# SDS - Merging Data-Sharing Clusters

SDS does not support the merging of independent data-sharing communities. If two SDS communities have been created independent of each other, the system rejects all attempts to start sharing from one community to the other. If you want to start sharing between independent communities, you must disassemble one of them (preferably, the community with fewer elements) by removing the member elements, and then add the individual elements to the existing larger community.

Complete the following procedure to merge two existing data-sharing clusters that belong to the same SDS network.

## Before You Begin

- Verify that no dialing plan conflicts, including ARS, exist between the element that you selected to be the master element and the elements to be added from the other cluster.

- Ensure that the chosen master element contains the data that you want to share with all the elements in the new, merged cluster. (The data from the master takes precedence over data on other elements - slaves - in the sharing scope.)

- Ensure that all elements to be merged are 3300 ICP type elements in the Network Elements form.

To merge data-sharing clusters:

1. In the cluster with the fewest elements (for example, cluster A), at each of the cluster elements, turn SDS off and then on again in the System Options form.

2. Choose a member element from the larger cluster (for example, element B1 from cluster B) as the master element.

3. Log into element B1 and add all elements from cluster A to the Network Elements ( ) and to the Cluster Elements forms ( ) of element B1.

4. While logged in to Element B1, complete the cluster programming that is not shared (CEID Index, CEID Digits, Feature DN number, and ARS) for each newly added cluster element in the Cluster Elements form on element B1.

5. For each element that initially belonged to cluster A, update the cluster Name and PNI in the Cluster Elements form to match the name and the PNI configured for elements in cluster B.

NOTE: Make sure that the name is an exact match (upper/lower case).

6. From the master element B1, start sharing data with all the elements added to cluster B. See SDS - Start Sharing Data.

7. From the master element B1, perform a full Sync operation with each newly added element (initially belonging to cluster A). See SDS - Synchronizing Data.

NOTE: A full Sync with all other elements (initially belonging to cluster B) is recommended, but not mandatory.