topic Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140 in ONTAP Hardware

Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

rschramm — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:02:38 GMT

Hi,

NetApp actually has a great document on this topic but I have a few questions and want to see if the community has any input or if anyone has actually done this before.

The document (https://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/docs/hardware/filer/215-03653_A0.pdf) in summary explains:

1. Making sure you have 3 unowned disks for ONTAP

2. Setting up the existing controller as a netboot server

3. Physically installing and connecting the new controller

4. Assign an IP, netboot, and install ONTAP on the new controller

5. Install the OS on the new controller and add licenses

6. Run setup on the existing controller to add partner IP

7. Reboot bother controllers and enable failover

8. Clone the config to the new controller

This all makes sense except:

1. The document says the system auto-assigns 2 disks to the new controller. I have 4 spare disks on one shelf which I plan on removing ownership of 3 (one spare) of them for ONTAP. Does it matter what shelf ONTAP is installed on? Will the system auto-assign the unowned disks?

2. Will all my existing aggrs, vols, and data be ok?

3. What about reassigning disks now that there is a second controller?

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

aborzenkov — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:29:58 GMT

1. You can use any drives in any shelf. The document tells you to disable auto-assign on existing controller – otherwise it may happen that when you remove ownership controller will re-assign it back (I do not remember scan frequency, I think it is around 5 minutes).

2. As long as you won’t remove ownership from any disk that is part of aggregate your existing data should be OK

3. I am not sure I understand the question. To reassign disks you need to know sysid of new controller. If you have this information, you could reassign them.

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

rschramm — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:52:16 GMT

Thanks for the reply. To elaborate on the last question, when you do a disk show on an active/active cluster you see some disks are owned by one, some are owned by the other. Correct me if I am wrong but when I add the second controller, won't all disks be owned by the original controller? Is there any drawback to this?

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

aborzenkov — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:11:58 GMT

You are correct, that is why you need to remove ownership from some disks to make them available for second controller before starting installation. You already mentioned this in your original post.

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

rschramm — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:35:03 GMT

Yes I'm clear about unassigning the spare disks for the ONTAP install of the new controller. But once I complete the procedure and have the active/active cluster up, when I do a disk show, 3 disks will be owned by the new controller, and the doezns of other disks will still be owned by the original controller. Is there any problem with that setup or can I just leave it that way?

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

datamanaged — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:26:24 GMT

No, there shouldn't be a problem with that setup. If you only want the new controller to have 3 disks thats fine. Best practices say to have at least 1 spare though, so 4 disks.

Best Regards,
Adam S.

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

aborzenkov — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:04:28 GMT

You can leave it this way.

Re: Adding a Second Controller to a FAS3140

jthacheril — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:59:01 GMT

you can just leave it that way , no need to worry as it is just the way it supposed to be .. If you see that disk later login to each filer with sysconfig -r , it will clerally tell other disks are "partner" disks.

Better to keep atleat one spare disk in each filer ( each filer should OWN a spare disk )