---
title: "New Features in 5.3.1"
slug: "new-features-in-531"
updated: 2026-10-27T17:24:19Z
published: 2026-10-27T17:24:19Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/new-features-in-531"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# New Features in 5.3.1

The following features are first introduced in VAST Cluster 5.3.1:

- NETWORKING

  - [Support for Layer 3 Networking](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-531#support-for-layer-3-networking)
  - [CNode Network Port Load Alerts](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-531#cnode-network-port-load-alerts)

VAST Cluster 5.3.1 also include features that were first introduced in release 5.2.1:

- QUALITY OF SERVICE

  - [S3 Connection Limit in User QoS Policies](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-521#s3-connection-limit-in-user-qos-policies)
- SMB

  - [Support of SMB Hardlinks](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-521#support-of-smb-hardlinks)
- S3

  - [S3 Bucket Monitoring](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-521#s3-bucket-monitoring)
- PLATFORM & CONTROL

  - [Rack-Level Resiliency](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-521#rack-level-resiliency)
- LICENSING

  - [CPU Core-Based Licensing](/docs-5-3/docs/en/new-features-in-521#cpu-core-based-licensing)

## Support for Layer 3 Networking

VAST Cluster 5.3 supports Layer 3 networking for its data network, allowing cluster nodes to be directly connected to a switch with L3 routing capabilities. The CNodes act as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peers belonging to a VAST Autonomous System (AS) that is connected to an upstream AS.

L3 access can be enabled or disabled per virtual IP pool.

The following user controls have been added for this feature:

- In VAST Web UI:

  - The Network Access -> BGP Configurations page where you can set up BGP for the cluster
  - The Network Access -> BGP Connections page that lists all cluster's BGP connections with their status and details
  - Options to enable L3 access and select a BGP configuration in virtual IP pool settings (Network Access -> Virtual IP Pools -> choose to create or edit a pool -> Advanced tab), as well as in DNS settings (Network Access -> DNS -> choose to create or edit DNS)
- In VAST CLI:

  - The `--enable-l3` and `--disable-l3` options on the `vippool create` and `dns create` commands
  - The `--vast-asn`, `--peer-asn` , `--bgp-config-id` options on the `vippool create` and `vippool modify` commands
  - The `bgpconfig list`, `bgpconfig show`, `bgpconfig create`, `bgpconfig modify`, `bgpconfig remove` commands

The following limitations apply:

- After enabling L3 access for a virtual IP pool, it cannot be disabled.
- L3 access is not supported on virtual IP pools for which CNode Port Affinity is configured.
- ORION-333743: L3 access is not supported on virtual IP pools that include more than one range of virtual IPs.
- L3 networking is not supported for clusters with external IB networking.
- L3 networking is not available for VAST on Cloud.
- MD5 authentication is not supported.
- Numbered BGP is not supported.
- Learning of the default route advertised by the peer ASN is not supported.
- A VAST cluster can be peered to one ASN only.
- Reverting an L3-configured cluster to L2 through VMS is not supported. If you need to revert, contact VAST Support.

For more information about this feature, see VAST Cluster Administrator's Guide.

## CNode Network Port Load Alerts

VAST Cluster can analyze the load on CNode network ports and raise alerts if one of the network paths becomes congested or slow due to network issues.

The feature is enabled by default. If you want to disable it on your cluster, contact VAST Support.

Port load can be monitored using the following CNode metrics:

- Average number of inflight messages per port
- Number of messages sent per port