Simplifying Cluster Maintenance: Performing NCC Health Checks on a Nutanix Cluster

Ensuring the health and performance of your Nutanix cluster is a critical part of maintaining an optimal IT environment. The Nutanix Cluster Check (NCC) is an essential tool for proactively identifying and addressing potential issues. This blog post walks you through the steps to perform NCC health checks and leverage its features for effective cluster management.

What is NCC?

Nutanix Cluster Check (NCC) is a comprehensive framework that enables you to perform health checks on your Nutanix cluster. It scans for configuration, performance, and operational issues across various components, ensuring that your cluster operates at peak efficiency.

Key Features:

• Pre-built health checks for common issues.

• Automated detection and reporting.

• Recommendations for remediation.

• Continuous updates to include new checks.

Why Perform Regular NCC Health Checks?

1. Proactive Issue Detection: Identify problems before they impact cluster performance.

2. Streamlined Troubleshooting: Quickly pinpoint root causes of potential issues.

3. Cluster Optimization: Ensure your cluster is configured and running according to best practices.

How to Run an NCC Health Check From the Command Line

Follow these steps to perform a health check from the command line using NCC:

1. Accessing the Nutanix Cluster

• Log in to your Nutanix cluster using an SSH client

  • SSH Client: Use the nutanix@cvm user credentials to access the Controller Virtual Machine (CVM).

2. Verify NCC Installation

• Run the following command to check if NCC is installed:

  ncc --version

• If not installed, download and install NCC from the Nutanix support portal.

3. Running Health Checks

• To run all checks:

  ncc health_checks run_all

You will see the below status output while the health check is running.

• To run specific checks, use:

  ncc <category> <check_name>

  Example:

  ncc health_checks hardware_checks disk_checks host_disk_usage_check

4. Review Results

• After running the checks, review the output for any warnings or errors.

• The results include detailed descriptions, severity levels, and recommended actions.

5. Address Issues

• Follow the recommended steps to resolve any issues identified.

• For complex problems, refer to Nutanix documentation or open a support ticket.

Steps to Run NCC Checks from Nutanix Prism Element

1. Log in to Prism Element

   • Open a web browser and navigate to your Nutanix Prism Element interface.

   • Enter your credentials to access the dashboard.

2. From the Prism Element dashboard, locate and click on the Health tab in the navigation menu.

4. View Cluster Health

   • On the Health page, you will see a high-level overview of the cluster health status. Look for any alerts or issues highlighted.

5. Run NCC Health Checks

   • In the Health page, find and click the "Actions" button.

   • Select "Run NCC Checks" from the dropdown menu.

7. Choose Specific Checks (Optional)

   • If you want to run specific checks, select the radio button for specific checks to narrow down the desired tests.

8. Start the Checks

   • Click "Run" to initiate the NCC health checks. The system will start scanning the cluster for potential issues.

9. Monitor Progress

   • The Health page will display the progress of the NCC checks in real-time. You can track completed and ongoing checks.

10. Review the Results

    • Once the checks are complete, the results will be displayed in a detailed report format.

    • Identify any warnings or failures and review the recommended remediation steps provided for each issue.

12. Resolve Detected Issues

    • Address any problems found during the NCC checks using the suggested actions.

    • For complex issues, refer to the Nutanix documentation or open a support ticket with Nutanix.

13. Schedule Regular Checks

    • Set a routine to perform NCC health checks regularly using Prism Element to ensure proactive maintenance of your cluster.

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

Best Practices for NCC Health Checks

1. Run Checks Regularly: Incorporate NCC checks into your routine maintenance schedule.

2. Stay Updated: Ensure your NCC version is up to date for the latest checks and improvements.

Additional Resources

• Nutanix NCC Documentation

  
  

Final Thoughts

Regular NCC health checks are vital for maintaining the stability, performance, and reliability of your Nutanix environment. By proactively addressing issues and optimizing your cluster, you can deliver consistent value to your organization. Start running your NCC health checks today and ensure your Nutanix cluster is always running smoothly!