You should be aware of the features that have been added or changed in this release of System Manager.
You can now enable volume encryption while editing a FlexVol volume or a FlexGroup volume. Also, this feature is enhanced to support the Rekey option to change the data encryption key of the volume.
Beginning with System Manager 9.5, you can update a cluster in MetroCluster configurations. You must perform each operation on both the clusters except for updating the cluster.
Two new policies, StrictSync and Sync, are added in System Manager 9.5. You can use these to policies to provide zero RPO replication with and without primary IO restriction during replication failures. You can also enable volume protection using the protection tab.
Storage virtual machine (SVM) disaster recovery (DR) provides disaster recovery capability at the SVM level by enabling the recovery of the data that is present in the constituent volumes of the SVM and the recovery of the SVM configuration. You can use System Manager to create and manage mirror relationships and mirror and vault relationships between SVMs.
Starting with ONTAP 9.5, System Manager lists L2/L3 applications on the Applications page under different host names. Clicking on the host name opens a new window in the L2 Cockpit interface. For each application, System Manager also lists IOPs and latency measurements.
Starting with ONTAP 9.5, System Manager displays information about Virtual IP (VIP) LIFs; however, you cannot create, delete, or manage VIP LIFs from System Manager.
Starting with ONTAP 9.5, NVMe is licensed. System Manager supports the licensing requirement.
System Manager supports the use of an NVMe over Fabric (NVMeoF) subsystem, which is a separate kernel object that resides in the FreeBSD kernel. NVMeoF is a specification-defined extension to NVMe that enables NVMe-based communication over connections other than PCIe. This interface allows for external storage enclosures to be connected to a server, either directly or through a switch, while still using NVMe as the fundamental communication mechanism. An NVMeoF subsystem interfaces with SAN components, WAFL, and RAS components.
Starting with ONTAP 9.5, at least one LIF must be configured for each node in an HA pair using the NVMe protocol. You can also define two LIFs for a node. When you upgrade to ONTAP 9.5, you must ensure that a minimum of one LIF is defined for each node in an HA pair using the NVMe protocol.
When you create a FlexGroup, aggregates are selected by default according to best practices. For All-Flash Optimized storage systems, thin provisioning is enabled by default, and for other storage systems, thick provisioning is enabled by default. You can override the best practices defaults and select your choices from a list of eligible FabricPool aggregates.
Starting with System Manager 9.5, you can view a public SSL certificate associated with an SVM. You can view the certificate details, the serial number, the start date, and the expiration date. You can also copy the certificate to the clipboard, and email the certificate details. Additionally, when you add the vsadmin user account to an SVM, a login method is automatically included that uses HTTP as the application and is authenticated with a certificate.
If a FlexVol contains both qtrees and volumes, the qtrees appear as directories.
FlexCache volumes are displayed in System Manager as a FlexGroup. The parent volume details are shown in the 360 page.
Starting with ONTAP 9.5, infinite volumes are deprecated and no longer supported.
The NVM Express (NVMe) protocol is now supported by ONTAP and can be configured in System Manager. NVMe is an alternative protocol for block access, similar to the existing iSCSi or FC protocols.
You can create an aggregate based on storage recommendations. System Manager analyzes the configuration of your storage system and provides storage recommendations such as the number of aggregates that will be created, the available nodes, and the available spare disks.
FabricPool-enabled aggregates have been enhanced to support the following features and functionalities:
Autocaching policy
FlexGroup volumes include the following enhancements and new features:
Starting with System Manager 9.4, you can update single-node clusters. Updating single-node clusters is disruptive, and client data will not be available while the update is in progress.
You can configure Snapshot copies by setting a schedule to an existing Snapshot policy. Beginning with ONTAP 9.4, you can have fewer than 1024 Snapshot copies of a FlexVol volume.
The percentage of logical space used and the status of logical space reporting is now displayed in the System Manager Volumes window.
You cannot create infinite volumes and protect infinite volumes by using System Manager.
You can enable SMB protocol to establish multiple channels between a SMB3.0 session and transport connections, specifically for higher performance and fault tolerance and resiliency.
Beginning with ONTAP 9.3, you can configure multifactor authentication (MFA) for web services by using Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication. You can use SAML authentication for Service Processor Infrastructure (SPI), ONTAP APIs, and System Manager.
Application aware data management simplifies storage setup and enables you to serve data in minutes for key applications by providing inputs relevant to the application.
The graphical user interface (GUI) has been revamped to provide users with a more intuitive experience.
Beginning with ONTAP 9.3, you can use System Manager to break SnapMirror relationships between ONTAP systems and SolidFire storage systems.
System Manager offers enhancements that simplify how you configure peer relationships between clusters and between SVMs.
Beginning with ONTAP 9.3, you can create and provision an SVM by using a preconfigured template.
The cluster dashboard has been enhanced and made responsive for handheld devices to view different information.