This document describes how to convert a FAS3020/3050 filer into a NearStore VTL appliance. It also shows how to revert back a NearStore VTL appliance to a FAS3020/3050 filer.

1. About NearStore VTL

NearStore VTL is:

• A disk-based Virtual Tape Library
•  Makes disk look like tape
•  Includes VTL software running on an embedded Linux kernel using a FAS3020/3050 platform
• Includes VTL-specific RAID (using ATA storage)

NearStore VTL is NOT:

• Dependent on ONTAP

Hardware requirements:

• FAS3020 or FAS3050
• DS14mk2 AT shelves
• FC-ATX controllers
• New 256MB or bigger Compact Flash card (see 2.2.1)

2. Converting a FAS3020/3050 filer to a NearStore VTL

Note1:  All data on the disks will be lost. If you need to convert the FAS3020/3050 back to a filer, you’ll need to re-initialize all the disks and install ONTAP again on these disks.
Note2: Installing NearStore VTL also overwrites the contents of the internal compact flash.  See section 2.2.1. for details.

2.1. Hardware

NearStore VTL uses the exact same hardware as a filer based on the 3 components listed in the “Hardware Requirements” section above. If you have a functional filer, the only change you have to do to your hardware configuration involves changing the ports the FAS3020 uses to connect to the disk shelves and to the hosts. If you have optional PCI cards, you may also (in some cases) have to change their location.
Also make sure an internet cable is connected to e0a. NearStore VTL uses e0a as a control internet connection. The other internet connectors are not used.
NearStore VTL assigns fixed roles to the FC ports:
Back-end Ports: Connected to disk shelves
Front-end Ports: Connected to hosts (backup servers using the virtual tape drives)

Any of the following ports can be connected to disk shelves: 0b, 0d, and slot4a (if an optional QLA2342 FC card is present, it must be in slot4)
Any of the following ports can be connected to hosts: 0a, 0c, and slot4b (if an optional QLA2342 FC card is present, it must be in slot4)
If the setup has more than one FC additional QLA2342 FC cards, all additional ports are back-end ports.

Note1: Any FC shelves should be disconnected, since fibre drives are not supported.

Note2: The NVRAM card is not used by the VTL but it is ok to leave it in slot PCI1. NearStore VTL actually ships with a NVRAM card in slot PCI1. This makes it possible to re-use the hardware as a filer if needed. NearStore VTL will not work will a NVRAM card located in a different slot.
NearStore VTL supports the optional PCI cards listed below. The first optional card must be located in slot PCI4.
QLA2342 (*) QLogic FC HBA
LSI7202XP-4M (*) parallel SCSI adapter
Emulex 79xx parallel SCSI adapter

(*) The actual NearStore VTL product optionally ships with these cards.

Note3: Remove any additional card that is not listed in Note2. For example, Intel Network cards prevent the VTL from booting.

If you are putting together the various components to build a NearStore VTL, do the following:
Connect the DS14mk2 AT disk shelves you want to use for the VTL to the FAS3020/3050. Use 1 or 2 FC-ATX controllers per disk shelf (2 is the recommended configuration).
For example connect port 0b on the FAS3020/3050 to the top FC-ATX controller on a disk shelf, and port 0d to the botton FC-ATX controller on the same disk shelf. This disk self may be chained to other disk shelves, the same way a filer does.

2.2. Software

There are 2 ways to install the NearStore VTL firmware on the internal Compact Flash card:

1. Network boot installation:

•  First boot a NearStore VTL network image
•  Then do a NearStore VTL firmware upgrade

The network boot starts the NearStore VTL application a first time, in a restricted mode. You then use the application web-based GUI to upgrade the firmware to the full firmware image.

2. Writing to the Compact Flash card directly:

If you have a Compact Flash drive, you can also copy a NearStore VTL bootable image directly to the compact flash card. You need to write to the CF in raw mode.
Below are the steps to perform this operation:

• Extract the CF card from the FAS3020/3050
• Attach a Compact Flash drive to a Unix machine (Note: this image cannot be written using a Windows rawwrite / dd utility)
• Insert the CF card into the drive
• Copy the bootable image to the card using Unix dd utility
• Linux example:
  scsi_info /dev/sda
  dd if=VTL-x.y.z.raw of=/dev/sda bs=256k

The following paragraphs describe the successive steps to install NearStore VTL on the Compact Flash card. If you write directly to the CF card, skip sections 2.2.3 to 2.2.8.

2.2.1.  Replace the compact flash card

Installing NearStore VTL will overwrite the contents of the internal compact flash. The compact flash contains ONTAP normal, backup, and diagnostics kernels, as well as CFE firmware. If you want to keep the option of reverting back to ONTAP, replace the CF card, before installing NearStore VTL:

•  Open the chassis and take out the CF card
•  Save it in a safe place
• Insert a new CF card (minimum size 256MB)

2.2.2. Where to get NearStore VTL software distribution

The latest NearStore VTL binaries are available on this NOW ToolChest page:
http://now.netapp.com/NOW/download/tools/internal/nearstore_vtl/
 
If you use the CF direct write method, copy the file VTL-x.y.z.raw to the CF card as indicated in section 2.2, then skip to section 2.2.9 below.


