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Quick start for StorageGRID

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Follow these high-level steps to configure and use any StorageGRID system.

One Learn, plan, and collect data

Work with your NetApp account representative to understand the options and to plan your new StorageGRID system. Consider these types of questions:

  • How much object data do you expect to store initially and over time?

  • How many sites do you need?

  • How many and what types of nodes do you need at each site?

  • Which StorageGRID networks will you use?

  • Who will use your grid to store objects? Which applications will they use?

  • Do you have any special security or storage requirements?

  • Do you need to comply with any legal or regulatory requirements?

Optionally, work with your NetApp Professional Services consultant to access the NetApp ConfigBuilder tool to complete a configuration workbook for use when installing and deploying your new system. You can also use this tool to help automate the configuration of any StorageGRID appliance. See Automate appliance installation and configuration.

Review Learn about StorageGRID and the Networking guidelines.

Two Install nodes

A StorageGRID system consists of individual hardware-based and software-based nodes. You first install the hardware for each appliance node and configure each Linux or VMware host.

To complete the installation, you install StorageGRID software on each appliance or software host and connect the nodes into a grid. During this step, you provide site and node names, subnet details, and the IP addresses for your NTP and DNS servers.

Learn how:

Three Sign in and check system health

As soon as you install the primary Admin Node, you can sign in to the Grid Manager. From there, you can review the general health of your new system, enable AutoSupport and alert emails, and set up S3 endpoint domain names.

Learn how:

Four Configure and manage

The configuration tasks you need to perform for a new StorageGRID system depend on how you will use your grid. At a minimum, you set up system access; use the FabricPool and S3 wizards; and manage various storage and security settings.

Learn how:

Five Set up ILM

You control the placement and duration of every object in your StorageGRID system by configuring an information lifecycle management (ILM) policy that consists of one or more ILM rules. The ILM rules instruct StorageGRID how to create and distribute copies of object data and how to manage those copies over time.

Learn how: Manage objects with ILM

Six Use StorageGRID

After the initial configuration is complete, StorageGRID tenant accounts can use S3 and Swift client applications to ingest, retrieve, and delete objects.

Learn how:

Seven Monitor and troubleshoot

When your system is up and running, you should monitor its activities on a regular basis and troubleshoot and resolve any alerts. You might also want to configure an external syslog server, use SNMP monitoring, or collect additional data.

Learn how:

Eight Expand and maintain

You can add nodes or sites to expand the capacity or functionality of your system. You can also perform various maintenance procedures to recover from failures or to keep your StorageGRID system up-to-date and performing efficiently.

Learn how: