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NetApp Console local deployment

Connect your LLM and enable the NetApp Console assistant in NetApp Console local deployment

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Connect a supported LLM endpoint to make governed natural-language storage guidance and operations available to NetApp Console local deployment users.

Note This documentation regarding connecting an LLM to the Console assistant to enable AI features is provided as a technology preview. With this preview offering, NetApp reserves the right to modify offering details, contents, and timeline before General Availability.
Required access roles

Super admin or Organization admin. Learn about access roles.

After setup, users open the Console assistant from the dashboard and choose an access mode:

  • In Read only mode, the assistant answers questions and provides guidance without making changes.

  • In Read/write mode, the assistant can act on storage infrastructure. It shows details for review and confirmation before each change. For asynchronous operations, such as volume creation, it creates a job that users can check from the assistant.

To connect your LLM, select a provider path, enter endpoint details and API key, and then select a model in Administration > AI Tools. Assistant actions stay within your storage policies and role-based access controls.

Before you begin

Prepare provider credentials and endpoint access so the Console assistant can operate within your organization’s configured governance boundaries.

  • Your provider type decision: OpenAI, OpenAI-compatible, or Anthropic, as supported by release and endpoint.

  • A valid API key for the provider path you select.

  • The endpoint URL for your provider path.

  • Your user name or ID for the LLM provider account, if required.

  • Network access from Console local deployment to the selected endpoint.

Learn about supported LLM providers and models in NetApp Console local deployment.

Connect an LLM to NetApp Console local deployment

Enable assistant capabilities through a validated provider configuration while retaining administrative control over endpoint credentials.

Steps

  1. Log in to the NetApp Console local deployment.

  2. Select Administration > AI Tools.

  3. Select the menu, and then select Edit.

  4. In Provider type, select a provider type.

    Learn about LLM integration in NetApp Console local deployment.

  5. If prompted for a provider endpoint, enter the endpoint URL for the provider path you selected.

  6. In the User name field, enter your user name or SSO ID if your provider path requires it.

  7. In the API key field, paste the API key from your selected provider path.

  8. Select a model from the list.

  9. Review the configuration, and then select Save.

    Review the provider type, endpoint URL, API key, and selected model before saving the configuration.

Verify that LLM integration works

Confirm assistant availability and approval behavior so users can rely on the configured integration for governed operations.

Steps

  1. Open the Console assistant in Read only mode and run a basic query.

  2. Open the Console assistant in Read/write mode and confirm that storage-changing actions require user confirmation before execution.

  3. Verify that the users who need action workflows have the required role-based access controls.

After you complete validation, users can open the Console assistant from the dashboard and describe tasks in plain language. Learn about using NetApp Console assistant.

Protect credentials and monitor LLM usage

Protect LLM credentials and monitor provider activity to reduce unauthorized use of the integration and support organizational governance.

  • Use a dedicated API key for Console local deployment integration when possible.

  • Rotate API keys according to your organization policy.

  • Monitor provider-side API usage and alerts according to your organization's governance requirements.