Disks, whether SSDs or HDDs, might fail. If this occurs, you need to remove the failed disk and replace it. Follow the server hardware instructions for removing and replacing the disks in the host. The HX Data Platform identifies the SSD or HDD and incorporates it into the storage cluster. To increase the datastore capacity of a storage cluster, add the same size and type SSDs or HDDs to each converged node in the storage cluster. For hybrid servers, add HDDs. For All-Flash servers, add SSDs.

Note

When performing a hot-plug pull and replace on multiple drives from different vendors or of different types, pause for a few moments (30 seconds) between each action. Pull, pause for about 30 seconds, replace a drive, and pause for 30 seconds. Then pull, pause for 30 seconds, and replace the next drive. Sometimes, when a disk is removed, it continues to be listed in the cluster summary information. To refresh this, restart the HX cluster.

Disk requirements vary between converged nodes and compute-only nodes. To increase the available CPU and memory capacity, you can expand the existing cluster with compute-only nodes as needed. These compute-only nodes provide no increase to storage performance or storage capacity.

Alternatively, adding converged nodes increases storage performance and storage capacity alongside CPU and memory resources. Servers with only solid-state disks are All-Flash servers. Servers with both SSDs and HDDs are hybrid servers. The following applies to all the disks in a HyperFlex cluster:

All the disks in the storage cluster must have the same amount of storage capacity. All the nodes in the storage cluster must have the same number of disks.

All SSDs must support TRIM and have TRIM enabled.

All HDDs can be either SATA or SAS type. All SAS disks in the storage cluster must be in a pass-through mode.

Disk partitions must be removed from SSDs and HDDs. Disks with partitions are ignored and not added to your HX storage cluster.

Optionally, you can remove or back up existing data on disks. All existing data on a provided disk is overwritten.

Note

New factory servers are shipped with the appropriate disk partition settings. Do not remove disk partitions from new factory servers.

Only the disks ordered directly from Cisco are supported.

 On servers with self-encrypting drives (SEDs), both the cache and persistent storage (capacity) drives must be SED capable. These servers support Data at Rest Encryption (DARE).

In addition to the disks listed in Table 15-3, all M4 converged nodes have 2x 64-GB SD FlexFlash cards in a mirrored configuration with ESX installed. All M5 and M6 converged nodes have M.2 SATA SSD with ESXi installed.