VLDB offline on the node due to huge WAL file size on the partner node

https://kb.netapp.com/on-prem/ontap/Ontap_OS/OS-KBs/VLDB_offline_on_the_node_due_to_huge_WAL_file_size_on_the_partner_node

Hi NetApp Community,I hope this message finds you well. I'm reaching out to kindly request access to the following Knowledge Base article:

KB Title:

DS4486_Shelf_flashes_H1_evacuation_state_after_disk_carrier_replacement

Background & Context:We are currently managing a DS4486 disk shelf environment and recently encountered a situation where, after replacing a disk carrier, the shelf continues to display H1 evacuation state on the operator display panel.As documented in the DS4486 Installation and Service Guide, the H1 shelf mode is initiated automatically when one disk drive in a carrier faults and data from the good disk drive is being copied to a spare. During this state, the system prevents removal of any faulted disk carrier to protect data integrity. However, in our case, the H1 state appears to persist beyond the expected evacuation window even after the carrier replacement has been completed.Why I need this KB:I have reviewed the standard DS4486 documentation, but it does not provide specific troubleshooting steps for scenarios where the H1 evacuation state remains active after a disk carrier has already been replaced. I believe this particular KB article contains targeted guidance or known issues related to this specific behavior.Important Note:I understand that this KB article was archived in January 2026 and is no longer publicly accessible through the standard NetApp Support portal search. This is precisely why I am turning to the community in the hope that someone may still have a copy of the original content or the key troubleshooting steps documented within it.If anyone from the NetApp support team or community has access to this archived KB and could share the contents or key troubleshooting steps, it would be greatly appreciated.Additional Details (if helpful):

• Shelf Model: DS4486
• Issue: H1 evacuation state persists post disk carrier replacement
• System: ONTAP environment with multi-disk carriers

Thank you very much for your time and assistance!

Netapp community,

My Name Heru , beginner storage engineer.

Can I Ask is that Netapp FAS 8020 ONTAP version 9.8P18 can support direct connection point to point topology Fibre Channel HBA with server running Redhat Linux Ent 10 ? Thank you for your answers.

Fibre Channel Direct Attach With NetApp Storage: Simpler SAN For The Right Environments

SAN complexity is often treated as a fixed cost of block storage. Fibre Channel Direct Attach, available with NetApp’s ONTAP 9.19.1, gives customers a simpler option when they do not need the scale and policy model of a full FC fabric. The result is a cleaner architecture, lower infrastructure cost, faster deployment, and more predictable host-to-array performance.

Just as important, FC Direct Attach can be treated as a valid SAN design point —not a compromise pattern. In edge, remote, cost-sensitive, and otherwise bounded environments, it delivers enterprise block outcomes without forcing a fabric-first design.

Design Boundaries

The most useful way to position FC Direct Attach is through environment fit. The model is best when host counts are known and bounded, ownership is clear, and expansion patterns are predictable.

Teams are generally better served by switch-attached fabric when they need higher fan-out, frequent topology changes, broad zoning policy flexibility, or long-range expansion options. In other words, this is not about good versus bad design —it is about matching SAN topology to workload scope.

Where FC Direct Attach Fits Best

Direct attach is especially useful in environments where simplicity and repeatability matter more than broad fan-out. Typical good-fit use cases include:

• Edge or ROBO deployments with predictable host growth
• Small clusters, typically in the two-to-four-host range
• Test and development environments
• Cost-constrained deployments that still require strong SAN behavior

Technical Value

At a technical level, FC Direct Attach enables per-port direct attach (DA) with one SCSI or NVMe LIF per DA port. This creates a flatter data path and reduces operational overhead tied to external switching layers.

Key technical benefits include:

• Simpler setup and troubleshooting with fewer moving parts
• Reduced TCO and administrative complexities from FC switch elimination
• Lower latency potential from fewer topology hops
• Dedicated bandwidth per host for stronger performance predictability
• Clearer fault isolation tied directly to host links and array ports

High availability remains part of the design. With multipath FC across redundant host and controller ports, teams can build resilient direct-attach connectivity even without an external fabric switch. This does not mirror every capability of large dual-fabric SAN designs, but it provides a credible HA model for bounded deployments.

NetApp ASA – Block Optimized, Simple, Reliable

NetApp ASA is designed for simplified SAN deployment where FC Direct Attach sharpens the value proposition for customers who need superior performance without switched fabric overhead. The economics are structural: fewer components, less cabling complexity, and lower day-2 management drag.

This also aligns with the purpose-built ASA block capabilities around simplicity (deployment, configuration, management, provisioning, automatic load balancing), reliability/resiliency, security and enterprise data services. The combination supports a clear message: simplify topology where it makes sense, while preserving enterprise block credibility.

