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Use the Overview dashboard in Workload Factory for EDA

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Use the Overview dashboard to monitor cluster health and capacity across your FSx for ONTAP file systems. Filter data, view capacity recommendations, manage SSD capacity settings, and analyze performance trends to make informed decisions about volume placement and capacity scaling.

Before you begin

You must have activated the Overview dashboard before you can use it to monitor your file systems.

Filter the dashboard

Use the filters at the top of the dashboard to focus on specific file systems. These filters apply to the latency, utilization, and ONTAP events sections and to the clusters table.

Steps

  1. Log in using one of the console experiences.

  2. Select the menu The hamburger menu icon and then select EDA.

  3. Select the Overview tab.

  4. Use the available filters to narrow your view:

    • AWS accounts: Filter by one or more AWS accounts associated with your configured credentials

    • Credentials: Filter by specific AWS credentials if you have multiple configured

    • Regions: Filter by one or more AWS regions

  5. When you update the filter selections, all information is refreshed to show only the matching file systems.

View cluster health status

At the top of the dashboard, a snapshot of health and activity across your filtered file systems is displayed. This information is only shown when at least one FSx for ONTAP link is associated with your file systems.

About this task

The cluster health status includes the following key areas:

  • Latency: Number of latency events detected

  • SSD capacity mode: SSD utilization status and file systems with active capacity recommendations

  • ONTAP events: Number of EMS events by category (Capacity, Availability & protection, Security & other)

Steps

  1. Review the cluster health status at the top of the dashboard.

  2. To view latency events:

    • Select Review to navigate to the Latency tab

    • If latency monitoring is not configured, select Configure to set up latency thresholds

      For details on latency monitoring, see Configure latency monitoring.

  3. To view ONTAP events for your FSx for ONTAP file systems, select Review.

    The ONTAP events view card displays the number of EMS events by category (Capacity, Availability & protection, and Security & other). For a full list of EMS events monitored, see ONTAP CLI documentation.

View and apply capacity recommendations

Workload Factory automatically runs a capacity recommendation algorithm for each FSx for ONTAP file system. You can identify file systems with capacity recommendations by filtering the Clusters table.

Steps

  1. In the Clusters table, filter by the Last SSD increase timestamp or Last SSD increase description columns.

    File systems with capacity recommendations appear at the top of the table.

  2. Select a file system name in the table to open it and view the recommendations.

  3. Review the SSD recommendation and the capacity graph.

    The recommendation explains the suggested change and the reasoning behind it. For example: We recommend increasing the SSD size based on your file system SSD usage pattern.

    The graph presents current SSD usage alongside historical trends and shows you how the capacity recommendation algorithm would have adjusted capacity over time.

  4. On the top right of the graph, select the time range to change the period displayed. The default is one week.

    The graph also displays recommendation decision points and automation decision points (if automation mode is enabled). Hover over any decision point to see details about the capacity recommendation or automation action at that moment.

  5. To apply the recommendation, follow the guidance provided in the recommendation message.

Change SSD management mode

Change the SSD capacity management mode for individual file systems to control whether you want manual recommendations or automated capacity scaling.

About this task

SSD management modes include:

  • Automate: Automatically increase SSD capacity based on predefined thresholds

  • Recommend: Receive capacity recommendations that you manually review and apply

  • None: No capacity recommendations or automated actions

If you select Automate mode, you can configure the Threshold, Lookback, and Ahead parameters that control how the capacity management system analyzes your SSD usage and makes automation decisions. If you select Recommend mode, you can configure only the Threshold parameter.

  • Threshold (10-90%): The SSD usage percentage that triggers capacity recommendations or automation actions

  • Lookback (1-200 hours): The time period used to analyze historical SSD usage patterns

  • Ahead (1-200 hours): The time period used to project future capacity needs

Steps

  1. In the Clusters table find the file system name. Next to it, open the action menu icon and select Change SSD capacity management.

