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Installing the new nodes

After the cluster is prepared, you must install the controllers and configure the node-management LIFs. If the controllers are not running the same ONTAP version as the existing cluster, you must address those issues in Maintenance mode. Finally, you can join the nodes to the cluster.

  1. Installing the controllers
    When you install controllers that will be added to an existing cluster, refer to the Hardware Installation and Maintenance Guide .
  2. Configuring node-management LIFs
    After the controller modules are physically installed, you can power on each one and configure its node-management LIF.
  3. Upgrading or downgrading the nodes
    Before joining the newly installed nodes to the cluster, you must ensure that they are running the same version of ONTAP that the cluster is running. If the nodes are running a different version, you must upgrade or downgrade the nodes to match the cluster. For downgrading node(s), contact technical support.
  4. Ensuring hardware-level HA is enabled
    If the newly installed controller modules are reused—not new—you must enter Maintenance mode and ensure that their HA state is set to HA.
  5. Adding nodes to a cluster using Storage Manager
    You can use Storage Manager to increase the size and capabilities of your storage system by adding nodes to an existing cluster. This feature is automatically enabled in Storage Manager when the effective cluster version is ONTAP 9.5 and later.
  6. Joining nodes to the cluster using the CLI
    When the newly installed controller modules are ready, you can add each one to the cluster by using the cluster setup command.