Dell PowerFlex Rack with PowerFlex 3.x Administration Guide

Adding and removing a PowerFlex device for server maintenance in a two-layer deployment

Add or remove PowerFlex devices to balance server load before performing server maintenance, in order to avoid a server rebuild and maintain server performance.

1. Log in to the first PowerFlex metadata managers (MDM) using the PowerFlex GUI.
2. Verify there is no activity in the Rebalance or Rebuild panes.
3. If using PowerFlex GUI presentation server:
   1. Record all storage data server (SDS) devices and names.
   2. Select the storage data server (SDS) to be removed, and click More > Remove for each device.
      A rebuild will occur.
4. If using a PowerFlex version prior to 3.5:
   1. Click Backend and record all storage data server (SDS) devices and names.

      

   2. Right-click the SDS device and click Remove for each device.
      A rebuild will occur.
5. When the rebuild is complete, perform any necessary PowerFlex storage-only node work, and restart the PowerFlex storage-only node.
6. After the SDS is connected, add back the previously deleted devices using the PowerFlex GUI (for PowerFlex version 3.5 and later):
   1. Go to the PowerFlex GUI presentation server, https://<ipaddress>:8443 using the MDM.
   2. Click Configuration > SDS.
   3. Find the newly added SDS, right-click and select Add Device. Click Storage device from the drop-down menu.
   4. Type /dev/sdX where x is the device IDs removed as part of the earlier removal. Provide the storage pool, verify the device type, and click Add Device. Add all of the required devices.
7. Once the SDS is connected, add back the previously deleted devices using the PowerFlex GUI.
8. Allow the rebalance to complete.