nodetool errors with: Unknown host with no default configured

Summary

The command nodetool shows the following error:

Unknown host <ip address> with no default configured

Cause

When using the PropertyFileSnitch, there must be a DC:RAC entry for every node in:

/etc/dse/cassandra/cassandra-topology.properties

If there is a unlisted node, the snitch will try to apply a default.  This requires the default to be defined:

# default for unknown nodes

default=dc1:r1

If this entry is commented out , nodetool will complain about the missing node definition

Solution

Either option should work:

- Create a DC:RAC entry for the ip address listed in the error

- Define a default DC:RAC location for unknown nodes