A 2-node cluster supports small-scale deployments with reduced workload and availability requirements, such as those in a remote office setting.
The solution is limited to two VxRail nodes only, and like the stretched cluster solution, requires a witness.
To deploy 2-node VxRail clusters, note the following:
The minimum VxRail software version for the 2-node cluster is 4.7.100.
The deployment is limited to a pair of VxRail nodes.
Verify that your workload requirements do not exceed the resource capacity of this small-scale solution.
You cannot expand to three or more nodes unless the cluster is running version 7.0.130 or later.
A single ToR switch is supported.
Four Ethernet ports per node are required to deploy a 2-node cluster. Supported networking options include:
Four 10 GbE NICs.
Four 25 GbE NICs.
Two 10 GbE NICs and two 25 GbE NICs.
Two 1 GbE NICs and two 10 GbE NICs.
Two 1 GbE NICs and two 25 GbE NICs.
In a mixed network configuration, the vSAN network must be placed on the pair of Ethernet ports running at the higher speed.
A 2-node cluster can be deployed with one of two network topologies:
Two Ethernet ports connect to create two links between the physical VxRail nodes, and the other two Ethernet ports connect to the ToR switch.
Figure 1. Direct connect option for a 2-node cluster. Direct connect option for a 2-node cluster
All four Ethernet ports connect to the ToR switch or switches.
Figure 2. Switch-only option for a 2-node cluster. Switch-only option for a 2-node cluster
Follow these guidelines for the required witness:
Network connectivity is required between the 2-node cluster and the witness.
Witness can be deployed at the same physical site as the VxRail nodes but cannot be deployed on the 2-node cluster.
If there is more than one 2-node cluster deployed at the site, the witness can reside on a 2-node cluster it is not monitoring.
For a 2-node cluster based on the VxRail XR-Series hardware, which is targeted for edge use cases:
The witness sled integrated into the XR-Series chassis can support only one VxRail 2-node cluster.
The witness sled and witness VM must have IP addresses in the same subnet as the VxRail hosts.
The Ethernet ports on the witness sled supporting the 2-node cluster only support 1 GbE.
Figure 3. 2-node cluster on VD-Series compute sleds and a witness sled. 2-node cluster on VD-Series compute sleds and a witness sled
The VMware vCenter Server instance supporting the 2-node cluster can be either:
A VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server that is deployed on the cluster.
A customer-managed VMware vCenter Server external to the 2-node cluster.
VxRail 7.0.410 or later is required for the VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server.
Figure 4. Two VMware vCenter Server placement options for a 2-node cluster. Two VMware vCenter Server placement options for a 2-node cluster
Like the VMware vSAN stretched cluster feature, this small-scale solution has strict networking guidelines that must be adhered to for the solution to work. For more information about the planning and preparation for a deployment of a 2-node VxRail cluster, see the
Planning Guide—vSAN 2-Node Cluster on VxRail.
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