Real-World implementation

Consider a global consumer goods manufacturer assessing storage standardization across more than 500 bottling and manufacturing facilities. Many sites already operate Fibre Channel direct connect without FC fabrics as a deliberate cost and simplicity choice. With FC Direct Attach in ONTAP 9.19.1, NetApp AFF, ASA and FAS storage can support those locations without adding a switch layer or forcing topology exceptions, enabling one block platform and one operational model across diverse site types.

The Takeaway

With Fibre Channel Direct Attach, you can keep the architecture straightforward while still leveraging the core strengths of FC: deterministic behavior, well-understood operational models, and consistent performance. It’s a strong fit for environments budgeted for cost that want clean connectivity, faster bring-up, simplicity and fewer dependencies.

Getting Started

Start by identifying direct-attach-fit locations: bounded host counts, predictable growth, and limited on-site SAN specialization.  Keep a dual-track architecture standard: direct attach where simplicity and cost savings are the value drivers, switched fabric where scale and policy needs justify it.

For More Information

Fibre Channel Direct Attach is supported on the following NetApp block products – our dedicated block solution (ASA), our Unified All Flash (AFF) and our Hybrid Flash (FAS) with ONTAP 9.19.1. 

https://docs.netapp.com/us-en/ontap/san-config/configure-fc-nvme-hosts-ha-pairs-reference.html

Hi All,

   I have a four node cluster with 4x10G Ports each on both AFF C400 and FAS8300 with two 10G switches.

My query is what should be the topology for achieving highest bandwidth and redundancy for NAS.

Should I connect, two ports from each node to switch one and another two to switch two and create a interface group using all the four.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Praveen.

Hi Techies, We are planning to copy our NetApp cluster configuration backups to http we server. But, I am getting below error

405 method not allowed

Please, help me with this configuration.

We are currently utilizing the NetApp FAS8300 storage system, configured with FSAS (Fat SAS) disk type operating at 7200 RPM. We want to know the  whats IOPS support for this Model !

Hi All,

    I am installing a new NetApp FAS8300 system equipped with an DS212 shelf (12 x 12TB NL-SAS disks) and DS224 shelf (10 x 3.8TB SSDs). My question is how to connect these two disk shelves to the controller: should they be daisy-chained in a single stack, or do they require separate stacks/loops? If daisy-chaining is supported, which shelf should be positioned first (closest to the controller)? Additionally, I plan to use the DS212 shelf for the root aggregate disks.

Ordered mini-SAS HD SAS optical cables for both shelves.

Your help and inputs will be very valuable.

Thanks and regards.

Praveen.

Hey guys -

Can anyone with an 8040 post the Processor type from a "sysconfig" command?  I need the exact CPU model number for some things I'm working on - need independent confirmation of something my NetApp team told me.

Thanks in advance!

Bob

Hi,

I have couple of dozen FAS2220 NetApp Release 8.2.5P5 7-Mode  arrays. I have also a stock of brand new disks I use to replace failed disks. The disks are not sent by vendor as there is no support for those devices anymore but they are purchased from Netapp partner. 

Unfortunately quite frequently new disks are not accepted by the array. It's very random. Sometimes there is no issue at all and the other time after the replacement even size of the disk is not recognized. Sometimes i have to try 5 new disks untiull finally one of them will be added to the pool.

How can I find the root cause ? If that would be one array i'd suspect hardware issue but if it happens on many separate arrays.

slot 0: SAS Host Adapter 0a (PMC-Sierra PM8001 rev. C, SAS, <UP>)
Firmware rev: 01.12.09.00
Base WWN: 5:00a098:001895d:b0
Phy State: [0] Enabled, 6.0 Gb/s
[1] Enabled, 6.0 Gb/s
[2] Enabled, 6.0 Gb/s
[3] Enabled, 6.0 Gb/s
00.0 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N1211R5L)
00.1 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N1211VNL)
00.2 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N120EKML)
00.3 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N21B76HE)
00.4 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N121396L)
00.5 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N121408L)
00.6 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N120HTDL)
00.7 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N1211GZL)
00.8 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N1213BRL)
00.9 : NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N120D7HL)
00.10: NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 0.0GB 0B/sect (Failed)
00.11: NETAPP X302_HJUPI01TSSM NA04 847.5GB 512B/sect (N1213YPL)
Shelf 0: DS2126 Firmware rev. IOM6E A: 0172 IOM6E B: 0172

vol status -f

Broken disks (empty)

Cheers

Marius

Hi all,

we have FAS2620 that comes with 12 disk (2TB).  During the installation fo the cluster the disks have been partitioned and have root and data partition and the ownership was assigned automatically. Half of the disks are owned by the first node and the other half by the second node.

