Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices in CA SRM

Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices in CA SRM

CA SRM manages many types of network storage objects, and keeps information about the attributes of the objects and the relationships between the objects. It also provides a licensed Network Attached Storage (NAS) option that collects storage usage data from Network Appliance (NetApp) filer and EMC Celerra devices using SMI-S agent.

A NAS device is a dedicated, high‑performance server that is optimized for shared access to large file systems. A NAS server typically offers centralized administration from any client on the network or from anywhere on the Internet. Access is based on a standard protocol: Network File System (NFS), or CIFS.

The NAS option supports the following tasks:

• Discovery of NAS objects.
• Collects data from NAS device storage information (physical devices, logical volumes and shares-mapping to RAID groups, and physical disks connection to RAID groups).
• Collects ordinary file and directory information from these objects.

Note: For existing registered NetApp devices, CA SRM supports the data collection from existing API/protocols such as ONTAPI/SSH/telnet/SNMP/RSH.

This section contains the following topics:

Manage NAS Devices to Generate NAS Storage Reports

Manage NAS Devices to Generate NAS Storage Reports

As a Storage Administrator, your responsibilities include registering NAS devices with valid credentials of SMI-S to enable SRM data collection. CA SRM lets you generate storage reports on NAS utilization.

The following diagram illustrates how a Storage Administrator generates customized reports on NAS storage utilization.

Configure SMI-S Provider

An SMI-S provider is a vendor-specific component that lets autonomous management software manage a vendor device using the Common Information Model (CIM) protocol.

Configure an external SMI-S provider for all NetApp devices and configure the SMI-S provider that is built in with the EMC Celerra devices.

Note: We recommend you to use the latest SMI-S, provided by the vendor.

The application host is the computer that controls the NAS device. The proxy collector is the computer through which CA SRM performs data collection on the NAS device. The application host and the proxy collector can reside on the same computer, or they can reside on two separate computers.

The application host and proxy collector computers have different requirements, though the requirements depend on the manufacturer of the NAS device.

Install and Configure SMI-S Providers

Installation and configuration information, and requirements for specific SMI-S providers vary by vendor.

Follow these steps:

1. Locate the latest and relevant information in the Readme file of the specific vendor or similar files that ship with the SMI-S provider.
2. Read these files and set up your environment according to the instructions.
3. Ensure that the specified requirements are met, so that Application Server can manage the NAS devices.

Register NAS Devices and Collect Data Using SMI-S Agent

When you register a NAS device in CA SRM as a new object, the wizard creates a computer object. If the volumes of this computer are accessible from proxy collector, file scanning is possible. The CA SRM data collection creates these volumes that are based on the volume definition of the NetApp filer and EMC Celerra devices.

You can run the CA SRM NAS Registration Wizard from any Windows Client and can collect data.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the CA SRM Windows Client.
2. Select Open Systems, Register, Network Storage, and NAS Device.

   The CA SRM NAS Filer Registration Wizard dialog opens.

3. Click Next.

   The Setting Provider Credentials dialog opens.

4. Provide the following information:
   • Name and IP address of the application host.
   • User name and password of a user that is used on the SMI-S provider software.
   • Port number on which the application host is listening for information.
   • Select the Secure Connection check box to establish a secured connection. Use 5989 port for a secured connection.
   • Specify how often you want CA SRM to perform data collection on the NAS device.

     Note: By default, CA SRM collects data once a day. Use the ellipsis button to open the Data Collection Frequency dialog that lets you set the data collection frequency.

   • Select the proxy collector from the drop-down list.

     Note: If you want to use a computer as a proxy collector, register the computer with CA SRM. For more information about registering a computer with CA SRM, see the Registering New Objects.

     Important! If a proxy collector (other than Application Server) manages an already registered NetApp device, update the agent software on the proxy collector to r12.7 or later.

5. Click Next.

   The Devices Managed by the NAS Application dialog populates all NAS devices that are managed by the SMI-S provider.

6. Select how you want CA SRM to handle mixed volumes (either Windows or UNIX) from the drop-down list.
7. Select the Fast Scan check box, if you want the file storage analysis on NetApp volumes.

   Note: You can alter / disable / enable the file storage analysis flags from the Windows Client view by right-clicking the NetApp filer and selecting the File & Storage Analysis option.

8. Select the NAS devices that you want to register.

   Note: For NetApp devices, select filers that you want to register. For EMC Celerra, select control stations that you want to register.

9. Click Next to continue the registration process.

   The Set Organization and Location dialog opens.

10. (Optional) Edit the fields if you want to add a different location, organization, or contact.

    Location

    Select a location from the drop-down list.

    You can also click New Location to add the details of the new location.

    Organization

    Select an organization from the drop-down list.

