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Azure Portal Deployment and Operations Guide with Switchless Networking
About using this guide Revision history Deployment Introduction Solution introduction Solution Deployment Deploy a cluster with Azure Stack HCI 23H2 operating system Update Azure Stack HCI clusters using SBE package GPU Integration Registering a Partner Admin Link (PAL) for Azure related solutions Dell OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center Updates and maintenance
Updates and maintenance
Restarting a cluster node or taking a cluster node offline
Expanding the Azure Stack HCI cluster
Azure Stack HCI node expansion Storage Spaces Direct storage expansion Extending volumes Repair a server on the Azure Stack HCI cluster
Operating system recovery
Manual operating system recovery Factory operating system recovery iDRAC Service Module (iSM) for AX nodes and Storage Spaces Direct Ready Nodes FullPowerCycle Configuring RAID for operating system drives
References

Expanding the Azure Stack HCI cluster

Home > Integrated Products > Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies > Guides 23H2 and later > Azure Portal Deployment and Operations Guide with Switchless Networking > Expanding the Azure Stack HCI cluster

Expanding the Azure Stack HCI cluster

  • Azure Stack HCI node expansion

    In an HCI cluster, adding server nodes increases the storage capacity, improves the overall storage performance of the cluster, and provides more compute resources to add VMs. Before adding new server nodes to an HCI cluster, complete the following requirements:

    • Verify that the processor model HBA and NICs are of the same configuration as the current nodes on the cluster and PCIe slots.
    • Ensure that all disk types and the amount in each node are the same as the node in use. Do not combine two different disk types in the same cluster or node. For example, you cannot combine SATA and SAS HDD/SSD drives in the same node or cluster. The following table lists the supported options for expanding storage capacity of the cluster.
      Table 8. Options to expand storage capacity of the cluster
      Option 1 conditions Option 2 conditions
      • Drive is listed in the Support Matrix
      • Same drive manufacturer
      • Same capacity and endurance
      • Latest model
      • Latest firmware
      • Drive is listed in the Support Matrix
      • Different drive manufacturer
      • Same capacity and endurance
      • Different model
      • Different firmware
    • Ensure that the BIOS, drivers, firmware, and chipset are as listed in the support matrix.
    • Apply the BIOS configuration to the node and configure iDRAC. For more information about configuring the node, see Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies: End-to-End Deployment with Switchless Networking or Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies: End-to-End Deployment with Scalable Networking.

    Adding server nodes

    Follow the steps in this section to add server nodes in the Azure Stack HCI cluster.
    1. Ensure hardware readiness of the node.
    2. Ensure Hyper-V role is installed on the node.
    3. To register your node to Azure Arc and install user roles on the node, follow the steps mentioned in Prerequisites.
    4. On a server that is already part of your desired cluster, run the following command to add a new node to the cluster: 
      $Cred = Get-Credential 
      Add-Server -Name "< Name of the new server>" -HostIpv4 <IPV4 for the new node> -LocalAdminCredential $Cred
    5. (optional) Note the operation ID generated as output of Add-Server command to monitor the progress. 
      Start-MonitoringActionplanInstanceToComplete -actionPlanInstanceID <operation ID>
    6. After the operation is complete, wait for the storage rebalance to complete. It can be verified by running Get-VirtualDisk | Get-StorageJob.

      The newly added node will show up in the Azure portal under the respective cluster after several hours.

      For more information, see Add a server.