diff --git a/source/reference/configuration-options.txt b/source/reference/configuration-options.txt
index 2b30159c712..2a45ddf392a 100644
--- a/source/reference/configuration-options.txt
+++ b/source/reference/configuration-options.txt
@@ -4246,11 +4246,19 @@ LDAP Parameters
    
         - Start this instance as a :term:`config server`. The instance
           starts on port ``27019`` by default.
-   
+
+          When you configure a MongoDB instance as 
+          clusterRole ``configsvr`` you must also specify a 
+          :setting:`~replication.replSetName`.
+
       * - ``shardsvr``
    
         - Start this instance as a :term:`shard`. The instance starts
           on port ``27018`` by default.
+
+          When you configure a MongoDB instance as a 
+          a clusterRole ``shardsvr`` you must also specify a 
+          :setting:`~replication.replSetName`.
    
 
    .. note::
diff --git a/source/reference/program/mongod.txt b/source/reference/program/mongod.txt
index d6cfb153029..52d19fe0c26 100644
--- a/source/reference/program/mongod.txt
+++ b/source/reference/program/mongod.txt
@@ -1898,14 +1898,16 @@ Sharded Cluster Options
    ``/data/configdb``, unless specified.
    
    .. important::
-   
-      Starting in 3.4, you must deploy config servers as a replica set.
-      The use of the deprecated mirrored :binary:`~bin.mongod` instances as
-      config servers (SCCC) is no longer supported.
-   
-      The replica set config servers (CSRS) must run the
-      :doc:`WiredTiger storage engine </core/wiredtiger>`.
-   
+
+      When starting a MongoDB server with ``--configsvr``, you must also
+      specify a :option:`--replSet <mongod --replSet>`. 
+
+   The use of the deprecated mirrored :binary:`~bin.mongod` instances as
+   config servers (SCCC) is no longer supported.
+
+   The replica set config servers (CSRS) must run the
+   :doc:`WiredTiger storage engine </core/wiredtiger>`.
+
    The :option:`--configsvr` option creates a local :term:`oplog`.
    
    Do not use the :option:`--configsvr` option with :option:`--shardsvr`. Config
@@ -1945,9 +1947,9 @@ Sharded Cluster Options
    ``27018``.
    
    .. important::
-   
-      Starting in MongoDB 3.6, you must deploy shards as replica sets. See the :option:`--replSet`
-      option to deploy :program:`mongod` as part of a replica set.
+
+      When starting a MongoDB server with ``--shardsvr``, you must also
+      specify a :option:`--replSet <mongod --replSet>`. 
    
    Do not use the :option:`--shardsvr` with the
    :parameter:`skipShardingConfigurationChecks` parameter. That is, if
diff --git a/source/release-notes/5.1.txt b/source/release-notes/5.1.txt
index 67ba13817ae..933ff4ba83a 100644
--- a/source/release-notes/5.1.txt
+++ b/source/release-notes/5.1.txt
@@ -134,6 +134,17 @@ determines whether the temporary documents required for :ref:`retryable
 <retryable-writes>` :dbcommand:`findAndModify` commands are stored in
 the *side* collection (``config.image_collection``).
 
+``Mongod`` Sharded Cluster And Config Server Changes
+----------------------------------------------------
+
+Starting in MongoDB 5.1, when starting a :binary:`mongod` with the 
+:option:`--configsvr <mongod--configsvr>` option you must also
+specify a :option:`--replSet <mongod --replSet>`.
+
+Starting in MongoDB 5.1, when starting a :binary:`mongod` with the 
+:option:`--shardsvr <mongod --shardsvr>` option you must also 
+specify a :option:`--replSet <mongod --replSet>`.
+
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