Storage systems

In the platform interface, you can manage external block devices connected via iSCSI and FCP protocols. This allows you to:

• automate work with storage — connect, disconnect and resize external disks without manual operations in the OS;
• flexibly manage resources — connect storage for a separate node or the whole cluster;
• monitor system status — get diagnostic information about SAN service operation and monitor disk subsystem status.

The function is available only in KVM clusters.

Connection procedure

To use external storage:

1. Create a connection to the storage system.
2. If necessary, clear the storage system disks.
3. Create external storage — a group of volumes on the storage system disks.
4. Add storage in the cluster settings. For more information, see the article Managing cluster storages.

Connections to storage systems

The external storage is managed by connecting to the storage. To manage connections, in the left menu, click External storages → Connections to storage system tab. The tab contains information about created connections and their status.

Connection statuses:

• Connected — storage connected to all cluster nodes;
• Warning — some nodes disconnected from storage by administrator;
• Error:
  • Storage connection failure — no connection on some nodes;
  • Storage is inaccessible — no connection to all nodes.

Creating a connection

To create a connection to the storage system:

1. Click Connect storage system button.
2. Specify the connection parameters:
   1. Select a Cluster to which the storage system will be connected.
   2. Click Generate access list link. The browser will start downloading the access list file. The access list contains information about the IQN and WWN of the cluster nodes. Import this file to the storage system according to the equipment documentation.
   3. Select a connection type:
      • iSCSI;
      • Fibre Channel.
   4. Enter the arbitrary Connection name.
   5. For connection to iSCSI:
      1. Enter IPv4 address and Port for connection. You can specify up to 8 connection options. To specify other options for the connection, click Add IP button. To delete connection data, click the  icon in the line with the connection.
      2. If the connection requires authorization:
         1. Activate the Enable authorization option.
         2. Enter the Login and Password.
   6. Enter the arbitrary Note.
3. Click Create button.

Connection management

The connection is controlled via the menu in the connection line. Possible actions:

• Parameters — go to the connection card. You can also click on the name of the connection in the table to perform this action;
• Connect to the cluster;
• Disconnect from the cluster;
• Update disks — update information about the storage disks;
• Note — change the note;
• Delete.

To change the connection settings, click the connection name → General settings tab → specify the required settings → Save button. 

Cluster node management

To get information about the cluster nodes using the connection, click the connection name → Nodes tab.

Statuses of connections to nodes:

• Connected;
• Not connected;
• Connection error.

To disconnect a node from the storage system, click the  icon in the node row → Unmount. This option is available only for nodes that do not have VMs with disks in this storage.

To connect a node to the storage system, click the icon in the node row → Mount.

External storages

To manage external storages, in the left menu click External storages → External storages tab. The tab contains information about the created storages and their status.

Creating a storage

To create a storage:

1. Click Create storage button.
2. Specify the storage parameters:
   1. Enter the Storage name.
   2. Select a Connections to storage system.
   3. Select the disks of the storage system.
3. Click Add button.

Storage management

The storage is managed via the menu in the line with the storage. Possible actions:

• Connect to the cluster;
• Disconnect from the cluster;
• Note — change the note;
• Delete.

External disks

To manage the disks of connected external storages, in the left menu click External storages → External disks tab. The tab contains information about the storage disks and their status.

Disk statuses:

• Storage: (storage name) — used in the platform;
• Available — available for storage creation;
• Used by another system — volume groups have already been created on the disk. To use the disk, clear it.

Disk management

Disk management is performed via the menu in the disk line. Possible actions:

• Connect to the storage;
• Clear;
• Note — change a note.

Diagnostics

To identify a problem related to the storage system, examine the service logs: