topic Re: Aggregate advise in ONTAP Hardware

Aggregate advise

CARTERFIELDS — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:34:07 GMT

New to NetApp and need some setup advise. When I asked my pre-sales SE about getting the optimum space from our storage he suggested:

Yes, a couple of options are (FAS2240 w/24 disks):

22 disks assigned to controller A and 2 assigned to controller B. Highest capacity, and partner is failover over, no spare. Most aggressive config.
1. Controller A: 21 Disk raid group / Raid-DP Aggregate + 1 spare.
2. Controller B: 2 disk Raid-4 Aggregate, no spare.
21 disks assigned to controller A and 3 assigned to controller B. More conservative with spare on failover partner, slightly less capacity.
1. Controller A: 20 Disk raid group / Raid-DP Aggregate + 1 spare.
2. Controller B: 2 disk Raid-4 Aggregate + 1 spare.
20 disks assigned to controller A and 4 assigned to controller B. Most balanced with spares (2 per), but lowest usable capacity config of the three options.
1. Controller A: 20 Disk raid group / Raid-DP Aggregate + 2 spare.
2. Controller B: 2 disk Raid-4 Aggregate + 2 spare.

Looking at doing #2. Currently configured as a 7-mode, HA pair. Each controller has 12 disks. I'm unable to create an aggregate containing the partners disks.

I'm assuming I would need to create a new aggr on Cont B, move vol0 to that. But how do I get the partners disks into Cont A's Aggregate. Also assuming I would use/expand Controller A's aggr0?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

-Carter

Re: Aggregate advise

aborzenkov — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:37:47 GMT

If would use 2 then with RAID_DP without spares.

You unassign disks on current owner and assign them on partner.

On A: disk assign 0a.0.xx -s unowned

On B: disk assign 0a.0.xx

Re: Aggregate advise

radek_kubka — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:22:32 GMT

Have you got more than a single workload? If yes, why not create a more symmetrical setup (12 disks on each head) to load balance both controllers?

You won't be losing that much capacity comparing with an "asymmetrical" setup, where 3 disks are practically lost for a root aggregate.

Regards,

Radek

Re: Aggregate advise

JGPSHNTAP — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:01:42 GMT

Total capacity vs overall optimal disk layout, I tend to build out 2240's a little differently

Also, depends on how far away you are from a PFE to come onsite and replace a disk. That also plays into the picture...

I tend to go on the side of less risk.

18 + 2 spares on A side, and B side is 3 disk aggr0 + 1 spare. I usually sleep better at night that way