Netapp Zero Touch Provisioning

rohancmr · ‎2018-10-26

We are trying to setup zero touch provisiong for Netapp CDOT systems.

Does Netapp support any option to boot OnTap non-interactively, (may be using netboot) and configure interfaces, user account, and cluster ?

AlexDawson · ‎2018-10-27

No - that functionality is not available.

Storage systems operate across a continum of time, serving out data stored over time, managed and converted through a known set of tasks, not at a point in time, so the switch paragdim where ZTP is common doesn't really follow.

There is netboot functionality (requiring a specific image), but it is for restoring systems with failed and/or replaced boot devices. Even factory configuration is performed by serial port connected automation of scripted commands. If you have enough systems, that may be worthwhile investigating.

rohancmr · ‎2018-10-28

Thank you for the response, AlexDawson.

We have close to 50 Netapp storages that needs to be configured.

AlexandruMihai · ‎2023-03-21

@AlexDawson Anything changed in last years?

We are looking at some way of auto-configuring the DOT system up to the point it's reachable via ssh/api so that automation can take over from there.
Thanks

AlexDawson · ‎2023-03-26

Hi there! Blast from the past.

My original comments about ZTP paradigm for switches vs storage are overtaken by ansible, which uses the idea of idempotent states - so you tell ansible you want a netapp device configured a certain way, and it does what is needed to make that happen.

However, you need to be able to configure it, as you've noted.

So, where to go from there - new out of box nodes will present a cluster create/join on the CLI. This is also accessible via local subnet https API username admin and no password until the cluster is setup if dhcp is enabled on the subnet. So you should be able to use the cluster create API unauthenticated if you're on the same subnet.

Edit: As of 9.7, SSH to this LIF is apparently also supported, which would enable you to use "expect" scripts with ansible.

Hope this helps! Let me know - I haven't done it personally.