# Deploying Commvault Flex Appliance With Tagged vLAN and Bonding (Active-Backup or LACP)

Commvault Flex nodes can be deployed in environments with tagged virtual LANs (VLANs) with bonding.

Note

When the deployment is complete, the password based root access is disabled and firewall and ransomware protection settings are enabled on the node 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 setup the Bonded vLAN Topology in your environment.

Tip

Keep the network names and IP addresses listed in the Network Requirements section of Bonded vLAN Topology handy before you start the configuration.

## Procedure

1. Log on to the node as root user using the system console. (Do not use PuTTy / SSH to setup the nodes.)

2. Launch the network configuration interface using the following command:

       # hssetup

   The Commvault Flex Appliance Installer page appears.

3. Click Start.

   The Network Configuration page appears.

4. 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:

5. 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.)

6. 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:

7. 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.

8. Click CONFIGURE.

   The software validates the network. (This may take a few minutes to complete.)

   The Network Configuration Summary page appears.

9. 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.

     Note

     Hostname and serial number associated with the node is accurate.

     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 Details dialog box appears.

10. 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.

11. Click New storage pool setup and then click NEXT.

    The Select Nodes page appears.

12. 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

       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.

    4. Click NEXT.

       The Network Configuration Summary page appears.

13. 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 Server Credentials page appears.

14. 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 Password for Restricted shell user - cvbackupadmin and Confirm cvbckupadmin password boxes, type a secure password for the cvbackupadmin user.

    3. Click NEXT.

    The Node Details page appears.

15. Add the following information:

    1. From the Time zone list, select the time zone in which the nodes are located.

    2. Optional: In the NTP Server/Pool box, type the IP address of the NTP server or NTP pool if available.

    3. Click NEXT.

       Note

       The setup process configures the network for the nodes. This will take some time to complete.

    The Network Status page appears.

16. 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.

17. Click Connect to existing CommServe, and then click NEXT.

    The Credentials page appears.

18. To connect to the CommServe, provide the following details:

    1. 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.

    2. In the Username and Password boxes, enter the CommCell user account credentials (not an Active Directory (AD) user account) to connect to the CommServe server, and then click Next.

    The Flash Storage Details screen appears.

19. For VAST Data Storage and Pure Storage, the page layout appears differently.

    - If you use VAST Data Storage, complete the following steps:

      1. From the Flash Storage Credential Type list, select Array credentials.

      2. From Storage Type list, select VAST Data Platform.

      3. In the Storage Pool Name box, type a name for the cloud storage pool.

      4. In the Storage Arry FQDN hostname or IP address, type the hostname of IP address of the cloud storage array.

      5. In the Storage Array Login Name box, type the user account to access the cloud storage array.

      6. In the Storage Array Login Password, enter the password for the cloud storage user account.

      7. Click NEXT.

      For VAST Data Storage and Pure Storage, the page layout appears differently.

    - If you use Pure Storage, complete the following steps:

      1. From Storage Type list, select Pure Storage FlashBlade.

      2. From the Flash Storage Credential Type list, select Array credentials.

      3. In the Storage Pool Name box, type a name for the cloud storage pool.

      4. In the Bucket Name box, enter the bucket name.

      5. In the Storage Array FQDN hostname or IP address, type the hostname of IP address of the cloud storage array.

      6. In the Array Management Token Id box, enter the token ID to access the cloud storage.

      7. 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.

20. 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.

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