Expand Thin Provisioning Pool

Overview

This function expands the capacity of a Thin Provisioning Pool (TPP).

For the maximum number of pools, maximum pool capacity, and determined chunk size for each model, refer to The Maximum Number of Pools, Maximum Pool Capacity, and Determined Chunk Size for Each Model.

Caution

  • TPP capacity is expanded in units of RAID groups. The specifications for a RAID group (such as the RAID level, the drive type, and the number of member drives) that is to be added are the same as the existing RAID group.

  • The chunk size is determined according to the "Maximum Pool Capacity" of the storage system when a new TPP is created. If TPPs with different chunk sizes exist in the storage system, the entire maximum pool capacity might not be usable to expand TPPs. Refer to the [Set Thin Provisioning] function for details.

  • If the error message "The process was aborted because it exceeds executable format size." appears, TPPs cannot be expanded. Reduce the "Total Capacity after expand" and re-execute this function.

  • TPP capacity cannot be expanded in the following conditions:

    • The maximum capacity of the pools is already registered in the storage system

    • The resources for creating TPPs (such as the number of RAID groups and volumes) are insufficient

      (When the maximum number of RAID groups or volumes already exists, TPP capacity cannot be expanded)

Note

  • After a TPP capacity is expanded, the expanded area of TPP is formatted automatically. Progress of formatting ("Progress", "Estimated Time Left", and "Remaining Size") can be checked in the [Thin Provisioning Pool (Basic Information)] function. Click the TPP name to display the basic information.

  • To check the current maximum pool capacity, use the [Settings (Thin Provisioning)] function.

Display Contents

Setting Thin Provisioning Pool

Item Description

Name

The TPP name is displayed.

Drive Type

The type of drive that configures the TPP is displayed.

Refer to Drive Type for details.

RAID Level

The level of RAID group that configures the TPP is displayed.

  • High Performance (RAID1+0)

    RAID1+0 (2D+2M, 4D+4M, 8D+8M, or 12D+12M) configuration

  • High Capacity (RAID5)

    RAID5 (3D+1P, 4D+1P, 6D+1P, 7D+1P, 8D+1P, or 12D+1P) configuration

  • High Reliability (RAID6)

    RAID6 (4D+2P, 6D+2P, 7D+2P, or 8D+2P) configuration

  • High Reliability (RAID6-FR)

    RAID6-FR ((4D+2P)x2+1HS, (6D+2P)x2+1HS, (8D+2P)x3+1HS, or (4D+2P)x5+1HS) configuration (*1)

  • Mirroring (RAID1)

    RAID1 (1D+1M) configuration

  • Striping (RAID0)

    RAID0 (4D) configuration

D: Data drives, M: Mirror drives, P: Parity drives

*1  :  "RAID6-FR" groups that configure TPPs are called "Fast Recovery RAID groups".

The number of member drives in each RAID level is as follows:

RAID level Number of member drives

High Performance (RAID1+0)

 4, 8, 16, 24

High Capacity (RAID5)

 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13

High Reliability (RAID6)

 6, 8, 9, 10

High Reliability (RAID6-FR)

 13, 17, 31

Mirroring (RAID1)

 2

Striping (RAID0)

 4

Fast Recovery Configuration

The drive configuration for Fast Recovery RAID groups in the TPP is displayed.

(4D+2P)x2+1HS

(6D+2P)x2+1HS

(8D+2P)x3+1HS

(4D+2P)x5+1HS

D: Data drives

P: Parity drives

HS: Hot Spares

This item is blank when the RAID level is not "RAID6-FR".

Total Capacity

The current total capacity of TPP is displayed.

For the maximum capacity, refer to The Maximum Number of Pools, Maximum Pool Capacity, and Determined Chunk Size for Each Model.

Settings

The TPP capacity is expanded in units of RAID groups. There are two methods to expand a TPP: automatic drive selection and manual drive selection.

Item Description Setting values

Expand Mode

Select a expand mode of a TPP.

  • Automatic

    Select a drive to expand a TPP automatically.

  • Manual

    Select a drive to expand a TPP manually.

Automatic

Manual

Automatic Setting

Item Description

Total Capacity after expand

Input the total capacity of the TPP after expansion and select the unit (PB/TB/GB/MB) of capacity.

