PowerScale: How to Change from Using Single NICs to an LACP Configuration

Summary: If Individual network interfaces are already in place, use the below process to use Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) aggregated links (AGG) instead. (User Correctable)

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Instructions

There are a few points or rules to consider when planning this change:

  1. Any mix of interfaces can be put in a network pool.
    • The pool supports the presence of both AGG and individual NIC
  2. The same Node interfaces cannot be used as both individual NIC and as part of an aggregate simultaneously. The Node must be using individual NIC or agg-NIC in all pools where the Node is a member.
  3. The IP assignment might change, depending on the allocation selected.
    • A static pool allocates ONE IP address per Node per interface in the pool. If the Node has one AGG-NIC in the pool, the Node receives ONE IP address for that pool.
    • A dynamic pool assigns all the IP addresses in the pool.
NOTE: It is acceptable practice to change this with creating a new pool with the same settings (VLAN, subnet) as the old pool containing the individual interfaces. In this way, the old pool has the individual NICs and the new pool has the LACP AGG NICS. With a high number of cluster Nodes, this is a better way to track which Nodes have been migrated to the new LACP configuration. In the example below, the same Pool is used. The Pool contains both AGG and individual NIC until the change is completed for all Nodes.


Steps To Change From Use Of Individual NIC To LACP.

  1. Check the link aggregation mode assigned to the Pool or Pools in use. The link aggregation mode is selected on a per pool basis. For all Pools in use, ensure that the link aggregation mode is set to LACP.
    • If individual NIC is in the Pool, the link aggregation mode is ignored.
    • For AGG NIC in the Pool, the link aggregation mode is active.
  2. Begin the change with the LAST node in the cluster and work your way back to Node 1 (or the lowest LNN assigned). For a 10-node cluster, begin with Node 10 (for example).
  3. For all configured Pools, remove the last node from the pool. In our example, Node 10 would be removed from ALL Pools.
  4. The static IPs assigned to this Node are reassigned. A client connected to a static IP address is automatically moved to the LACP group. If the client is not connected to a static IP address, it has to reconnect to the cluster.
  5. The dynamic IP addresses assigned to this Node are moved, and the NFSv3 clients move with the IP addresses.
  6. Commit or Save the changes to ALL Pools.
  7. For the removed Node, configure the network switch ports to support LACP.
  8. For the Node that was removed, readd the Node to ALL pools using the AGG form of the NIC to the Pool.
    • The following command shows which forms of the NIC are available for the Node:  
      isi network interfaces list --nodes=X
  9. When the AGG-NIC is up (and negotiates LACP with the switch), Download Center reassigns IP addresses (or can be manually rebalanced).
  10. Test that connectivity works to Node "X," in our example, Node 10.
    • The Node can be readded (for testing and control purposes) to one Pool at a time. Test that Pool and then add to the remaining Pools.

Once connectivity is confirmed, and clients can work without problems, repeat Steps 3 to 8 for all nodes, one after the other.

This article provides a way to migrate "online" for dynamic clients. It is also possible to remove all the "data" NIC and configure the cluster in one action. Do this with the management port access as available or the serial console is used to maintain connectivity for administration. This would be quicker but more disruptive. Any "combination" can be used - single Nodes changing one after the other, or multiple groups of Nodes changing. A Node is using ALL single NIC in ALL pools, or ALL AGG NIC in ALL pools.

Affected Products

Isilon

Products

Isilon, PowerScale OneFS
Article Properties
Article Number: 000158409
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 07 Aug 2025
Version:  9
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