topic Re: Adding disks from different shelves in ONTAP Hardware

Adding disks from different shelves

DLista — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 12:44:26 GMT

I'm preparing a storate solution for a customer and have some doubts about disk mixing rules. From HWU, it is possible to use X477A disks on a DS212C disk shelf.

X336A = 4TB,7.2K RPM, 12GBPS, NL-SAS

X477A = 4TB, 7.2K RPM, 6GBPS, NL-SAS

First case:

X336A (DS212C) and X477A (DS4246 w/IOM12) disks on the same aggregate

Second case:

X477A (DS212C) and X477A (DS4246 w/IOM12) disks on the same aggregate.

Is is possible to create an aggregate with disks from both shelves? Or add capacity to an aggregate using disks from another disk shelf?

Re: Adding disks from different shelves

SpindleNinja — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 02:16:38 GMT

I think that's one of those, just because you can, dosen't necessarily mean you should.

What's the overall config going to look like? are you just adding shelves or is this a new FAS deployment.

Re: Adding disks from different shelves

AlexDawson — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 02:43:18 GMT

Hi there!

Interesting question! It is supported to use drives from different shelves in the same aggregate and/or raid group. If HWU says the drive is supported in the shelf, then that is fine.

Mixing of drive technologies is not recommended, but different speed interfaces on the same drive technology should be fine. In either case, the drive will be slower than the maximum speed of the drive interfaces, and the backend connection from the shelf will still be 4x12Gbps.

For final answer, you should contact the partner solutions centre for your region. Please feel free to provide me your corporate contact details and I will connect you, or you can find the document on fieldportal outlining the partner solutions centers.

Hope this helps!