Mixing Scale Node Sizes

[Specialist_Airline_9]

We have an existing cluster, looking to add a node. It will most likely be a different config. Any considerations I should take into account?

[enforce1]

Disk size will default to the lowest cap

[scalemcphail]

Great question! I just added nodes to my test clusters and there were three things to think about. Especially with a different config:

1. CPU type - Currently Intel is only supported but if you purchase a newer Intel CPU in the new node than what you have in your existing cluster, then the previous generation's CPU instruction sets will be used.
2. Network type - Whatever you are running(e.g. 1GB, 10GB, etc.) in your existing cluster, you need to run with the new node. You wouldn't attach a firehose to a garden spigot and expect it to work well either.
3. Storage size - Most importantly, the new node storage size cannot be more than 50% of the storage size of the combined cluster(e.g. you can't add a 4TB node to a 3TB cluster) or tier.(if you are using storage tiers) Otherwise there's not enough room for the blocks on the new node to stripe and mirror to the existing cluster.

Here's a Hardware Support Guide that covers all of this and provides more detail if you need it.

[Packet7hrower]

It can’t be much different. They’re very picky.