  2. Choose your preferred mode:

    • None: Disable capacity management

    • Recommend: Set the Threshold parameter for recommendation analysis

    • Automate: Set the Threshold, Lookback, and Ahead parameters for automated capacity scaling

  3. Select Apply.

Result

The file system uses the new mode immediately. If you selected Recommend or Automate, the system uses the configured parameters for capacity analysis and decision-making.

Bulk edit SSD management parameters

Adjust SSD capacity management parameters for multiple file systems simultaneously to apply consistent settings across your clusters.

About this task

When you select multiple file systems for bulk editing:

  • If all selected file systems have identical parameter values, those values appear as defaults in the edit dialog

  • If any selected file system is in None mode, default values are populated in the dialog

  • If parameter values differ across the selected file systems, default values are populated in the dialog

Steps

  1. From the Overview tab, select the file systems you want to edit in the table.

    Tip You can select individual file systems or use the header checkbox to select all visible file systems.

  2. Select Change SSD capacity management above the table.

  3. Choose your preferred mode.

  4. In the edit dialog, adjust the Threshold, Lookback, and Ahead parameters as needed.

    Each parameter field includes a tooltip describing its purpose and valid range. The dialog indicates the current values or defaults based on your selection.

  5. Select Apply to apply the changes to all selected file systems.

Result

The parameters are updated for all selected file systems. File systems in Recommend or Automate mode use the new parameters immediately for capacity analysis and decision-making.

Use the SSD usage graph to understand capacity behavior over time and identify patterns in capacity management.

About this task

Decision points on the graph indicate when:

  • Recommendation decision points: The capacity recommendation algorithm identified that additional SSD capacity is needed. These can occur as frequently as every 30 minutes if SSD capacity has not been increased.

  • Automation decision points: The automation system attempted to increase SSD capacity. These points indicate whether the action succeeded or failed.

Steps

  1. From the Overview tab, select a file system name in the table.

  2. Review the SSD usage graph showing historical capacity trends.

  3. Select different time ranges to view capacity behavior over various periods.

  4. Hover over decision points on the graph to view details about recommendations or automation actions at specific moments.

  5. Use the insights from the graph to:

    • Understand how frequently capacity adjustments are needed

    • Evaluate whether automation or recommendation mode better fits your workload patterns

    • Identify recurring capacity constraints

    • Plan for future capacity needs based on growth trends

    • Troubleshoot failed automation attempts

Use the clusters table

The clusters table provides a detailed view of each FSx for ONTAP file system with performance and usage metrics.

Steps

  1. From the Overview tab, review the clusters table.

  2. Use the search box to find specific file systems by name.

  3. Select column headers to sort the data.

  4. Use SSD usage to identify file systems approaching capacity limits.

  5. Use Throughput usage (P99) to compare throughput demand to the provisioned throughput SKU.

    Hover over throughput column headers for calculation details.

  6. To customize columns, select the column settings icon and choose which columns to display.

  7. To export data, select the export icon to download a CSV file.

  8. To perform bulk operations, select multiple file systems using the checkboxes, then select Edit parameters.

Best practices

Consider these recommendations when using the Overview dashboard:

  • Regular monitoring: Check the dashboard regularly to identify trends before they become issues.

  • Set appropriate thresholds: Configure SSD management thresholds that align with your workload patterns and capacity planning preferences.

  • Use filters effectively: Combine region and account filters to focus on specific subsets of your infrastructure.

  • Review recommendations promptly: Filter the Clusters table by Last SSD increase timestamp or description to identify file systems with capacity recommendations. Review and act on these recommendations to prevent capacity constraints.

  • Choose the right mode: Use Recommend mode when you want control over capacity decisions, or Automation mode for hands-off management.

  • Monitor decision points: Regularly review decision points on capacity graphs to understand algorithm behavior and validate that settings match your needs.

  • Leverage bulk editing: When managing multiple file systems, use bulk parameter editing to maintain consistent capacity management policies.