ONTAP Discussions

Disk Replace on Partitioned Disks

TMADOCTHOMAS
4,886 Views

Hello,

I need to replace some disks and need insight into nuances and issues that might arise from doing that with partitioned disks.

 

Background: we have a 4-node AFF cluster where support is ending on two nodes on 1/31. We are going to migrate all volumes to the remaining 2 nodes and move the shelves over after depopulating them. There is currently one shelf per node, all the same size, except for a single tiny additional shelf attached to the nodes we are depopulating. I'm going to use this as my "lifeboat" to move the root aggregate to from the first shelf I depopulate so the node continues to function after removing the shelf. We are running OnTAP 9.5P14.

 

Each aggregate occupies half of each shelf. After depopulating one aggregate and moving the root aggregate on one node to the tiny shelf, my last step before removing the shelf is swapping the 12 disks belonging to the other aggregate for 12 spare disks. The end result: the remaining aggregate will be on one shelf and the shelf I'm removing will only consist of spare disks.

 

To do this, I plan to turn off disk autoassign, perform a storage disk replace on all twelve disks, then remove the disk owners on the spares so I can move the shelf. What makes it interesting is the fact that these are partitioned disks. Both aggregates use ADP. When I move the root aggregate from one node, I assume the partitions remain and are just empty.

 

The question is: does it make sense to also perform a storage disk unpartition on all 23 disks that used to belong to the decommissioned data aggregate BEFORE doing the storage disk replace? Is it necessary? Would it make more sense to wait until the disk replace is over and then do the unpartition? I want the disks unpartitioned before moving the shelves to the remaining two nodes, but I just want to get a sense of when it makes the most sense to run the command. Would love to hear any insights!

 

(NOTE: this is related to another post of mine: https://community.netapp.com/t5/ONTAP-Discussions/Move-Root-Aggregate/td-p/161344)

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

ttran
4,655 Views

Hi Tmadocthomas,

 

Yes, it is best practice to un-partition the drives before decommissioning them so you don't run into any issues when they are re-purposed. Yes, please wait until the "disk replace" is finished, in addition to verifying everything is healthy on the new disks before you un-partition the disks planned for removal in the event any recovery efforts are needed.

 

 

Regards, 

 

Team NetApp

Team NetApp

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6 REPLIES 6

nboggs
4,807 Views

The best practice is to zero the disks before removing them from the original storage system.  Otherwise there will be foreign aggregates that will have to be removed.  Here is a kb about removing foreign aggregates.

https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Software/ONTAP_OS/How_to_remove_a_foreign_aggregate_(made_out_of_orphaned_disks)_in_Clus...

 

Here is how to zero disks.

https://docs.netapp.com/ontap-9/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.netapp.doc.onc-sm-wfg-900%2FGUID-A5315359-6193-4945-A8EB-F897A3C7FEB5.html

TMADOCTHOMAS
4,801 Views

Thank you @nboggs ! That is definitely on my agenda to zero them before moving the shelf. Just trying to get an idea regarding the partitioning.

nboggs
4,799 Views

As long as the disks are zeroed it shouldn't be a problem.  Otherwise the procedure to remove foriegn aggregates is listed above 🙂

TMADOCTHOMAS
4,795 Views

Right @nboggs , however my main question is about partitioned disks. After unpartitioning them I know they need to be zeroed. Or, are you indicating that zeroing them also removes the partitions?

ttran
4,656 Views

Hi Tmadocthomas,

 

Yes, it is best practice to un-partition the drives before decommissioning them so you don't run into any issues when they are re-purposed. Yes, please wait until the "disk replace" is finished, in addition to verifying everything is healthy on the new disks before you un-partition the disks planned for removal in the event any recovery efforts are needed.

 

 

Regards, 

 

Team NetApp

Team NetApp

TMADOCTHOMAS
4,592 Views

Thank you @ttran ! That answers my question. I will unpartition after doing the replace.

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