VAST Data CNode Pools (Networking in the VAST Management System)

In this tutorial, you will hear about the concept and configuration of CNode pools within the VAST Management System (VMS), a crucial aspect of VAST Data networking for storage administrators and operators. Understanding CNode pooling allows you to define which specific CNodes will handle traffic for designated VIP pools. This provides valuable flexibility in managing your VAST Cluster. Learn the key reasons why you would implement CNode pooling:

• Workload Isolation: Segment production and QA workloads to prevent network contention and ensure predictable performance for critical applications on the same VAST storage cluster.

• Networking Topologies: Accommodate different physical network layouts or integrate various network types, such as separating Ethernet and InfiniBand traffic onto specific CNode pools.

Despite front-end segmentation with CNode pools or VIP pools, discover how each CNode retains access to the entire backend storage, maintaining the inherent flexibility of the VAST architecture. We’ll walk you through the configuration process in the VAST Management System GUI, showing you how to select specific CNodes when creating a VIP pool. Additionally, we cover the option to select individual physical ports on northbound NICs for pooling, a less common but powerful feature for granular network control, including mixed Ethernet/InfiniBand configurations on a single NIC. Learn how “left” and “right” port designations correspond to the physical view of the CNode. This tutorial is designed to help VAST Data end users effectively utilize CNode pooling for enhanced storage networking, workload management, and network configuration within their VAST clusters.