How to set up a two-node cluster

How-to Clusters clusterraftmultinodetwo nodesmaster

Found a cluster on the first node, invite the second, and understand quorum, the witness and what Multinode requires.

A cluster lets you sign in to any node and manage all of them. It needs a Multinode license on the master and a License on every node.

Steps

1. On the first node found the cluster; it becomes the founder and alone holds the cluster's authority key:

   panel cluster-fundar node1 node1.example.com:7000
   panel cluster-estado

2. Back up the founder's authority key. Without it the cluster keeps running but cannot grow.
3. Prepare the second node: install the panel and apply its own License.
4. On the founder, create the join package:

   panel cluster-invitar node2 node2.example.com:7000 /root/node2.json

   Or add the node over SSH from Cluster, Nodes and confirm the server fingerprint the first time.

5. Copy node2.json to the new node over a secure channel and join:

   panel cluster-unirse /root/node2.json

6. Delete the package afterwards: it contains the node's private key and is created with mode 0600.

Good to know

• Ports 7000 and 7001 are opened automatically once the node is in a cluster.
• With two nodes failover needs a tie-breaker: see two-node promotion.
• Before shutting a node down for good, run panel cluster-quitar node2, or it still counts for quorum.
• A node that already has its own accounts is a fusion, not a join.

Last updated: 2026-10-10