WFA - Query DFM and Protection policy from Workflow

[sheelnidhig]

Hello Guys,

We have approx 8 DFM servers acting as Protection manager servers.

I am looking for a possibility to query the DFM servers added as a Datasource, so that :

- I can select the DFM server where I would like create a dataset and add volumes to it.

- be able to list down the available protection policies which can be attached to a dataset.

I cannot find any item in Dictionary item regarding DFM components and be able to add or remove objects in DFM server.

Do we have any Workflow available which can do something like this ?

,Sheel

[adaikkap]

Hi Sheel,

     Before I come to your pointed questions, let me see if I understood what you are trying to achieve.

Are you trying to automate the dataset creation in your 8 DFM/ProtMgr Servers from WFA so that you dont have to login to individual  DFM/PM server.

If that's a right understanding, then the simple answer to all your questions is its possible,  but not completely out of the box.

You may have to write some custom command, for which there are sample out to the box as well as in the community.

Also there may be need to add a playground database with your 8 DFM server for the resource selection.

Now coming to your specific questions  Pls find some of my response below.

Do we have any Workflow available which can do something like this ?

Not out of the box, but there are sample in the communities.

We have approx 8 DFM servers acting as Protection manager servers.
I am looking for a possibility to query the DFM servers added as a Datasource, so that :
- I can select the DFM server where I would like create a dataset and add volumes to it.
- be able to list down the available protection policies which can be attached to a dataset.

First we have to see  if these are cached in WFA, from the DFM, if not either write a custom datasource or since many of these information are pretty static,  we may even use the playground database.

I cannot find any item in Dictionary item regarding DFM components and be able to add or remove objects in DFM server.

There are dictionary items to like Resource Groups, Resource Group Members, Resource Pools dataset. You can extend any of these are build new ones as well.

Also there are following commands

Create Dataset

Add volume to dataset

Create Resource Groups

Add members to Resource Groups

Regards

adai

[sheelnidhig]

Thanks Adai,

     Would it be possible to share one or two example which really puts some DFM Protection manager related data to a Playground database ?

,Sheel

[abhit]

There is some cached protection data already under the cm_storage scheme.

Please see the attached file.

What other data you are looking to cache?

Regards

Abhi

[sheelnidhig]

Hello Abhi,

I am looking for the DFM's Ptorection manager data for 7-mode environment like:

     - Dataset

     - Protection Policy

     - Provisioning Policy

     - Resource Pool

     - Schedule attached with Protection Policy

[abhit]

Thanks,

2 Options below. Option 2 will be easier in my opinion.

1.if you known the DFM 7-mode table names, and need help with playground.

please follow the document, mentioned in the following doc.

https://communities.netapp.com/docs/DOC-30504

You should be able to create without any issues.

2. Other easier way. This will require very minimal changes. Please follow these steps.

a) Clone a dictionary, dataset. Rename it to "Protection Policy", change name of attributes to suite "Protection Policy".

b) Goto "Designer->Data Source Type. Clone "UM 5.x 7-mode Data source".

c) Goto "cache queries", clone Dataset,  Rename it to "Protection Policy", Open the cache query to modify the sql query to get the data

from DFM 7-mode "Protection Policy" table.

Repeat the same for

     - Provisioning Policy

     - Resource Pool

     - Schedule attached with Protection Policy

Let me know if you need further help.

Regards

Abhi

[abhit]

Sheel:

Any luck with the options?

Regards

Abhi

[cscott]

Hello Sheel,

     Does this workflow get you moving in the correct direction?  I created this using SQL queries rather than building dictionaries or using the playground DB.

The major drawback with this approach is that you cannot have the same controller/volume combinations in two DFM instances.

e.g.  filerA:vol1 in DFM1, and filerA:vol1 in DFM2.  This lead me down some bad paths, so I don't recommend it unless your DFM instances manage a dedicated set of controllers/volumes.

[sheelnidhig]

Hello Abhi,

No luck so far, i am not able to modify the cloned dataset table -> protection policy dictionary,

     change name of attributes to suite "Protection Policy" ---> could not get any relevant attributes.

c) Goto "cache queries", clone Dataset,  Rename it to "Protection Policy", Open the cache query to modify the sql query to get the data

from DFM 7-mode "Protection Policy" table.

     - not much information available for the dfm database.

,Sheel

[sheelnidhig]

IS there a possibility to get other DFM's protection manager information by a SQL query and be able to create the DFM server objects in protection manager.