MetroCluster Manuals ( CA08871-401 )

What’s new in MetroCluster features

Each release of the ONTAP 9 data management software delivers new and enhanced features that improve the capabilities, manageability, and performance of ONTAP MetroCluster configurations.

Supported features in MetroCluster configuration Description and where to learn more Available beginning

MetroCluster IP support for end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption is supported on the following systems to encrypt back-end traffic, such as NVlog and storage replication data, between the sites in a MetroCluster IP configuration.

  • ETERNUS AX1300, ETERNUS AX2300, ETERNUS AX4200

  • ETERNUS HX6200

ONTAP 9.17.1

Limit changes for MetroCluster IP configurations

ONTAP 9.17.1 includes the following limit updates for four-node MetroCluster IP configurations:

  • ETERNUS AX4100, ETERNUS AX4100 ASA, and ETERNUS AX4200 systems have the following updated limits:

    • FlexVol volume limits per aggregate (single or multiple): 625

    • FlexVol volume limits per node: 1250

    • FlexVol volume limits per high-availability (HA) pair: 2500

    • FlexVol volume limits per cluster: 5000

    • SVM limits: 64 SVMs per cluster

    • LIF count: 256 LIFs per cluster

Refer to the Hardware Universe for more information.

ONTAP 9.17.1

FibreBridge firmware update using credentials

You can update the firmware on FibreBridge bridges using credentials if they are required by the server to download the firmware package.

ONTAP 9.16.1

SVM data mobility support for migrating MetroCluster configurations

ONTAP supports the following MetroCluster SVM migrations:

  • Migrating an SVM between a non-MetroCluster HA pair and a MetroCluster IP configuration

  • Migrating an SVM between two MetroCluster IP configurations

  • Migrating an SVM between a MetroCluster FC configuration and a MetroCluster IP configuration

ONTAP 9.16.1

MD5 authentication support for BGP peer groups

ONTAP supports MD5 authentication on BGP peer groups to protect BGP sessions. When MD5 is enabled, BGP sessions can only be established and processed among authorized peers, preventing potential disruptions of the session by an unauthorized actor.

ONTAP 9.16.1

MetroCluster IP support for end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption is supported on ETERNUS AX4100 and ETERNUS HX6100 systems to encrypt back-end traffic, such as NVlog and storage replication data, between the sites in a MetroCluster IP configuration.

ONTAP 9.15.1

MetroCluster IP support for NVMe

The NVMe/TCP front-end host protocol is supported on four-node MetroCluster IP configurations.

ONTAP 9.15.1

S3 object storage support on mirrored and unmirrored aggregates

You can enable an S3 object storage server on an SVM in a mirrored or unmirrored aggregate in MetroCluster IP and FC configurations.

ONTAP 9.14.1

Support for provisioning an S3 bucket on mirrored and unmirrored aggregates in a MetroCluster cluster

You can create a bucket on a mirrored or unmirrored aggregate in MetroCluster configurations.

ONTAP 9.14.1

Four-node MetroCluster IP configuration upgrades using switchover and switchback

You can upgrade controllers in a four-node MetroCluster IP configuration using switchover and switchback with system controller replace commands.

ONTAP 9.13.1

Mediator-assisted automatic unplanned switchover (MAUSO) is triggered for an environmental shutdown

If one site shuts down gracefully due to an environmental shutdown, MAUSO is triggered.

ONTAP 9.13.1

Eight-node MetroCluster IP configurations support

You can upgrade the controllers and storage in an eight-node MetroCluster IP configuration by expanding the configuration to become a temporary twelve-node configuration and then removing the old DR groups.

ONTAP 9.13.1

MetroCluster IP configuration conversion to a shared storage MetroCluster switch configuration

You can convert a MetroCluster IP configuration to a shared storage MetroCluster switch configuration.

ONTAP 9.13.1

MetroCluster automatic forced switchover feature in a MetroCluster IP configuration

You can enable the MetroCluster automatic forced switchover feature in a MetroCluster IP configuration. This feature is an extension of the Mediator-assisted unplanned switchover (MAUSO) feature.

ONTAP 9.12.1

S3 on an SVM on an unmirrored aggregate in a MetroCluster IP configuration

You can enable an ONTAP Simple Storage Service (S3) object storage server on an SVM on an unmirrored aggregate in a MetroCluster IP configuration.

ONTAP 9.12.1

MetroCluster IP support for NVMe

The NVMe/FC protocol is supported on four-node MetroCluster IP configurations.

ONTAP 9.12.1

Consistency groups

Consistency groups are supported in MetroCluster configurations.

ONTAP 9.11.1

IP support for shared link at layer 3

MetroCluster IP configurations can be implemented with IP-routed (layer 3) back-end connections.

ONTAP 9.9.1

Support for eight-node MetroCluster configurations

Permanent eight-node clusters are supported in IP and Fabric-attached MetroCluster configurations.

ONTAP 9.9.1

Simplified interface to manage IP MetroCluster operations with ONTAP System Manager

You can manage IP MetroCluster operations with ONTAP System Manager, including setting up IP MetroCluster sites, pairing the sites, and configuring the clusters.

ONTAP 9.8

IP MetroCluster switchover and switchback with ONTAP System Manager

You can use ONTAP System Manager to perform all the steps of planned or unplanned switchover and switchback procedures for IP MetroCluster configurations.

ONTAP 9.8

New upgrade and refresh procedures

Hardware upgrade or refresh of four-node MetroCluster IP configurations is supported.

ONTAP 9.8

Unmirrored aggregates

Unmirrored aggregates are supported in MetroCluster IP configurations.

ONTAP 9.8

MetroCluster compliant switches

ONTAP 9.7

Private layer 2 network sharing

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.

The MetroCluster IP switches are dedicated to the MetroCluster configuration and cannot be shared. Only the MetroCluster ISL ports on the MetroCluster IP switches can connect to the shared switches.

If using a shared network, the customer is responsible for meeting the MetroCluster network requirements in the shared network.

ONTAP 9.6

MetroCluster switchover and switchback

You can allow one cluster site to take over the tasks of another cluster site. This capability allows you to facilitate maintenance or recovery from disasters.

ONTAP 9.6

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