More than one cluster-management LIF OK to do ?

[Markinnz]

Hi,

It has been many years since I've Netapp'd (DATA OnTap 6 era), so I'm having to do a crash course on ONTAP 9.7 🙂

Looking at configuring NDMP backups to Netbackup and for cluster aware backups they want to talk to the Cluster Managment LIF, which is kind of awkward as that LIF on the Netapp is in a "management" VLAN the Netbackup servers cannot talk to, but I can create a LIF in the common "backup" VLAN.

Is it acceptable to create an extra cluster management LIF in the backup VLAN (and also to keep the existing cluster management LIF)

Thanks

[Mjizzini]

The cluster can only have one Custer management lif.  You may get use of node management lifs.

More about Role for lifs.

https://library.netapp.com/ecmdocs/ECMP1196907/html/GUID-C8355A55-5063-4EF5-B0D2-91BC187681D5.html

[NetApp_SR · Accepted solution]

Creating multiple cluster management LIFs can cause issues with communication so do so carefully. Nothing prevents you from creating and using more than one cluster management LIF.  I found the below issue as an example, there could be others.

Cluster Switch Health Monitor (CSHM): Cluster switches not reachable with multiple cluster management LIFs

https://kb.netapp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1089909

[Mjizzini]

Creating one Cluster-mgmt lif is our best practice. Creating anotherCluster-mgmt lif on a data vlan will be mix both Data/Mgmt networks. 

Adding a mgmt-interface to the Netbackup servers my do the job.

That been said,  like my colleague mention, creating 2 Cluster-mgmt lifs will work. 

[Markinnz]

Well tried it out .. and adding an extra cluster-management LIF to the cluster does work .. now to see if it sorts out our issues with Netbackup.

Thanks for assisting!