I am just wondering if I can change the ownership of some disk that belongs to the second node and assign them to the first node so that it would be possible to create an aggregate of a bigger size. The root partitions of the disks assigned to the second node are at the moment used by the root aggregate of this node.

Any ideas, best practicies?

Thanks!

Hi,

We have two FAS 2720 with FlashPool in production configured as follows:

FAS 2720: 4SSD 960GB + 10HDD 4TB
3 x DS212C 12HDD 4TB

We need to increase the available space and I have to decide whether to purchase:

• FAS 2820 with the same disk configuration
• FAS 2820 with the same disk configuration but 4 x DS212C 12HDD 4TB
• FAS 2820 with 4SSD + 10HDD 10TB and 4 x DS212C 12HDD 10TB

We use these FAS via NFSv3 to store our customers' emails (Maildir format, so many small files accessed little but with metadata read very frequently).

With the current configuration, just one of these FAS easily reaches over 22,000 IOPS (data taken from the System Manager Dashboard).

The doubt is:

• if I buy the configuration with 10TB disks and an additional drawer (which costs double compared to the current configuration) will I be able to at least double the IOPS and the occupied space to recover the investment?
• if I buy the configuration with 4 Disk Shelves will I have more space but will I not risk having too many disks (58 4TB HDDs) in a RAID Group with RAID-DP?

With our NetApp sales representative we tried to do some simulations from Fusion of how many IOPS I could reach but according to Fusion the current configuration could not already do the IOPS that it is actually doing.

Can you give me some advice? I would like to send the order soon.

Thanks

Hi,

I have a FAS2750 with DS2246 shelves. We had a disk fail the other day and i`ve purchased some 2nd hand disks from a reputable reseller. I`ve contacted NetApps but they no longer stock the disks for this system. 

When i plug the disks in i get a bad label message and the disk doesn`t show as a spare. If i run these commands will it solve this issue?

set -privilege advanced

storage disk unfail -s 1.1.7

storage aggr status -s

storage disk zerospares -owner node-1-cluster-1-gb-cam-1

I`ve never done this before so don`t want to wipe the rest of the disks. 

Many thanks

Hello

I have a device that belongs to ONTAP 8.2.5. I can't activate my existing licenses after a device reset.

The source of my problem is that I have a 7-character license. But my device's version supports it based on 28 characters.

My current licenses are due to the fact that they are compatible with the old version.

Error alert I'm encountering

hostname> license add XXXXXXX
license add: invalid license key "XXXXXXX", license keys must be 28 or 42 letters in length. I get a warning in the form of.

Does anyone have the 8.0 / 8.1. 7-Mode firmware file for Netapp FAS-2240?

If you have it, can you share it with me.

Thank you very much in advance for your support and suggestions.

Hi,

I need advice on a new FAS to buy. We currently have a FAS 2720 configured as follows

4x960GB + 8x4TB + 3xDS212C 12x4TB

with two aggregates of about 50TB each and Flash Pool.

We use it to store customer emails, these are many small files accessed rarely but with a lot of use of metadata (for this reason Flash Pool helps us a lot), the IOPS at peak times reach 20,000 in total.

We need a second FAS and the options we are evaluating are these:

• FAS2820A 4x960GB + 8x10TB + 4xDS212C 12x10TB: configuration with 10TB disks and an extra DS, I would have much more space but I think I would not be able to use it due to the IOPS limit. I did some simulations and the higher cost is only worth it if I can occupy more than double the space and therefore do double the IOPS of the current FAS 2720.
• FAS2820A 4x960GB + 8x4TB + 4xDS212C 12x4TB: configuration with an extra DS but would it be safe to continue doing RAID-DP with this number of disks? I would like to continue having 2 aggregates.
• FAS2820A 4x960GB + 8x4TB + 3xDS212C 12x4TB: configuration similar to the one we already have

I did some simulations with Fusion to estimate the number of IOPS I could reach but according to Fusion it is not even possible to do the IOPS that I actually do now, so my workload is not well simulated.

I would like to have your advice.
Thanks

Hello,

I've researched this issue about every way I know how, but have not had much luck.  Anyway, we are a Splunk shop and we've got quite a bit of our NetApp (7mode and ONTAP) event traffic getting sent to Splunk.  That said, we've identified a "gap" in our ONTAP approach where we have the following events going to Splunk:

security.invalid.login (ALERT) - this captures failed attempts to login to the system with a valid user credential

sshd.auth.loginDenied (NOTICE) - this captures failed attempts to login with invalid credentials (i.e. security scans or just a fat-fingered userID)

We can issue "security audit log show" commands to see successful authentications/connections, but we can't seem to figure out a way of getting these captured in an event filter rule such that we can have all successful and unsuccessful logon attempts logged centrally.  A sort of goofy way to do this might be to issue a "cluster log-forwarding create" command and dump the command-history.log to Splunk, but that would capture a lot of garbage we just don't care about and make it harder to filter for authentication-related events.

