StarWind VSAN Free - Starting with single node, add second node later

[thx1200]

Hello, I'm trying out StarWind VSAN Free. Done a bunch of reading but want to get clear on a point. I am building a Windows Failover Cluster that will use StarWind VSAN as the storage system. I want to start with a single node, to try it out. Then I want to bring a second node online later. It seems there isn't a way to "add a node" (that I can see) available to free version? But I think I can accomplish this as follows:

- Create image file
- Use Add-ImageDevice to attach the drive to the single node
- Later on use Remove-Device to detach the image file from the single node
- Create Failover Cluster with two nodes
- Use Add-HADevice to bring the existing image on both nodes with data preserved with Node 1 CreateImage = $false and Node 2 CreateImage = $true

is this is a correct path? Or am I way off base?

[yaroslav (staff)]

Welcome to StarWind Forum!

- Use Add-ImageDevice to attach the drive to the single node

The image is already attached to that node; there's no need to attach it.
Your flow implies having 2 nodes ready in the cluster when you create the device. If so, you can create a HA device > bring down that node > start it at some point again > wait for sync to complete.

What you can do is set up 2 StarWind VSAN instances and use createHA_2. Create a small device. Remove the HA device with the Remove* script (run it from the node that you plan to leave; it will target the partner). Expand. This gives you an HA device that you can recreate later.

[thx1200]

Oh thanks, good idea, I can create a two node from the start that way. I like that. So I basically...

Create HA with 2 nodes
Remove Node
(do stuff)
Add real second node later on

I'll play with this some in my lab.

[yaroslav (staff)]

Yup.
Good luck with your project!