    You can also click New Organization to add the details of the new organization.

11. Click Next.

    The Summary dialog displays the number of available licenses you have.

12. Click Register.
13. Click Close to close the wizard.

    CA SRM populates the registered NetApp and EMC Celerra devices data in the Object Tree.

Note:

• SMI-S collects data only for the Filers that have a valid license.
• You can collect the storage performance statistics for already registered NetApp device using the API/protocols such as ONTAPI/SSH/telnet/SNMP/RSH.

Define Data Collection Frequency

You can set the interval at which you want to perform data collection.

Follow these steps:

1. Complete the fields in this dialog to set your desired data collection frequency.

   The default value for data collection is once every day.

2. Click OK to save the settings and close the dialog.
3. Click Next, when you have finished setting these options.

Add a Contact

You can add a contact or can select a contact from the drop-down list on the Set Organization and Location dialog.

Follow these steps:

1. Type the name, telephone number, and email address of the new contact.
2. You can access your default address book by clicking the To: Button and selecting the email address from there.
3. Click OK.

   The new contact is added to the list.

Add a Location

You can add a location or can select a location from the drop-down list on the Set Organization and Location dialog.

Follow these steps:

1. Add the details of the new location and click OK.

   The new location is added to the list.

2. (Optional) Click New Contact to add a contact.

Adding an Organization

You can add an organization or can select an organization from the drop-down list on the Set Organization and Location dialog.

Follow these steps:

1. Add the details of the new organization and click OK.

   The new organization is added to the list.

2. (Optional) Click New Contact to add a contact.

Generate Reports on NAS Storage

You can customize and generate various reports on NAS storage utilization using the user views and by customizing the query and automate services.

Using the NAS device objects from the object tree, you can create a sample report with the graph for each of the NAS device:

Follow these steps:

1. Click the Object Tree icon on the Windows Client interface.
2. Expand Network Storage, NAS Devices, EMC Celerra, and then Storage Volumes object.

   The grid opens on the right pane.

3. Select the Switch to Graph Pane icon on the bottom of the right pane.
4. Select the X-axis Source icon and select the Name option.
5. Select the Y-axis Source icon and select the Free Space and Occupied Space checkboxes.

   The graph displays the free and occupied space utilization of registered NAS storage volumes.

   

Using the NAS device objects from the object tree, you can create a sample report with the trending information for each of the NAS device:

Follow these steps:

1. Click the Object Tree icon on the Windows Client interface.
2. Expand Network Storage, NAS Devices, NetApp, and then Storage Performance object.

   The grid opens on the right pane.

3. Select the Switch to Trend Pane icon on the bottom of the right pane.
4. Select the Trend Trace Source icon and select the Name option.
5. Select the Trend Data Source icon and select the Total Write IOs checkbox.

   The trend provides the total write IOs for the registered NetApp devices over a time.

   

You can export these reports to Excel, HTML, PDF, TXT, .MDB, and Web Document formats. Thus, you can customize and generate NAS reports. These reports help you to identify the devices in your NAS filers that are most vulnerable and contain the most valuable data.

More Information:

Customize Reports Using Query Service

Customize Reports Using Automate Service

Available Objects to Generate Reports

Available Objects to Generate Reports

When you register the NAS devices in the CA SRM, the following objects display in the object tree view. CA SRM collects information about these objects. Based on these objects, you can generate reports on NAS storage utilization.

NAS Devices:

• Applications
• Aggregates
• Filers
• Volumes
• NetApp Objects
  • VFilers
  • Resources
  • Raid Groups
  • Raid Disks
  • QTrees
  • Quotas
  • Snapshot Definitions
  • Snapshots
  • Volume Quota
  • FC Ports
  • LUNs
  • Storage Performance
• EMC Celerra
  • Control Station
  • Storage Volumes
  • File Servers

Customize Reports Using Query Service

You can create a query using the Service Builder Wizard. The Service Builder Wizard contains predefined sets of sample services. After you complete the configuration steps, the service is ready to use. If you want to tailor a service, use the Query Service Builder Wizard to customize it. The following example shows you how to query the database for all NAS volumes.

Follow these steps:

1. Expand the CA SRM Object Tree, Open Systems, Services, Service Definitions, and then select Query.

   The Query table opens.

2. Click the Configuration menu, and then New in the Query table.

   The Query Service Builder Wizard opens.

3. Expand Network Storage, NAS Devices folder, select Volumes, and then click Next.
4. Select NetApp Volumes from the Selection Type drop-down list, select All Objects from the Select one or more NetApp volumes from the list drop-down list and click Next.
5. Select one of the following options for frequency execution and click Next.

   Immediately

   Defines the collection occurs immediately, but only once.

