Click CREATE.
  
  The bond2 interface appears in the Network Configuration page.
5. From the Network Type list, select Storage Pool. This interface will be used exclusively for communication and replication between the HyperScale nodes.
6. Add the IP Address and Netmask in the respective boxes.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image:
Configure the management interface as follows:
1. Click Configure interface.
  
  The Configure interface dialog box appears.
2. From the Interfaces list, select one of the management interfaces. (For example, enpsf1 or enpsf2.)
  
  Tip
  
  Hover the cursor over the interfaces to display the speed and MAC address of the physical interface.
3. Click CREATE.
  
  The selected interface appears in the Network Configuration page.
4. From the Network Type list, select Management. This interface will be used for all management related communication, such as connecting to the CommServe server, accessing the DNS server, etc.
5. Add the IP Address and Netmask in the respective boxes.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image:
Configure the DNS server(s) as follows:
1. In the Default Gateway box, add the IP address associated with the default gateway.
2. In the DNS Servers box, add the IP address associated with the DNS Server.
  
  Click the ADD button to add additional DNS servers. A maximum of 3 DNS servers can be added.
  
  Note
  
  Multiple DNS servers are recommended.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image: (The number of DNS servers may vary depending on the number of servers available in your environment.)
  
  Note
  
  Verify that the bonding mode is the same for both the data protection and storage pool bonds. Hover the cursor over the check box associated with the bond to view the bonding mode and other information associated with the interfaces.
3. Click CONFIGURE.
  
  The software validates the network. (This may take a few minutes to complete.)
  
  The Network Configuration Summary page appears.
Verify the network configuration and then click CONTINUE.

Verify the following information.
- All the VLANs are included.
- IP address and Netmask for the VLANs are accurate.
- IP address and Netmask for the storage pool is accurate.
- Hostname and serial number associated with the node is accurate.
  
  Note
  
  If you need to change the Hostname do so now. To change the hostname modify and correct the DNS records, (forward and reverse records) as discussed in Setting Up the DNS.
- Default gateway and DNS servers are accurately configured.
  
  Note
  
  If an error is found, or if the hostname was changed, click CHANGE CONFIGURATION to go back and correct the values.
The Node configuration dialog box appears.
Click one of the following:
- Click NO, EXIT to configure another node in the storage pool.
  
  Repeat the steps (steps 1 through 10) from another node.
- Click YES, CONTINUE if this is the last node in the storage pool.
  
  The Setup Type page appears.
Click New storage pool setup and then click NEXT.

The Select Nodes page appears.
Select the nodes as follows:
1. Click the down arrow at the top right area of the page to view a list of available nodes.
2. Click and select the nodes that must be included in the storage pool.
  
  Note
  
  You can select up to 12 nodes at a time for the initial deployment. Nodes are listed by the respective node names. If one or more nodes are missing from the list, there is likely a cabling or network configuration issue. To troubleshoot, see Troubleshooting Network Configuration Errors.
  
  If a remote node is not listed, make sure to complete the network configuration on the remote node, and then click ADD and enter the IP address of the node.
3. Click NEXT.
  
  The selected nodes will be listed in the Select Nodes page.
  
  Once completed your screen should be similar to the one shown in the following image: (The number of nodes will vary depending on the number of nodes you select.)
4. Click NEXT.
  
  The Network Configuration Summary page appears.
Verify the summary for each node by clicking the tabs associated with each node. Ensure that the nodes are accurately configured and then click NEXT.

Verify the following information.
- All nodes have the same number of VLANs.
- All nodes have identical information for the VLANs.
- All nodes have identical information for the default gateway and DNS servers.
  
  Note
  
  If an error is found, click Exit, login to the node in which the error is found and repeat all the steps to correct the error.
The Storage Pool Details page appears.
Add the following information:
1. In the Root password and Confirm password boxes, type a secure password for the nodes.
  
  Tip
  
  Hover the cursor over the Root password box to view the password requirements.
2. In the Storage pool name box, type a name for the storage pool associated with the cluster.
  
  The storage pool name can include numbers and alphabets. Special characters cannot be used in the storage pool name.
  
  Tip
  
  Note down the storage pool name. This will be helpful to identify the storage pool in the Command Center.
3. From the Time zone list, select the time zone in which the nodes are located.
4. In the Password for Restricted shell user - cvbackupadmin and Confirm cvbckupadmin password boxes, type a secure password for the cvbackupadmin user.
5. Click NEXT.
  
  Note
  
  The setup process configures the network for the nodes. This will take some time to complete.
The Network Status page appears once the network is configured in the nodes.
Check the status to ensure that all the nodes have a green status to indicate that the network settings is validated and accurate. Click NEXT.

Note

If an error is found, hover your cursor over the status icon to view more information on the error. If a node is missing, exit the installer and confirm that all the nodes can ping each other on the storage pool network.

The Deployment Information page appears
Click Connect to existing CommServe, and then click NEXT.

The CommServe Credentials page appears.
In the CommServe hostname (FQDN) box, enter a fully qualified host name of the existing CommServe server that you are connecting to.

Note

TCP Ports 8400 & 443 must be open from the nodes to the CommServe server for the registration to work.
In the Auth-code box, enter the authorization code to connect to the CommServe server.
Click NEXT.

The software validates the information and will start the installation process. This process may take some time (approximately 45 minutes) to complete. You can monitor the progress using the progress bar.

Caution

Do not reboot or stop the installation during this process.

Once the installation is completed, the Installation page appears.

If the storage pool creation fails during the installation, you can manually create the storage pool from the Command Center. For more information, see Creating a HyperScale X Storage Pool.
Click CLOSE.

What to Do Next

Complete the additional configurations that may be required to customize your environment. For more information, see What To Do Next.