topic Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true? in ONTAP Discussions

About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

JavierBarea — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:14:24 GMT

Hello people

just doublechecking about the requirement of having at least twenty drives NLSAS HDD drives within a DS460C to be deployed.

does it still remain as such?, I mean still true about for proper cooling populating first row in each drawer?

Thanks in advance

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

Ontapforrum — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:21:03 GMT

This Kb, might have seen it already, does say that anything less than 60 drives needs to be placed in a 'U' shape pattern (first 4 slots) for each drawer to eliminate/not generate error messages.

How to arrange disks in a non fully-populated DS460C or DE460C shelf
https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Systems/FAS_Systems/How_to_arrange_disks_in_a_non_fully-populated_DS460C_or_DE460C_shelf

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

JavierBarea — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 10:12:34 GMT

Hello people again.

Thx for being so quick.

is that the answer to my question a yes? 20hdd are needed?

reading this below

"For a partially populated DS460C/DE460C disk shelf which does not have a drive in every drive slot, you must ensure that:

The first four slots (0, 3, 6, and 9) are occupied in each drawer. This ensures proper airflow in the disk shelf
In a shelf with 30 drives, the first 20 drives must be in bays 0,3,6,9 of each of the 5 drawers; with the remaining ten drives distributed evenly throughout the shelf in slots 1 and 10 of each drawer"

i am not 100% sure yet

Regards

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

Ontapforrum — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 10:57:56 GMT

Yes. The reason is this key recommendation : "A DS460C shelf that has disks fully populating the first row in the drawer (0, 3, 6, 9) will not create EMS alert in ONTAP, nor generate an Active IQ alert." Considering this requirements, you will need 4 in each of the Drawers (4 x 5 = 20 Minimum).

As you have 20 drives: In each drawer's first row will occupy : 0,3,6,9 x 5D = 20 Drives

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

TMACMD — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 15:02:44 GMT

A minimum of 20 drives is needed for proper cooling

The first four slots (0, 3, 6, and 9) are occupied in each drawer. This ensures proper airflow in the disk shelf

Beyond that, disks should be evenly distributed on each drawer

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

dchomyn — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:11:31 GMT

Does anyone know the drive slots to be used when there are a total of x08 HDDs/Drawer? The kb states, "The first four slots (0, 3, 6, 9) should always be filled in each drawer, and in the case of a shelf containing 30 drives, slots 1 and 10 in each drawer must also contain drives, creating a U-shape within the drawer [...}".

When going from x04 HDD/Drawer (0,3,6,9) to x08 HDD/Drawer (0,3,6,9, X, X,X,X)? Is the U-shape what is required (0,3,6,9,+1, +10,+2,+11) OR (0,3,6,9,+1,+4,+7,+10) - complete 2nd row behind the first row of x04 HDDs?

The kb does not show this scenario... DS460C Shelf with a total of 40HDD?

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

TMACMD — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:24:09 GMT

Minimum 20. Insert into the front row of each shelf

for the next row, make the U. Fill in all slot #1 first then slot #10. If you still have more then start filling slot #4 then slot #7. That competes row 2

if you expand to row 3, then same process

start with all #2 slots then all #11 slots filled by #5 slots and finish with #8 slots

the whole point is for uniformity of air flow through the shelf

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

dchomyn — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:26:13 GMT

Thank you!

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

dchomyn — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:49:33 GMT

I am informed by Support of the following: When adding x20 new disks to drawers containing x04 disks each (x20 original drives in the DE460C Shelf in Slots 0, 3, 6, 9 in each Drawer):

"For adding the drives, you can either go with 1,4,7,10 or 1,2,10,11 - both are supported"

Thanks!

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

Eduard-S — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 09:21:47 GMT

What if the customer currently has 20 drives installed, properly arranged (0, 3, 6, 9 in each drawer) and wants to add an additional 12 drives. First 10 drives would complete the "U" in the first 5 drawers. Where should the final 2 drives be placed? Also, would adding the 12 drives require downtime?

The KB mentions "the mitigation task requires downtime and a maintenance period to resolve" but it's not clear whether this applies only to the first time the drives are placed to comply with population rules.

Cheers,

Eduard

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

dchomyn — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:19:16 GMT

I am not a Subject Matter Expert, here, so, I cannot answer with respect to x12 disk placement.

What KB are you referring to?

Re: About first initial 20minimum drives count number for DS460C to de deployed. still true?

Eduard-S — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:21:34 GMT

This one here https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Systems/FAS_Systems/How_to_arrange_disks_in_a_non_fully-populated_DS460C_or_DE460C_shelf

Eduard Slobozeanu
Partner Technical Lead

NetApp
+310206394090 Direct Phone
+310616159246 Mobile Phone
+310625634594 Mobile Phone
eduard.slobozeanu@netapp.com

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