So, has anybody figured out a clean way of sending all authentication events to an EMS - failures and success?  I'd rather not have to cron a separate process to mine the audit.log files of all the nodes/etc...

Thanks in advance!

Chris

After update software to ontap9, and restore config to default, I have this problem.

Before I can configure FAS2552 with Node Setup, configure IP and use Windows System Setup.

like this example

Now I cant use this method. Node offers "Welcome to the cluster setup wizard."

Boot log: 

 cf status:

hi all , 

we would like to get new FAS8040 system and we need to have the  below disk type : 

• SSD
• SAS
• SATA

is their any recommendation or concern if the above going to be implemented  ? 

is there any tier license from netapp required for such scenario .

thanks all 

Greeting, everyone.

Starting with FAS2600 and FAS8200, the controllers come with 2 builtin 10GbE network ports for cluster interconnections. The ports are generally identified as e0a and e0b. In certain situation, if the controller node is to be configured as an intended single-node cluster, or different combination of ports is chosen for cluster interconnections, could the rest of e0a and e0b be used to host data LIFs for NFS connections for instance?

In contrast, it is not allowed for the c0a and c0b on the FAS3200 and FAS6200 to be converted for data usage in the old days.

Any reply would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

Hi, 

How i can get shipping dimensions and weight for FAS 2720  , device dimensions and weight not acceptable for logistics agencies 

is there any reference i can use to find any NetApp shipping boxes dimensions 

Thanks in advance 

Hello, I am a researcher who works at the IT Research Institute in Korea.

We are going to introduce NetApp's product this time, and we are going to set a budget based on the FAS2700A Series of electricity this product has before we introduce it.

Can I know the amount of electricity this product has?

Please let me know, it's too hard to find the information, so I'm asking for your help.

Thank you, have a good day!

Hello fellow SAN admins, I've got question concerning the CPU behavior when limiting snapmirrors: actually our FAS is facing some CPU issues (over 80% CPU usage constantly), and I was thinking about removing the snapmirror limitation, in order to "discharge" the CPU. Can someone confirm if there's an impact (even minimal) in the CPU when "software-limiting" the snapmirrors? thanks!!

Hi Guys,

Disks are visible in both failed and spare disk list even after a replacement due to the bug in current ontap version 8.1- 7mode. Since it's a bug if we do failover and failback will it cause any impact .

Any sugesstion please.

Thanks
Saran

Hi All, 

Can anyone let me know what is the impact of changing the timezone on a cluster mode system. Also how to check if my controller's are in SYNC with NTP servers ?

Thanks,

Nayab

Hi,

This is a new FAS9000 running ONTAP 9.1 P10 Release.

The issue we are facing is with slow boot process on Node A Controller.

During the boot we found that it was much slower (10 minute more) than Node B.

The loading process is stuck in the following two steps:

1. NetApp Data ONTAP 9.1P10 – On this step is stay hangs for about 3-4 minutes
2. Firewall rules loaded – On this step is stay hangs for 6-7 minutes.

We swap the Node A Controller with Node B and still the issue on the same location of node A.

Has anyone seen such issue?

Many Thanks,

Can someone tell me the max DS4246 shelves that can be connected to a FAS 2554 with duel controllers?

Hi all,

I'm brand new to Netapp systems. Recently have had to move a cluster composed of 2 FAS3250s, a DS4246 and a DS2246 to a new rack. I've ensured everything was plugged back together as it was best I can. I can SSH into each device individually, but can't log into the web UI. (Verified the user I connected as via SSH had permission for HTTP login but didn't make a difference)

Logging in via SSH I get the following system message:

"The contents of the root volume may have changed and the local management configuration may be inconsistent and/or the local management databases may be out of sync with the replicated databases. This node is not fully operational. Contact support personnel for the root volume recovery procedures"

Can anyone point me in the right direction to start troubleshooting? I see in the KB an article to restore the system via serial connection, but there are licenses on the machine and we'd like to preserve those if at all possible. The actual data on disk doesn't make much difference, though.

Hi,

I have a FAS2554 with 2 controllers; the system comes with 20 spindle disks and 4 SSDs, they are split evently. 

Is there a way to have one of the two controllers take ownership of the 4 SSDs? Thanks!

Can anyone tell me where I can find a list with supported shelves drives for the FAS2040? I've been looking but have had no luck so far. Any help would be appreciated.

hi all , 

recently i have failed disk on Netapp FAS3170 and after replace the diks again i have recveived failed notification on the same disk any idea ?

Thanks