Maintain Cache tier on a vSAN Cluster

[SrVMwarer]

Hi VMwarers!

As I am learning vSAN101 wondering what is the professional methods to replace a SSD disk, surely if we have a Disk Group that contains a single SSD and we need to replace that SSD or it is just failed or about to fail, I've searched for answers but I wanted a professional answers from you the experts.

[TheBobkin]

Hello,

If you remove a Capacity-tier SSD that is the only Capacity-tier device in this Disk-Group the Disk-Group goes away with it. With regard to how to replace it, this depends on a number of factors including:

- Does the controller support hot-plug? (if not then don't).

- Is there available space + FDs and/or a business requirement to maintain FTT during maintenance? If so then chose to remove the device with EA/FDM accordingly. (I wouldn't advise trying FDM off a device if it has issues).

Bob

[SrVMwarer]

If you remove a Capacity-tier SSD that is the only Capacity-tier device in this Disk-Group the Disk-Group goes away

If remove a SSD from my Cahce tier for a DiskGroup how that will affect the entire Diskgroup Cache+Capacity tiers?

I am asking since I can't try it at that moment

[TheBobkin]

As I said (and which you quoted) - if you permanently remove the cache-tier SSD this is the same as deleting the Disk-Group. Without the cache-tier device there is essentially no Disk-Group

Bob

[SrVMwarer]

I though there's a workarounds.

Many thanks for you help

[TheBobkin]

One of the main functions of the Cache-tier device is to store metadata describing the layout of the data stored on the Disk-Group and thus without this the data stored on these is functionally useless (other than to just maybe, *MAYBE* Kroll or some other heavy-hitter recovery experts). It's like ripping out the contents page of a book and asking someone to tell you what is on page 57 without looking at page 57 or knowing how to get there.

The 'workaround' is removing the Disk-Group with Ensure Accessibility or Full Data Migration.

Bob