Host expansion is the process of adding new physical servers to a HCI cluster to horizontally scale computing and storage resources.

Precaution

1. Ensure that there is sufficient license before expansion.
2. It is recommended to perform host expansion during the off-peak hours.
3. In aSAN scenario if it is a two-node cluster without witness node expanding to a three-host cluster (or more) and need add the new nodes disk to aSAN, all virtual machines and NFV devices within the cluster need to be shut down.

Below are the specific steps for node expansion.

Step 1: Rack and power the physical host to be expanded.

Step 2: Connect the host to be expanded to the corresponding switch.

Step 3: Configure the management IP address for the host to be expanded.

Step 4: login HCI go to System > Health Check Perform a healthy check. If there are any unnormal items need to be fixed first.

Step 5: Click storage > summary to check whether on going task.

Step 6: Go to Nodes > Nodes click Add New Node Select the new node to be added, click the new node fill in the super administrator’s password click OK. If the host you want to add is not on the list, click Add New Node fill in the node IP and password manually, wait for the node check passed then click Next.

Step 7: Health check. After the health check is completed, click Next. Then click OK in the pop-up window.

Step 8: Configuration confirmation. Confirm all the information is correct click OK to finish the process and wait for the new node add to the cluster complete.

Step 9: After the nodes add to the cluster if you want to add the new node’s disk to the existing external storage go to Storage > Other Datastores locate the external storage move the mouse to the external storage name click the   button select Edit in the Connected Nodes field check the new added node click OK.

Before adding, please ensure that the connectivity of the new node

Step 9: After the nodes add to the cluster if you want to add the new node’s disk to the aSAN please refer to section 4.3.4.