Allocating storage capacity to new servers (NetApp specific)

Allocating storage capacity to new servers consists in identifying which aggregate from which NetApp system is best suited to host the storage capacity required. To identify these aggregates, administrators need to follow these steps:

• • Listing the HA pairs/clusters that meet allocation requirements
  • Verifying the HA pairs or clusters bandwidth
  • Choosing the most relevant aggregate

Listing the HA pairs/clusters that meet allocation requirements

1. Access the NetApp Systems page:
   1. Log on to the TrueSight console.
   2. In the Navigation pane, click Capacity > Storage > NetApp Systems.
2. Click the HA Pairs or Clusters tab.
   
3. List the HA Pairs or Clusters that meet your allocation requirements. You can for example apply a filter on the Available Capacity column to only display the HA Pairs or Clusters for which more than 3 TB are available:
   1. Click the Available Capacity column.
   2. From the operator pull-down list, select greater than.
   3. Type 3.
   4. Click Filter.

Once the HA Pairs or Clusters matching your search criteria have been displayed, you can verify the bandwidth and the number of ports available.

Verifying the HA pairs or clusters bandwidth

Verifying the bandwidth is an essential step that will help administrators choose the HA Pair or Cluster that better meets their allocation requirements. To perform this operation, administrators must check the bandwidth utilization and the number of ports available for each HA Pair or Cluster.

1. Access the NetApp Systems page:
   1. Log on to the TrueSight console.
   2. In the Navigation pane, click Capacity > Storage > NetApp Systems.
2. Click the HA Pairs or Clusters tab.
   
3. Show the Number of Ports column:
   1. Click  and select Show/Hide Columns.
   2. Check the Number of Ports box.
   3. Click Save.
4. Verify the bandwidth utilization of each system. If the value is:
   1. low, the HA Pair or Cluster can be used to allocate storage capacity to new servers.
   2. high, check the number of ports currently available to know if additional ports can be added.

The most relevant HA Pair or Cluster is now identified. You can now proceed to the next step, i.e choosing an aggregate according to its available capacity.

Choosing the most relevant aggregate

1. Access the NetApp Systems page:
   1. Log on to the TrueSight console.
   2. In the Navigation pane, click Capacity > Storage > NetApp Systems.
2. Click the Aggregates tab.
   
3. Check the Available Capacity of the different aggregates displayed.

A list of potential aggregates is now available. You should now know which aggregate from which HA Pair or Cluster is best suited to host the storage capacity required. If no aggregates meet your requirement, you will then have to create a new one.