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Element Software
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SolidFire architecture overview

Contributors netapp-pcarriga netapp-dbagwell

A SolidFire all-flash storage system is comprised of discrete hardware components (drive and nodes) that are combined into a pool of storage resources with NetApp Element software running independently on each node. This single storage system is managed as a single entity by using the Element software UI, API and other management tools.

A SolidFire storage system includes the following hardware components:

  • Cluster: The hub of the SolidFire storage system that is a collection of nodes.

  • Nodes: The hardware components grouped into a cluster. There are two types of nodes:

    • Storage nodes, which are servers containing a collection of drives

    • Fibre Channel (FC) nodes, which you use to connect to FC clients

  • Drives: Used in storage nodes to store data for the cluster. A storage node contains two types of drives:

    • Volume metadata drives store information that defines the volumes and other objects within a cluster.

    • Block drives store data blocks for volumes.

Element Software architectural diagram

You can manage, monitor, and update the system using the Element web UI and other compatible tools:

Common URLs

These are the common URLs you use with a SolidFire all-flash storage system:

URL Description

https://[storage cluster MVIP address]

Access the NetApp Element software UI.

https://activeiq.solidfire.com

Monitor data and receive alerts to any performance bottlenecks or potential system issues.

https://[management node IP address]

Access NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control to upgrade your storage installation and update management services.

https://[IP address]:442

From the per-node UI, access network and cluster settings and utilize system tests and utilities. Learn more.

https://[management node IP address]/mnode

Use management services REST API and other functionality from the management node. Learn more.

https://[management node IP address]:9443

Register the vCenter Plug-in package in the vSphere Web Client. Learn more.