How to create and destroy a cluster from Nutanix CVM

How to create a single-node or multiple-node cluster from inside a Nutanix Controller VM, complete some initial configuration and if you like destroy the cluster once done.

How to create a single-node cluster

Log into the CVM via SSH and run

cluster -s {:CVMIP:} --redundancy_factor=1 create

The single-node should automatically start once it is complete.

How to create a multiple-node cluster

Log into a CVM via SSH and run

cluster -s {:CVMIPs:} create

CVM IPs need to be comma-separated, use the “fill in variables” tool to see this in action.

A minimum of three nodes is required here. Setting up a two node cluster with witness VM is not covered in the kb.

The multiple-node should automatically start once it is complete

Initial config for cluster

Set your cluster name. It can only contain alphanumeric characters, dots, hyphens and underscores (Please note: no spaces).

ncli cluster edit-params new-name="{:ClusterName:}"

Add your DNS server

ncli cluster add-to-name-servers servers="{:DNSIP:}"

You can check your DNS servers with

ncli cluster get-name-servers

Set the timezone your cluster is in (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones for timezone list)

ncli cluster set-timezone timezone="{:TZName:}"

You can check your current timezone with

ncli cluster info | grep Timezone

Add your NTP server

ncli cluster add-to-ntp-servers servers="{:NTPServer:}"

You can check your NTP servers with

ncli cluster get-ntp-servers

For a multiple-node cluster you need to set your virtual IP address for the cluster

ncli cluster set-external-ip-address external-ip-address="{:ClusterIP:}"

How to destroy a cluster

Please note: This will delete all guest VM data in the cluster

Log into a CVM via SSH and stop the cluster

cluster stop

Next once all CVM’s show that the cluster has stopped run

cluster destroy