#1, Yes, the new MDM/TB nodes will be added as standby's first, then the cluster mode can be switched from 3_node to 5_node using those newly added standby nodes.  #2, This is the MDM voting process you are asking about. It works the same way in 3 or 5_node. The MDM actors (not TBs) must have an updated MDM repository and will need at least 3 votes (2 votes in 3 node cluster) to become the master. Each MDM and TB has 1 vote. Each MDM will vote for itself, as it connects to itself the quickest. The TB nodes vote for the MDM it connects to first. If they both connect to the same MDM, then that MDM will have 3 votes and becomes the master. If the TBs vote for different MDMs, then the votes are tied at 2 each and we move to round two of the vote.  In round 2, each MDM will now give their vote to the MDM with the lowest available ID and MDMs with higher IDs won't connect to the TB nodes. This will guarantee an MDM becomes master.  #3, in this split brain scenario where the surviving 4 nodes are split evenly (1 MDM/1 TB on each side), then there will be no master MDM as there will only be 2 votes available for the MDM nodes. This is so we can avoid the split brain scenario and avoid data corruption with 2 master mdms.
Hi All, After a successful ScaleIO POC with a Partner, during our conversation the partner had a couple of queries regarding upgrading the  present 3 MDM config to 5MDM config. The queries were :   1. Do the new MDM's need to be added as a Stand by MDM's ? 2. Since in a 5 MDM config 1 is Primary, 2 are Seconday and 2 Tie breakers , in case the Primary goes down, how is it decided that among the 2 Surviving Standby's who takes over as the primary and what role do the Tie breakers Play in this situation 3. In a hypothetical scenario where the primary MDM goes down, what happens if there is a split brain b/w the Surviving Seconday MDM's and the Tie breakers ( 1 Tie breaker can see only 1 Standby ) The 3rd Query from the partner raises this question inside me - Is this scenario really possible and if yes has anyone encountered this in their environment.   Thanks in Advance.
ScaleIO Configuration - 5 MDM query