A quick post mainly
as an excuse to compose some Visio Diagrams...
Transitioning from Data ONTAP Operating in 7-Mode to
Clustered Data ONTAP is a - possibly once in a generation - opportunity to
restructure your data.
In the below diagrams, we have 4 x NetApp 7-Mode
controllers, each physical 7-Mode controller has its pFiler0 and 3 x vFilers,
and each pFiler/vFiler has one data IP. We are transitioning/migrating to two
newer and more performant controllers running Clustered Data ONTAP.
Option 1:
Transition
If we transition from 7DOT to CDOT with pFilers/vFilers to
SVMs (Storage Virtual Machines/Vservers) in a 1-1 Relationship, we bring across
all the pFilers/vFilers as complete objects, all the data IPs come across as a
data LIF, and additionally (a requirement for CDOT 8.3) we need an SVM
management LIF per SVM. So, we have 16 x SVMs, 16 x Data LIFs, 16 x SVM
Management LIFs, and we’re not going to use any external/on-box load-balancing
(since it would increase the number of Data LIFs, but for two nodes that’s not
really a problem, if the cluster gets bigger though...)
Image: Option 1 -
Transitioning pFilers/vFilers to Clustered Data ONTAP in a 1-1 Relationship
Option 2:
Migration (Consolidating Systems)
Assuming there is no business reason for separation of
these vFilers, and there are no blockers to their being consolidated (i.e. DFS-N
is used to mask CIFS shares, so having shares with the same name is not a
problem; name-mappings don’t conflict; all pFilers/vFilers have standard CIFS/NFS/options
settings...) Then, in more of a migration that a transition (still using 7 to C
SnapMirror though), we can consolidate all these vFilers into one 1 x SVM, 2 x
Data LIFs, 1 x SVM Management LIF, and we’ll use external/on-box
load-balancing.
It is IMPORTANT to be aware that there is much more effort involved in
Option 2 and it will take more time;
much more complexity (it’s unlikely even the very latest 7MTT will
do exactly what you want if consolidating p/vFilers, leading to adopting a scripted
migration solution which is more prone error, and less supportable); and a reduced chance of 100% successful
cutover(s) to Clustered Data ONTAP.
Option 1 is the recommended way to go, and of course
NetApp wants all migrations to CDOT to be simple and uncomplicated (using the
provided 7MTT tool), with the minimum of moving/changing elements, and 100% successful.
But, if you’re considering the long-term legacy of migrating to CDOT, and want
to simplify your environment further, but understand the risk/complexity/difficulty
of migrating/consolidating as per Option 2, and understand that this
consolidation would also be difficult enough if it was just 7-Mode to 7-Mode,
and you have the skills, then it’s your decision...
Image: Option 2 -
Migrating pFilers/vFilers to Clustered Data ONTAP and Consolidating to One SVM
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