Create and Configure NAS Storage Virtual Machine

 

Goal

This workflow will automate the creation and setup of a Storage Virtual Machine targeted for NAS operations. A new Storage Virtual Machine will be created, with applicable snapshot and export policies. DNS, NIS and LDAP settings may be applied prior to setup of NFS and CIFS services. A new data LIF will be created and setup to use any NFS or CIFS services set under the new Storage Virtual Machine. Finally, an option allows delegating the admin rights to a different user.

 

The following operations are done (As applicable) by the workflow:

·         Create a Storage Virtual Machine under a designated aggregate with rootVolumeName used as Storage Virtual Machine Name_root

·         Configure DNS for the Storage Virtual Machine with user provided DNS details

·         Set CIFS and NFS as allowed protocols – Disallow FCoE and iSCSI protocols

·         Configure LDAP for the Storage Virtual Machine

·         Configure NIS for the Storage Virtual Machine

·         All the policies (snapshot, export or quota policies) will be default policies provided by ONTAP

·         Set user provided Name Server Switch to Storage Virtual Machine

·         User can provide list of comma separated aggregates to be used by Storage Virtual Machine

·         Configure NFS and/or CIFS service for the newly created Storage Virtual Machine

·         Create a data LIF under new Storage Virtual Machine to open NFS and CIFS service

·         Provide option to delegate admin rights to new user for new Storage Virtual Machine. If used, create a Storage Virtual Machine Management LIF for Storage Virtual Machine for delegated admin to login and administer the Storage Virtual Machine.

 

Pre-requisites:

In case Storage Virtual Machine administration is to be delegated, the password for the admin user and the IP address needs to be set by creating credentials for the Storage Virtual Machine’s management LIF in WFA. The workflow would access that IP address and the password during execution while enabling/creating administration user for the Storage Virtual Machine.The credentials must be of type “ONTAP” for the IP of the management LIF. Specify the username (Possibly vsadmin) and the applicable password.

 

General input section:

The top section handles the cluster selection and naming of the new Storage Virtual Machine. All user inputs marked with ‘*’ are mandatory inputs.

 

 

1)       Cluster: Clustered ONTAP storage system where the Storage Virtual Machine will be created.Note: Only clusters with “NFS” or "CIFS" license enabled will be shown.

2)       Storage Virtual Machine Name: Name for the Storage Virtual Machine we will create.

3)       Root Volume Aggregate: Drop down showing all aggregates available in cluster in which we can create the root volume for our new Storage Virtual Machine. Note: All aggregates but “Aggr0” will be selectable.

4)       Language: Language code for the new Storage Virtual Machine.

5)       IPSpace Name: Specifies the name of the Storage Virtual Machine's IPspace. This option is applicable only for clustered Data ONTAP 8.3.0 and later.

6)       Name Server Switch: Name Server switch configuration details for the Storage Virtual Machine. A comma separated list containing the applicable options.

Possible options: file, ldap, nis

7)       Do you want to configure CIFS? : Check this option if you want to configure CIFS protocol for the new Storage Virtual Machine.

8)       Do you want to configure NFS? : Check this option if you want to configure NFS protocol for the new Storage Virtual Machine with default values (NFSv4.1 enabled).

9)       Do you want to delegate Storage Virtual Machine administration? : Check this option if you want to delegate Storage Virtual Machine administration.

10)   LDAP Client: A relevant LDAP client name which is applicable for the cluster. LDAP client is created at the cluster level and can be re-used by one or more Storage Virtual Machines

 

 

CIFS Details Input parameters:

 

The CIFS Details input section identifies the parameters required to configure CIFS protocol. This section will only be enabled if you have chosen to configure CIFS on this Storage Virtual Machine (selected ‘Do you want to configure CIFS’ checkbox in User inputs section).

 

 

1)       Domain Name: The Fully Qualified Domain Name of the Windows Active Directory this CIFS server belongs to.

 Note: Domain Admin User and Password should be added to WFA credentials.

2)       Organizational unit: The Organizational Unit (OU) within the Windows Active Directory this CIFS server belongs to.Leave this field blank to use default OU.

3)       Site: The default site used by LIFs that do not have a site membership.Leave this field blank to use default Site.

 

DNS Details Input parameters:

The DNS Details input section identifies the DNS to be used (If applicable):

 

1)       DNS Domains: Comma separated list of DNS domain names (such as 'sales.bar.com') that the Storage Virtual Machine is to be associated with. The first domain is the one that the Storage Virtual Machine will belong to.

2)       DNS Servers: Comma separated list of DNS servers

 

NIS Details Input parameters:

The NIS Details input section identifies the DNS to be used (If applicable):

 

1)       NIS Domains: The applicable NIS domain (Example: “example.com”)

2)       NIS Servers: Comma separated list of NIS servers’ IPs.

 

Data Logical Interface Details Input parameters:

The section handles details of the Data Logical Interface to be used (If applicable):

 

1)       Address: IP address of the logical Interface, which will be shared between both CIFS and NFS services.

2)       Route Gateway: IP of that LIF’s gateway.

3)       Netmask: Netmask of that LIF’s gateway.

4)       Netmask Length: Netmask length of the LIF’s gateway.

5)       Node: Home node of the LIF. One of the chosen cluster nodes.

6)       Port: Port of the LIF, selected based on the chosen Node.

 

Delegation Details Input parameters:

 

The section handles delegation details of the Storage Virtual Machine administration. This section will only be enabled if you have chosen to delegate Storage Virtual Machine administration (selected ‘Do you want to delegate Storage Virtual Machine administration’ checkbox in User inputs section).

 

 

1)       Delegate Storage Virtual Machine Administration to user: User that would be the Storage Virtual Machine admin.

2)       Role: Role of the aforementioned user.

3)       Authentication method: Authentication method options of authenticating the aforementioned user. If Publickey is selected only application type SSH will be selected and cluster admin should add public key manually to ONTAP against new user.

4)       Max Volume count: Maximum number of volumes that can be created in that Storage Virtual Machine.

5)       Allowed Aggregates List: Multi-select table with details of aggregates that can be allowed for creating volumes on this Storage Virtual Machine.

6)       Management Logical Interface Address: IP of the management LIF.

7)       Route Gateway: IP of the Gateway of the management LIF.

8)       Netmask: Netmask of the management LIF.

9)       Netmask Length: Netmask length of the management LIF.

10)   Node: Node of the management LIF. One of the chosen cluster nodes.

11)   Port: Port of the management LIF, selected based on the chosen Node.

 

 

Result

The workflow will result in creating a new NAS Storage Virtual Machine in the cluster, with its root volume in the selected aggregate. Following that, a multitude of options may be set to enable access protocols, DNS, NIS, LDAP and such. If delegation of the Storage Virtual Machine administration is desired, that may be achieved as well by delegating the admin rights to another user in the management LIF.