What is the second step in configuring a new cluster?

The process of configuring a new cluster involves several structured steps to ensure proper setup and operational efficiency. The second step typically involves configuring networking. This step is crucial because networking establishes the cluster's communication pathways for data transfer and management. Proper network configuration ensures that all nodes in the cluster can communicate with each other and with external clients or systems, which is essential for both redundancy and performance.

Creating local tiers, while important, occurs after networking is established as it relies on the network being configured correctly to ensure that the storage tiers can interact efficiently within the cluster. Thus, focusing first on networking allows subsequent steps, including creating local tiers and enabling protocols, to function without connectivity issues.