The engineer should first execute metrocluster check run to perform a current diagnostic validation of the MetroCluster configuration. NetApp documents that this command checks MetroCluster components and relationships and records any configuration errors. After the diagnostic completes, metrocluster check connection show displays the connection-specific results for MetroCluster IP nodes, including network connectivity checks and error information relating to ping, MTU, and storage connectivity. This directly addresses the requirement to verify backend network connections. metrocluster check cluster show focuses on cluster configuration results, while metrocluster check lif show focuses on LIF placement and related checks rather than the backend connections themselves. Relevant SAN ONTAP and MetroCluster topics include MetroCluster diagnostics, backend IP connectivity, configuration validation, inter-site connections, and post-installation verification.