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server direct attach AFF

imadam

Hi,

is there a plan to allow direct attach of servers to AFF (or FAS) in future? We see other vendors are doing that and once we attach pair of FC switches, we always comes most expensive solution.

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Accepted answers

cedric_renauld

Hello,

NO, Sorry FC directe attach isn't possible, isn't due to NetApp technologie, but to NPIV technologie, NetApp isn't alone in this case, you can find some explain in this VMware Docs :

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.storage.doc/GUID-474BE53E-065A-43C0-ADCA-3D676AD394AE.html

If your storage providor use NPIV to have multiple WWN, to manage like different SVM on the same FC connexion, NPIV is required, and direct attach is needed

If you have only one FC connexion, like Eseries, you can do direct attach

All comments

cedric_renauld

Hello,

NO, Sorry FC directe attach isn't possible, isn't due to NetApp technologie, but to NPIV technologie, NetApp isn't alone in this case, you can find some explain in this VMware Docs :

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.storage.doc/GUID-474BE53E-065A-43C0-ADCA-3D676AD394AE.html

If your storage providor use NPIV to have multiple WWN, to manage like different SVM on the same FC connexion, NPIV is required, and direct attach is needed

If you have only one FC connexion, like Eseries, you can do direct attach

imadam

Hi, can you name other solution from other vendors with these limitations?

I read somewhere that PowerStore from DELL supports this direct attach, Nimble is able to do it. I guess others as well. E series isn't something that is doable in today's scenarios even in SMB. Only for backup, video surveillance as advertised by Netapp 😊.

AlexDawson

It's not a limitation, it's due to the power and flexibility of NetApp's storage multitenancy and storage virtualisation.

E-Series is fine for VMWare in 3-4 host scenarios if direct attach is a key requirement.

imadam

E series doesn't have certain features required. We have been using so far but looks like Netapp is limiting E-series in favor or FAS/A series.

imadam

"It's not a limitation, it's due to the power and flexibility of NetApp's storage multitenancy and storage virtualisation. " --> I have to admit I haven't dive too deep here but looks like DELL supports this all but also with direct attach. I remember 3par did this. So I am wondering why Netapp is doing this in terms of features and benefits for end-user since I it bit hard to understand.
And yes, it is limitation 🤷‍♂️

chamfer

Hi @imadam ,

Can you consider direct connect with iSCSI? This should be possible even though it may not be officially supported by NetApp.

AlexDawson

Direct attach for iSCSI is supported actually - https://docs.netapp.com/us-en/ontap/pdfs/sidebar/SAN_configuration_reference.pdf

imadam

Thanks. We will ask for demo with 25G Eth to test it.

AlexDawson

Sounds good! basically you setup one subnet per controller for the iSCSI LIFs, and then connect the LUN via both of them. Sorry, I hadn't suggested it earlier since I thought you were set on Fiber Channel!