Need help in configuring flash pool on FAS 8040

[Naveenpusuluru]

Hi Guys,

We have FAS 8040 which is our main prod system. We have 12 * 400GB SSD drives. The guys who configured this system previously created a aggregate with these SSD drives. This SSD aggregate hosting only one volume. I am planning to move this volume from SSD aggregate to SAS aggregate. I want to delete this SSD aggregate and want to convert two of our SAS aggregates on thos system to flash pools to improve the performance. Please find the configurations below.

EDCNETAPPCL01::> disk show -type SSD
                     Usable           Disk    Container   Container
Disk                   Size Shelf Bay Type    Type        Name      Owner
---------------- ---------- ----- --- ------- ----------- --------- --------
1.10.0              372.4GB    10   0 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.1              372.4GB    10   1 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.2              372.4GB    10   2 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.3              372.4GB    10   3 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.4              372.4GB    10   4 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.5              372.4GB    10   5 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.6              372.4GB    10   6 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.7              372.4GB    10   7 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.8              372.4GB    10   8 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.9              372.4GB    10   9 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.10             372.4GB    10  10 SSD     aggregate   F2_SSD1   EDCFILER02
1.10.11             372.4GB    10  11 SSD     spare       Pool0     EDCFILER02

EDCNETAPPCL01::> aggr show -r -aggregate F1_SAS

Owner Node: EDCFILER01
 Aggregate: F1_SAS (online, raid_dp) (block checksums)
  Plex: /F1_SAS/plex0 (online, normal, active, pool0)
   RAID Group /F1_SAS/plex0/rg0 (normal, block checksums)
                                                              Usable Physical
     Position Disk                        Pool Type     RPM     Size     Size Status
     -------- --------------------------- ---- ----- ------ -------- -------- ----------
     dparity  2.20.0                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     parity   2.21.0                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.1                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.1                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.2                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.2                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.3                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.3                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.4                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.4                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.5                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.5                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.6                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.6                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.7                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.22                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.8                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)

   RAID Group /F1_SAS/plex0/rg1 (normal, block checksums)
                                                              Usable Physical
     Position Disk                        Pool Type     RPM     Size     Size Status
     -------- --------------------------- ---- ----- ------ -------- -------- ----------
     dparity  2.21.8                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     parity   2.20.9                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.9                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.10                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.10                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.11                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.11                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.12                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.13                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.14                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.15                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.16                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.17                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.18                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.19                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.20                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.20.21                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)

EDCNETAPPCL01::> aggr show -r -aggregate F2_SAS

Owner Node: EDCFILER02
 Aggregate: F2_SAS (online, raid_dp) (block checksums)
  Plex: /F2_SAS/plex0 (online, normal, active, pool0)
   RAID Group /F2_SAS/plex0/rg0 (normal, block checksums)
                                                              Usable Physical
     Position Disk                        Pool Type     RPM     Size     Size Status
     -------- --------------------------- ---- ----- ------ -------- -------- ----------
     dparity  2.21.12                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     parity   2.22.0                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.13                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.1                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.14                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.2                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.15                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.3                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.16                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.4                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.17                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.5                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.18                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.6                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.19                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.7                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.20                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)

   RAID Group /F2_SAS/plex0/rg1 (normal, block checksums)
                                                              Usable Physical
     Position Disk                        Pool Type     RPM     Size     Size Status
     -------- --------------------------- ---- ----- ------ -------- -------- ----------
     dparity  2.22.8                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     parity   2.21.21                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.9                       0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.22                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.10                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.21.23                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.11                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.12                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.13                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.14                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.22                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.16                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.17                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.18                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.19                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.20                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)
     data     2.22.21                      0   SAS    10000   1.63TB   1.64TB (normal)

Please help me to convert above aggregates to flash pools. I need suggestions from you guys. How many SSD's do i need to add to each of the aggregate. What are the best practices according to my configurations. Thanks in advance.

[NAYABSK · Accepted solution]

Hi Naveen, 

May i know if the SSD aggregate and SAS aggregate on the same controller ? If yes use the command below to initiate a volume copy 

Or You can initiate a snapmirror relationship to transfer the volume ( After Snapmirror verify the volume if identical , You will have to remap LUNs or export the volume from destination to use it).

Now coming to Flash Pool creation may i know if you want to have flash pool on both F1_SAS and F2_SAS ? If yes i would recommend adding 6 SSD to each aggregate and create a Raid_Group of 5 ( Where you have 3 Data Disks and 2 Parity disks ) and 1 disk will be used as hotspare. In case if you don't want a hot spare as NetApp replaces any disk failure in 4hrs i would recommend using up maximum which is RG with 6 ( 4 data 2 Parity ).

Procedure to create Flash Pool:- 

https://library.netapp.com/ecmdocs/ECMP1196912/html/GUID-3D373998-8E07-4B83-8855-F195667EF60D.html

Flash Implementation Best Practices:- 

https://community.netapp.com/fukiw75442/attachments/fukiw75442/data-ontap-discussions/24350/1/43347_TR-4070_NetApp_Flash_Pool_Design_and_Implementatio...

Thanks,

Nayab

[Naveenpusuluru]

Hi @NAYABSK

Thanks for your reply ... 🙂

This is cluster mode, so that i can move volumes across aggregates nondisruptively using "vol move". 

One more thing, as per my knowledge we will use raid4 for the SSD raid group not raid DP. I through to give 6 SSD's to controller1 and 6 SSD's to controller2. I am planning to create a new raid group with SSD (4+1) and 1 spare drive on each aggregate. but i want to know how to caliculate iops and all those stuff before creating flash pool.

[NAYABSK]

It is up to you whether to choose RAID-DP or RAID4, Please refer to the flash pool implementatio guide Section 3.2 Page 11. For IOPS calculation i haven't found an updated NetApp calculator with SSD but give me sometime to get back to you or do check with your NetApp account if they have one ? 

Thanks,

Nayab