Drives are automatically selected according to the existing RAID group specifications, and the TPP capacity is expanded to the entered value or higher. For the maximum capacity of TPP, refer to The Maximum Number of Pools, Maximum Pool Capacity, and Determined Chunk Size for Each Model.

Caution

  • If drives that satisfy all of the following conditions are installed in the storage system, select the drives manually.

    • The drive types are the same

    • The drive capacities are the same

    • The sector format (AF-compliant/non-AF-compliant) is different

The maximum capacity that can be used to expand the TPP is displayed to the right of the setting field for "Total Capacity after expand". "Total Capacity after expand" includes the current TPP capacity. The value in this item must be larger than the existing capacity. The current TPP capacity is displayed in "Total Capacity ".

Note

  • The maximum capacity of a single pool is "48 PB". If the maximum capacity that can be used to expand the TPP is larger than "48 PB", "48 PB" is displayed.

Manual Setting

In this screen, expand the TPP capacity manually.

Check the RAID group specification

Check the specifications of the existing RAID groups (number of member drives and drive type) in the TPP in advance. The following describes how to check the specifications.

  1. From the TPP list in the [Thin Provisioning Pool (Basic Information)] screen, click the [No.] link or the [Name] link for the TPP to be expanded.

  2. The basic information of the TPP is displayed. Click the [RAID Group] tab to switch the display.

  3. The list of RAID groups that configure the TPP is displayed. Click the [No.] link or the [Name] link for the RAID group. Any RAID group can be specified because the RAID groups in the TPP have the same specifications.

  4. Click the [Drives] tab in the RAID group detail screen. Check the drive type and the number of member drives that configure the RAID group.
Note

  • The value same as the existing one is set for the stripe depth of newly added RAID groups.

Item Description

Total Capacity after expand

A "-" (hyphen) is displayed by default.

After a RAID group is added to the TPP, the total capacity of the TPP after expansion is performed (total value of the current "Total Capacity" of TPP and the "Total Capacity" of RAID groups that are to be added) is displayed.

For the maximum capacity, refer to The Maximum Number of Pools, Maximum Pool Capacity, and Determined Chunk Size for Each Model.

The maximum capacity that can be used to expand the TPP is displayed to the right of "Total Capacity after expand". "Total Capacity after expand" includes the current TPP capacity.

Note

  • The maximum capacity of a single pool is "48 PB". If the maximum capacity that can be used to expand the TPP is larger than "48 PB", "48 PB" is displayed.

RAID Group List

The list of RAID groups to be newly added to the TPP is displayed. Nothing is displayed in the initial list.

Click the [Add] button to display the screen to add RAID groups.

Item Description

RAID Level

The RAID level is displayed.

Click the [RAID Level] link to display the screen to edit the target RAID group.

Refer to RAID Level for details.

Drive Type

The type of drive that configures the RAID group is displayed.

Refer to Drive Type for details.

Total Capacity

The total capacity of the RAID groups is displayed.

[Add RAID Group] Screen

When adding RAID groups, the following settings are also required:

RAID Group

Item Description Setting values

RAID Level

The level of RAID group that configures the TPP that is to be expanded is displayed.

Refer to RAID Level for details.

  

Fast Recovery Configuration

The drive configuration for Fast Recovery RAID groups in the expansion target TPP is displayed.

(4D+2P)x2+1HS

(6D+2P)x2+1HS

(8D+2P)x3+1HS

(4D+2P)x5+1HS

D: Data drives

P: Parity drives

HS: Hot Spares

This item is blank when the RAID level is not "RAID6-FR".

  

Controlling CM

Select the Controlling CM of the RAID group that is to be created.

"Automatic" and the normal CM number ("CE#n CM#n" or "CM#n") that is installed are displayed as options.

Select "Automatic" for normal operations. When "Automatic" is selected, the Controlling CM that is to be allocated is determined by the RAID group number. Refer to Automatic Controlling CM Setting for details.

Automatic

CE#n CM#n

RAID Group Total Capacity

Total capacity of the RAID group created with the selected RAID level and drives is displayed.

  

Drive Selection

Drives can be selected from the list or the installation image. To switch between the list and the installation image, click the tab.