2.2.3. Download the NearStore VTL firmware file

Get the following file and save it to your machine: SWVTL-x.y.z, where x, y, and z are release information. 
 
This file size is about 42MB.
While the download is in progress, you can continue with steps 2.2.4 to 2.2.7 below.

2.2.4. Reboot the filer and stop at the CFE> prompt

A FAS3020/3050 head does not have a BIOS, but a Common Firmware Environment, called CFE. Reboot ONTAP or power-cycle the head and press a key to prevent auto-boot of ONTAP.

2.2.5. Net boot NearStore VTL software

Use the following set of commands to boot up the FAS3020 off of the download.netapp.com web server:

CFE> ifconfig e0a -addr=<IP addr> -mask=<netmask> -gw=<gateway> -dns=<dns> domain=<domain name>
Or, if DHCP is configured, simply:
CFE> ifconfig e0a -auto

Then run:
CFE> boot -raw -addr=0x20000000 -max=0x1000000 http://vtltempdnld:nowvtldnld@download.netapp.com/download/tools/internal/nearstore_vtl/VTL-x.y.z_netboot.e

Just replace x, y, and z, by the latest release information.
 
2.2.6. Enter network parameters at the Console> prompt

Linux kernel and NearStore VTL software take a few minutes to load. When the screen is done scrolling, press the Enter key to see the Console> prompt.

At the Console> prompt enter the network parameters (again). This is required because the Linux kernel overwrites the CFE kernel in memory. For instance, if the IP address of the VTL head is 10.11.12.13:

Console> help
Usage:
      show net
      set  net <ip addr> <netmask> <gw addr>
      set  diag [enabled|disabled]
      set  diag reset
      dump diag
      set  debug category [enabled|disabled]
      show debug category
      reboot
      load config default
      help

Console> set net 10.11.12.13 255.255.255.0 10.11.12.1

Console> show net
IP address: 10.11.12.13
   netmask: 255.255.255.0
   gateway: 10.11.12.1
   MAC    : 00:a0:98:02:49:9e

2.2.7. Log on to the NearStore VTL web interface

Open a Web browser. Disable pop-up blockers. NearStore VTL GUI uses pop-up windows to notify users of errors or other important events.

Type the following URL: http://10.11.12.13/ or http://hostname/, specifying the IP address or host name of the NearStore VTL head.

Enter the following user name and password at the prompt:
admin
NetApp

2.2.8. Upload a firmware image to the Compact Flash card

Navigate to the Network Appliance Services -> Software image upgrade tab and click the "here" link to select the file you downloaded at paragraph 2.2.3 (SWVTL-x.y.z).

After the firmware is installed, you will be prompted to reboot the appliance - click the reboot button.

2.2.9. Configure auto-boot

If CFE auto-boot is enabled, the FAS3020/3050 will start the NearStore VTL software automatically. If it is not enabled, then type:
CFE> boot_primary

Or set the following CFE environment settings to configure CFE auto-boot:
CFE> setenv AUTOBOOT true
CFE> setenv AUTOBOOT_FROM PRIMARY
CFE> bye

2.2.10. Enter network parameters again at the Console> prompt

Linux kernel and NearStore VTL software take a few minutes to load. When the screen is done scrolling, press the Enter key to see the Console> prompt.

At the Console> prompt enter the network parameters (one more time). This time the network information is stored on the Compact Flash card, so it will be set automatically at the next reboot.

Console> set net 10.11.12.13 255.255.255.0 10.11.12.1

2.2.11. NearStore VTL software is now up and running

3. Converting a NearStore VTL to a FAS3020/3050 filer
Note:  All data on the disks will be lost. If you need to convert the FAS3020/3050 back to a NearStore VTL, you will need to re-initialize all the disks and install NearStore VTL software again on these disks.

3.1. Hardware

A filer has an additional hardware requirement that a NearStore VTL does not have: it requires a NVRAM card. So make sure the NVRAM card is inserted.
Also reconnect the Fibre shelves if any.
Replace NearStore VTL CF card by ONTAP CF card, extracted in paragraph 2.2.1.

3.2. Software
Replacing the CF card causes the FAS3020/3050 to boot ONTAP when powered on. If CFE autoboot is not configured, type CFE> boot_primary.
Press CTRL-C for ONTAP special boot menu.
Select option “(4a) Same as option 4, but create a flexible root volume.” from the boot menu. This operation takes many hours, as it zeros all the disks.
Once the disks are done zeroing; ONTAP starts. Specify the requested network and system parameters, enable licenses, etc…
The FAS3020/3050 filer is now up and running!