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How MetroCluster configurations use SyncMirror to provide data redundancy

Mirrored aggregates using SyncMirror functionality provide data redundancy and contain the volumes owned by the source and destination storage virtual machine (SVM). Data is replicated into disk pools on the partner cluster. Unmirrored aggregates are also supported.

Attention

In MetroCluster FC configurations, the unmirrored aggregates will only be online after a switchover if the remote disks in the aggregate are accessible. If the ISLs fail, the local node may be unable to access the data in the unmirrored remote disks. The failure of an aggregate can lead to a reboot of the local node.

The following table shows the state (online or offline) of an unmirrored aggregate after a switchover:

Type of switchoverState

Negotiated switchover (NSO)

Online

Automatic unplanned switchover (AUSO)

Online

Unplanned switchover (USO)

  • If storage is not available: Offline

  • If storage is available: Online

Note
After a switchover, if the unmirrored aggregate is at the DR partner node and there is an inter-switch link (ISL) failure, then that local node might fail.

The following illustration shows how disk pools are mirrored between the partner clusters. Data in local plexes (in pool0) is replicated to remote plexes (in pool1).

Attention
If hybrid aggregates are used, performance degradation can occur after a SyncMirror plex has failed due to the solid-state disk (SSD) layer filling up.