Pulse

After you have completed initial setup, created a cluster, and opened ports 80 or 8443 in your firewall, each cluster sends a Pulse message once every 24 hours to a Nutanix Support server by default. Each message includes cluster configuration and health status that can be used by Nutanix Support to address any cluster operation issues. Pulse HD can also send automatic alert email notifications.

Access Requirements

In order to successfully send Pulse and alert messages from a cluster to the Nutanix support servers, Pulse requires the following access:

• Messages are sent from the Zeus (cluster configuration manager) leader, so the firewall must allow the Zeus leader IP address. Because the Zeus leader can change, it is recommended that the IP addresses for all Controller VMs in the cluster be open in the firewall.
• Required firewall rules configured to allow traffic from the cluster to Nutanix support servers.

Pulse data is collected through the following methods:

• By default, emails are sent daily through port 8443 via nsc01.nutanix.net or nsc01.nutanix.net to nos-asups@nutanix.com.
  • If a SMTP server is configured on a cluster, emails will be sent via the SMTP server to nos-asups@nutanix.com.
• Throughout the day, each Controller VM in the cluster sends Pulse data to insights.nutanix.com over port 443 using the HTTPS REST endpoint.

Alerts

Alternately, Pulse can use your SMTP server to send messages and alert notifications if you have configured an SMTP server (see Configuring an SMTP Server). In this case the cluster only needs access to your SMTP server (not the Internet) to send the messages. If you do not use an SMTP server, another option is to implement an HTTP proxy as part of your overall support scheme.

Support Service	Default Setting	Options
Pulse	Enabled and ready to send status messages over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443	1. Disabled. 2. Enabled through customer SMTP server over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443. 3. Enabled by implementing an HTTP proxy over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443.
Alert email notifications	Enabled and ready to send alert notifications through customer-opened ports 80 or 8443	1. Disabled. 2. Enabled through your SMTP server over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443. 3. Enabled by implementing an HTTP proxy over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443. You can add email accounts to also receive these notifications.
Remote Support Services	Disabled	1. Disabled. 2. Enable a temporarily or permanently established SSH tunnel through customer-opened ports 80 or 8443. 3. Enabled by implementing an HTTP proxy over customer-opened ports 80 or 8443.