   Execute once

   Defines the collection occurs at a future date, but only once. Click the drop-down list to enter the date in the calendar.

   Execute periodically

   Defines the collection occurs at regular intervals. Designate the interval in the Every box. Type a number and select one of the frequency options:

   • Hours
   • Days
   • Weeks
   • Months
   • Business Days

   If you select Weeks, you can click a specific day in the On box.

   Note: The On box is inactive for the other frequencies.

   The Retain Historical Data (Trending) option is only available when you enable periodic execution.

   Specific Time

   Defines the collection occurs at, or as soon as possible after, a specific time of day. If a server is down and CA SRM cannot collect at the specified time, it collects as soon as it can that day (before midnight).

   If you want to collect at a specific time, select this box. This only works with the Execute once and Execute periodically options. Use the spin box to designate the time of day you want the collection to occur.

   Hold

   Defines the service as available but the service does not run. The service remains on hold until you change the option to one of the frequencies listed. You can use the Hold option for situations where you want to kickoff this service from outside of CA SRM using the command line option.

   Note: The Hold option is not available for every service.

   The Summary dialog displays the parameters that you defined for the service.

6. Select one of the following on the Summary dialog.
   • Click Save to save the service without executing it.

     CA SRM runs the service according to the configuration shown in this dialog.

     Note: If you change the Advanced dialog, you will have to use it for all of your future changes. After you use the Advanced dialog for a service, you can no longer edit the service in the Service Builder Wizard.

   • Click Launch to name and then execute the service.
7. Type a name and description for the service in the dialog and click OK.

   The service executes or saves depending on your selection in the previous dialog.

   You can use the CA SRM Activity Monitor to verify the progress of any service that you create.

You can export the report from the Query Results under the Service Results in the Object Tree.

Customize Reports Using Automate Service

You can create automate services using the Service Builder Wizard. The Service Builder Wizard contains predefined sets of sample services. After you complete the configuration steps, the automate service is ready to use. If you want to tailor a service, use the Automate Service Builder Wizard to customize it.

The following example shows you how to perform the listed items:

• Search all Filer devices.
• Send an email notification, if less than five spare disks are available.

Follow these steps:

1. Expand the CA SRM Object Tree, Open Systems, Services, Service Definitions, and then select Automate.

   The Automate table opens.

   Note: You can also access Automate services from the Open Systems file menu by selecting Create Services and then Automate.

2. Click the Configuration menu and New in the Automate table.

   The Automate Service Wizard opens.

3. Expand Network Storage, NAS Devices folder, select Filer—Spare Disks, and then click Next.
4. Enter 5 in the Less than <value> spare disks available text box and click Next.
5. Select NetApp Filers from the Selection Type drop-down list, select All Objects from the Select one or more NetApp filers from the list drop-down list, and then click Next.
6. Provide the following information in the Message tab and click Next.
   • Type the message in the Message text box that you want to send when less than five spare disks are available.
   • Enter your email address in the To box.
7. Select one of the following options for frequency execution and click Next.

   Immediately

   Defines the collection occurs immediately, but only once.

   Execute once

   Defines the collection occurs at a future date, but only once. Click the drop-down list to enter the date in the calendar.

   Execute periodically

   Defines the collection occurs at regular intervals. Designate the interval in the Every box. Type a number and select one of the frequency options:

   • Hours
   • Days
   • Weeks
   • Months
   • Business Days

   If you select Weeks, you can click a specific day in the On box.

   Note: The On box is inactive for the other frequencies.

   The Retain Historical Data (Trending) option is only available when you enable periodic execution.

   Specific Time

   Defines the collection occurs at, or as soon as possible after, a specific time of day. If a server is down and CA SRM cannot collect at the specified time, it collects as soon as it can that day (before midnight).

   If you want to collect at a specific time, select this box. This only works with the Execute once and Execute periodically options. Use the spin box to designate the time of day you want the collection to occur.

   Hold

   Defines the service as available but the service does not run. The service remains on hold until you change the option to one of the frequencies listed. You can use the Hold option for situations where you want to kickoff this service from outside of CA SRM using the command line option.

   Note: The Hold option is not available for every service.

   The Summary dialog displays the parameters for the service that you have defined.

8. Select one of the following options on the Summary dialog.
   • Click Save to save the service without executing it.

     CA SRM runs the service according to the configuration shown in this dialog.

     Note: If you change the Advanced dialog, you will have to use it for all of your future changes. After you use the Advanced dialog for a service, you can no longer edit the service in the Service Builder Wizard.

   • Click Launch to name and then execute the service.
9. Type a name and description for the service in the dialog and click OK.

   The service executes or saves depending on your selection in the previous dialog.

   You can use the CA SRM Activity Monitor to verify the progress of any service that you create.