question Re: Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine in Support Questions

Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine

fransyk — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:27:20 GMT

Hi all,

can I install an HDFS datanode role in machine with installed HDFS NameNode or into machine with SecondaryNameNode?

I use CDH 6.3.2

Thanks,

Francesco

Re: Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine

paras — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:55:21 GMT

@fransyk

Yes, you can have datanode and namenode role together on a host as long as the hardware requirements are met for the service to avoid any out of memory issues.

Please refer

https://docs.cloudera.com/documentation/enterprise/6/release-notes/topics/rg_hardware_requirements.html#concept_fzz_dq4_gbb

Hope this helps,
Paras
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Re: Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine

fransyk — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 10:21:23 GMT

Hi paras,

is this solution suitable for a production environment? I read some topic that do not recommend it (link below)

https://serverfault.com/questions/763797/hadoop-name-node-and-data-node-on-the-same-machine

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_a_Hadoop_name_node_also_double_duty_as_a_data_node

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/can-biginsights-have-datanode-same-machine-namenode#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20can%20have%20a,in%20the%20Hadoop%20file%20system.

Thanks,

Francesco

Re: Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine

paras — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 10:36:27 GMT

@fransyk

It is not compulsory to have both the roles on different hosts.

Having said that, in production environments it is recommended to differentiate worker hosts and master hosts.

Please refer below document for recommended role allocations for different cluster sizes:

https://docs.cloudera.com/documentation/enterprise/latest/topics/cm_ig_host_allocations.html#concept_f43_j4y_dw

Hope this helps,
Paras
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Re: Install DataNode Role on NameNode/SNN machine

mridley — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:25:09 GMT

The data node question has been answered, but one tangental comment - you say you are using the Secondary Name Node service. You almost certainly do not want to be using that. You do not get any HA with the SNN. What you probably want is the Standby Namenode. In Cloudera Manager you can enable HA from the HDFS service actions and that will replace your Secondary Name Node with a Standby Name Node.