Requirements for selecting drives
  • The conditions for RAID groups in the TPP are as follows:

    • The RAID level (RAID1+0/RAID5/RAID6/RAID6-FR/RAID1/RAID0) must be the same

    • The number of member drives in the RAID group must be the same

    • The drive type (Online/Nearline/SSD/NVMe SSD/Online SED/Nearline SED/SSD SED/NVMe SSD SED) must be the same

      (If "Online" is selected for the drive type, "Online" type drives and "Nearline" type drives can be used in the same RAID group. However, using only "Online" type drives is recommended. If "Online SED" is selected for the drive type, "Online SED" type drives and "Nearline SED" type drives can be used in the same RAID group. However, using only "Online SED" type drives is recommended. This is because the available capacity and the access performance may be reduced when these drives are used in the same RAID group.)

  • The recommended drive configuration of the RAID group is shown as follows:

    • Select drives that are the same size and the same speed. If drives of different capacities exist in a RAID group, the smallest capacity becomes the standard, and all other drives are regarded as having the same capacity as the smallest drive. In this case, the remaining drive space is not used. In addition, if drives of different speeds exist in a RAID group, the access performance of the RAID group is reduced by the slower drives.

    • Select the same sector format of drives (AF-compliant/non-AF-compliant).

    • If the host connection environment does not support Advanced Format (AF), select non-AF-compliant drives (*1). If AF-compliant drives (*2) are selected, a data format conversion occurs and the drive access performance is reduced. When the host to be connected supports Advanced Format (AF), both AF-compliant and non-AF-compliant drives can be selected.

      *1  :  Drives (such as 2.5" Online and 2.5" Nearline) where "AF" is not displayed for the type.
      *2  :  Drives (such as 2.5" Online AF and 2.5" Nearline AF) where "AF" is displayed for the type.

    • If "RAID1" is selected for the RAID level, using drives other than SSD is recommended.

  • There are conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 drive layout. Refer to Conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 Drive Layout for details. Note that these conditions are not applied to other models.

[Tabular] Tab

Click the [Tabular] tab to select drives from the list. Only unused drives are displayed on the list.

There are conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 drive layout. Refer to Conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 Drive Layout for details. Note that these conditions are not applied to other models.

Item Description

Checkbox to select drives

Select the checkbox for the drive that is to be used.

When selecting drives, refer to Requirements for selecting drives.

Enclosure

The enclosure where the drive is installed is displayed.

   CE: Controller Enclosure

   DE: Drive Enclosure

CE#n

DE#n

Slot No.

The slot number of the enclosure, where the drive is installed, is displayed.

Type

Refer to Drive Type for details.

Capacity

The capacity of the drive is displayed.

Caution

  • The displayed drive capacity may differ from the product's actual capacity. For example, the drive capacity of a "1.92 TB SSD" is displayed as "2.00 TB".

Speed

The drive speed is displayed.

For SSD, NVMe SSD, SSD SED, or NVMe SSD SED, a "-" (hyphen) is displayed.

10000 rpm

7200 rpm

[Graphic] Tab

Click the [Graphic] tab to select drives from the drive installation image. The installation images of all the drives installed in the storage system are displayed. Checkboxes are displayed for unused drives.

There are conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 drive layout. Refer to Conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 Drive Layout for details. Note that these conditions are not applied to other models.

Item Description

DE selection list box

Select the DE group.

Options are displayed in the list box when at least one CE or DE in the DE group is installed in the storage system.

Refer to DE selection list box for details on the options and DE groups for each model.

DE

Only the CEs or the DEs in the selected DE group that are installed in the storage system are displayed.

CE#n

DE#n

Checkbox to select drives

Select the checkbox for the drive that is to be used.

Checkboxes are displayed for unused drives. Drives are displayed from left to right in ascending order of the slot number. Or drives are displayed from bottom left to top right in ascending order of the slot number.

Placing the mouse pointer on the icon displays the detailed information of the drive.

When selecting drives, refer to Requirements for selecting drives.

Conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 Drive Layout

The drive layout to configure RAID groups in the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 must satisfy the conditions described below.

RAID groups cannot be created if the required conditions are not satisfied.

RAID level Drive layout conditions
RAID1 Required

Allocate mirroring pair drives to different CEs and DEs.
Recommended

Allocate mirroring pair drives to DEs (*1) under different CEs when possible.

Allocate mirroring pair drives to different cascades (*2) when possible.
RAID1+0 Required

Allocate mirroring pair drives to different CEs and DEs.
Recommended

Allocate mirroring pair drives to DEs (*1) under different CEs when possible.

If drives are allocated in DEs under the same CE, allocate mirroring pair drives to different cascades (*2) when possible.
RAID5 Required

Allocate member drives to different CEs and DEs.
Recommended

Allocate member drives to DEs (*1) under different CEs when possible.

