With 4.x release that came out in June, this is an online process. Data will automatically be striped across all the SSDs (in new and old X-Bricks) as part of this expansion process. But while the expansion process is running, data continues to be available to the hosts and the applications will continue to run.

What about if we are running 3.0.3? We just bought a starter half-Xbrick in June and I am surprised it didn't come with 4.0.

We just purchased an upgrade to full xbrick.

EMC support says I have to move everything off the current half brick or backup/restore the data as the entire array gets wiped during the expansion. Is this correct?

Is it disruptive to go to 4.0?

Well that's good news I guess. What about expanding my starter to a full brick?

Expansion of Starter X-Brick to full X-Brick has always been a non-disruptive (aka online) process.

Hmm. When I called EMC support, I was told it was disruptive and that I had two options to get the rest of the SSD's installed in my first xbrick.

1. Backup data. Reinitialize/rebuild (EMC support says this is destructive) the cluster. Restore the data back.

or

2. Migrate all data off to another storage array. Reinitialize/rebuild the cluster.

That's a very loose definition of online and non-disruptive. We purposely bought this array for our Oracle-based corporate financial applications that were suffering performance issues. Moving them to traditional storage (which we do not have room or IOPS) or backup/restore outage is very disruptive. Correct me (and your support staff) if this is incorrect.

Here is my SR# 74119034

CE Action Required:

- local support team to work with the customer, as the customer will need local support assistance to back up the data prior to them upgrading the storage cluster from a half brick system to a full brick system.

please note: the upgrade from a half brick to a full brick will require the cluster to be destroyed and recreated when completed so therefore all data will be lost if not backed up fully.

Issue Description: customer request to go from a half brick system to a full brick system.

There is a major communication gap somewhere. Thanks for providing the SR number; I will follow up internally. In the meantime, feel free to point the EMC contact person to me if needed. I will send my contact details to you shortly.

Steve is absolutely correct. That is indeed an online process and thats what we say in our official documentation also. I have reached out to the Support person working on the SR above and clarified this with him.

I have downloaded the Storage Array Software Installation and Upgrade Guide and it also confirms the process for adding the additional 12 SSD's one at a time. Page 69. Thanks guys for the clarification!! You don't know what a relief this is.