The NetApp Deployment Engine (NDE) is a virtual appliance, packaged as an OVF, that orchestrates the installation and configuration of a NetApp HCI system. The deployment process begins by installing VMware ESXi on the first compute node. The NDE virtual machine is then deployed onto this single ESXi host. Once running, the NDE discovers the other compute and storage nodes on the network and guides the administrator through the configuration of the entire HCI cluster, including vCenter Server and the SolidFire storage cluster. Therefore, only one compute node is required to initially host and run the NDE.

A. 2: This is the minimum number of compute nodes required for a supported, high-availability NetApp HCI production cluster, not the minimum to run the deployment engine.

C. 3: This is not a standard minimum for NetApp HCI compute nodes. It is a common minimum for other HCI solutions (like VMware vSAN) to achieve certain failure tolerance levels.

D. 4: This is the minimum number of storage nodes required for a NetApp HCI cluster to establish a quorum and provide data redundancy, not the minimum number of compute nodes.

1. NetApp HCI Installation and Setup Instructions (H410C

H610C

H615C): In the section "Deploy the NetApp Deployment Engine

" the procedure explicitly states: "You deploy the NetApp Deployment Engine virtual machine on the first compute node in your NetApp HCI system." This confirms the process starts with a single node. The subsequent steps involve connecting to this single host's IP address to deploy the OVF.

Source: NetApp Product Documentation

"NetApp HCI H615C Installation and Setup Instructions

" Page 11

Step 1.

2. NetApp Technical Report TR-4681: NetApp HCI Deployment Guide: This guide details the end-to-end deployment process. In the "NetApp HCI Deployment" section

it outlines the workflow which begins with preparing and deploying the NDE on a single ESXi host. The report's diagrams and procedural steps consistently show the process initiating from the first compute node before any other nodes are configured.

Source: NetApp TR-4681

"NetApp HCI Deployment" section

Figure 3

which illustrates the deployment workflow starting with "Deploy NDE on ESXi host."

3. NetApp HCI Installation Poster: This visual guide simplifies the installation process. It clearly depicts the first major step as "Connect to the first compute node" and then "Deploy the NetApp Deployment Engine

" reinforcing that the process is initiated on a single compute node.

Source: NetApp HCI Installation and Setup Poster

available via the NetApp Support Site. The workflow diagram under "Installation" begins with actions on a single compute node.