If drives are allocated in DEs under the same CE, allocate member drives to different cascades (*2) when possible.

RAID6

RAID6-FR

 Required

Allocate two or less member drives to the same CE or DE.
Recommended

Allocate two or less member drives to DEs under the same CE when possible.

If drives are allocated in DEs under the same CE, allocate two or less member drives to DEs under the same CE in the same cascade (*2) when possible.
*1  :  DEs under different CEs have different numbers as the first digit of the DE number.
*2  : 

"Cascade" refers to DEs that are connected to one Backend cable (drive interface port).

DE#x1, DE#x2, and DE#x3 that are connected to CE#x/DA#0 Port#0 (x:0 - B)

DE#x4, DE#x5, DE#x6, and DE#x7 that are connected to CE#x/DA#0 Port#1 (x:0 - B)

DE#x8, DE#x9, DE#xA, and DE#xB that are connected to CE#x/DA#1 Port#0 (x:0 - B)

DE#xC, DE#xD, DE#xE, and DE#xF that are connected to CE#x/DA#1 Port#1 (x:0 - B)

(Example) DE#01, DE#02, and DE#03 that are connected to CE#0/DA#0 Port#0 are on the same cascade.

Function Button

Button Description

[Add]

Adds a RAID group to the TPP.

If the maximum pool capacity for each model is exceeded, the [Add] button cannot be clicked.

[Delete]

Deletes a RAID group from the TPP.

If no RAID group has been added, the [Delete] button is not displayed.

Function Link

Link Description

[RAID Level]

Displays the screen to edit the selected RAID group.

This screen is used to change the Controlling CM of the RAID group or select the drive that configures the RAID group again.

The checkbox for the drive selected for the RAID group is selected.

Operating Procedures

Automatically Selecting Drives to Expand TPPs

  1. Select the TPP that is to be expanded and click [Expand] in [Action].

  2. Select "Automatic" for "Expand Mode", specify the TPP capacity after expansion, and click the [Expand] button.

    → A confirmation screen appears.

    Caution
    • An error screen appears in the following conditions:

      • The entered value in the "Total Capacity after expand" is equal to or lower than the existing capacity

      • The total value of TPP capacity after expansion and existing pool capacity exceeds the maximum pool capacity for each model

      • The TPP capacity after the expansion exceeds the capacity that is available for expansions

      • The TPP cannot be expanded over the specified capacity in the drive installed in the storage system

  3. Click the [OK] button.

    → Expansion of a Thin Provisioning Pool starts.

  4. Click the [Done] button to return to the [Thin Provisioning Pool] screen.

Manually Selecting Drives to Expand TPPs

Check the specifications of the existing RAID groups (number of member drives and drive type) in the TPP in advance. Refer to Check the RAID group specification for details.

  1. Select the TPP that is to be expanded and click [Expand] in [Action].

  2. Select "Manual" for "Expand Mode".

  3. Click the [Add] button.

    → The [Add RAID Group] screen is displayed.

  4. Select the Controlling CM of the RAID group, select all the drives to be registered in the RAID group from the list or from the installation image, and then click the [OK] button.

    → The screen returns to the previous screen. The added RAID group is displayed in the RAID group list.

    Caution

    • When the number of selected drives is not an integral multiple of the number of member drives for the RAID group, the [OK] button cannot be clicked.

    Note

    • Click the [RAID Level] link in the RAID group list to change the Controlling CM and configuration drives of the newly added RAID group.

    • Click the [Delete] button of the target RAID group area in the RAID group list to delete the newly added RAID group.

  5. When adding multiple RAID groups to the TPP, repeat Step 3 and Step 4.

  6. After adding a RAID group to the TPP, click the [Expand] button.

    → A confirmation screen appears.

    Caution
    • An error screen appears in the following conditions:

      • The total value of TPP capacity after expansion and existing pool capacity exceeds the maximum pool capacity for each model

      • The TPP capacity after the expansion exceeds the capacity that is available for expansions

      • The drive layout does not satisfy the required conditions

        (Refer to Conditions for the ETERNUS DX8900 S6 Drive Layout for details.)

  7. Click the [OK] button.

    → Expansion of a Thin Provisioning Pool starts.

  8. Click the [Done] button to return to the [Thin Provisioning Pool] screen.