Support for IPv6 Based Clustering

Until software version 6.1.00, you can create new clusters or manage an existing cluster only using the IPv4 protocol. Starting from software version 6.2.00, support for IPv6 based clustering is available based on which you can create new clusters and manage existing clusters using IPv6 protocol.You can configure the cluster topologies and perform cluster-related operations using IPv6 stacking. IPv6-based clustering is applicable for both GigaVUE HC series devices and TA Series devices.

Rules, Notes, and Limitations

Refer to the following rules, notes, and limitations:

  • IPv6 based clustering is available only for the following types of clusters:
    • Physical device out-of-band clustering: Auto-discovery of IPv6 cluster is supported.
    • Layer 3 out-of-band clustering: Manual discovery of the IPv6 cluster using the primary IP address, secondary IP address and cluster VIP.
  • IPv6 support for Inband clustering is not supported.
  • You can create new IPv6 based clusters from both GigaVUE-FM and the CLI. However, switching an existing IPv4 based cluster to IPv6 based cluster can be performed only from the CLI. Refer to Switch IPv4 based Cluster to IPv6 based Cluster for details.
  • Both auto-discovery and manual discovery of the cluster devices are supported in IPv6 based clustering. You can configure the following addresses as IPv6 addresses for manual discovery:
    • Primary Address
    • Secondary Address
  • Regular OOB clusters and Layer 3 OOB clusters can be created and managed using either all IPv4 addresses or all IPv6 addresses. You cannot have both IPv4 and IPv6 address within the same cluster. However, for Layer 3 OOB clusters, Virtual IP address can be configured as either IPv4 or IPv6 address, irrespective of the cluster control protocol.

  • When adding nodes to existing cluster, you cannot add an IPv6 node to an existing IPv4 cluster and vice-versa. Also, when creating clusters, select the cluster protocol based on the IP address of the node that is managed in GigaVUE-FM. For example, if a node is managed with IPv4 address , then when creating a cluster , cluster protocol must be IPv4.

Create IPv6 based Cluster

You can configure regular clusters and leaf-spine clusters by selecting the required protocol as either IPv4 or IPv6. Refer to the following topics for details:

Switch IPv4 based Cluster to IPv6 based Cluster

GigaVUE-FM does not allow you to directly switch an IPv4 based cluster to IPv6 based cluster and vice-versa. You must use the GigaVUE-OS CLI to perform the switching operation. Refer to the following table:

S.No From Steps

1

GigaVUE-FM GUI

Disconnect the device from GigaVUE-FM.

1. Go to Inventory > Physical > Nodes.
2. Select the required cluster.
3. From the Actions drop-down, select Disconnect Node.

The device gets disconnected from GigaVUE-FM. Config-sync updates will not take place and API updates will be blocked.

Note:  Do not perform any configurations in the device after disconnecting the device from GigaVUE-FM.

2

CLI

 

Execute the following command from the CLI prompt of the leader node:

Seattle [1010: leader] config # cluster ip-ver-switch diagnostics

The diagnostic command establishes a server-client relationship between the leader and the member nodes of the cluster and checks if all devices in the cluster are reachable and if there are any firewall or routing issues. Fix the issues and re-execute the command.

3

Execute the following command in the CLI prompt of the leader node to change the communication protocol version from IPv4 to IPv6 and vice-versa.

Seattle [1010: leader] config # cluster ip-ver-switch

Note:  Before executing this command ensure that configurations are synced and all unsaved changes are saved.

This command checks the following:

if all the devices have the proper IPv4 or IPv6 addresses to switch over.
If the devices are stable. If any of the devices in the cluster is in Safe mode, this command will be aborted.

This command reloads the cluster.

Note:  In case of Layer3 OOB nodes, reconfigure the primary and secondary ip address of the leader node in all the member nodes of the cluster.

4

GigaVUE-FM GUI

1. Go to Inventory > Physical > Nodes.
2. Select the required cluster.
3. From the Actions drop-down, select Edit Cluster.
4. Enter the following details:
VIP (mandatory)
Primary IP (mandatory for L3 OOB Clusters)
Secondary IP
5. Click OK.

5

GigaVUE-FM GUI

Reconnect the device back to GigaVUE-FM.

1. Go to Inventory > Physical > Nodes.
2. Select the required cluster.
3. From the Actions drop-down, select Connect Node.

Refer to the following sections the GigaVUE-OS CLI Reference guide for configurations related to IPv6 based clustering:

S.No Details in the GigaVUE-OS CLI Reference Guide Reference

1

The cluster CLI command is updated for the following:

To configure protocol as ipv4 or ipv6 protocol
To verify if the devices in the cluster are reachable by the cluster leader
To switch from IPv4 to IPv6 or vice-versa

 

cluster

2

Example to remove a device from IPv4 cluster and add the same device to another IPv6 cluster.

How to Remove a Node from an IPv4 Cluster and Add it to an IPv6 Cluster and Vice-versa

3

For the Layer 3 Out of Band clustering, the primary IP address and secondary IP address of the cluster is cleared. After the protocol is switched, you must reconfigure the primary IP address and secondary IP address based on the switched IP.

Clustering a Node Using Layer 3 Out-of-Band Manual Discovery