What is the minimum number of nodes for a basic clustered ONTAP high-availability configuration, and what is the general role of each node?

What is the minimum number of nodes for a basic clustered ONTAP high-availability configuration, and what is the general role of each node?

• A. One node; acts as both active and passive in rotation.
• B. Two nodes minimum; form an HA pair with the active and passive roles, providing data access and failover.
• C. Three nodes; two active and one passive.
• D. Four nodes; two active pairs.

Answer: (B)

In a basic ONTAP high-availability setup, you need two controllers to provide redundancy. These two form an HA pair: one acts as the active controller handling I/O, while the other sits in passive mode, ready to take over if the active one fails. This active/passive arrangement ensures continuous data access and automatic failover with minimal disruption. A single node can’t offer failover, and adding more nodes goes beyond the simplest HA configuration, adding complexity rather than necessity for the basics.

In a basic ONTAP high-availability setup, you need two controllers to provide redundancy. These two form an HA pair: one acts as the active controller handling I/O, while the other sits in passive mode, ready to take over if the active one fails. This active/passive arrangement ensures continuous data access and automatic failover with minimal disruption. A single node can’t offer failover, and adding more nodes goes beyond the simplest HA configuration, adding complexity rather than necessity for the basics.