How to boot ONTAP from an external Key Management (KMIP) server using an ifgrp or vlan
Applies to
- ONTAP 9
- Encrypting SAS or NVMe drives (SED, NSE, FIPS)
- KMIP
- Key Management
Description
For ONTAP clusters using data-at-rest encryption such as NetApp Aggregate Encryption (NAE), NetApp Volume Encryption (NVE), NetApp Storage Encryption (NSE) or self-encrypting drives (SED), it is necessary to contact the key manager during the boot process to unlock the encrypted aggregates, volumes, or drives. When use external key management (KMIP server) as the encryption key management solution, the KMIP server must be contacted using a network connection at boot time. By default, ONTAP uses the node management LIF found most commonly on the e0M network port interface to access an external key management server.
However, it is possible to use a different network port interface besides e0M or even a collection of network interfaces combined together in an interface group (ifgrp) to connect to the KMIP server. Furthermore, VLAN interfaces residing on top of ifgrp’s can also be used for boot connectivity to a KMIP server.
The process to use a non-e0M port, ifgrp, or VLAN depends on the ONTAP version. This article covers the various configuration steps necessary to use an ifgrp, VLAN, and ports other than e0M for KMIP server connectivity during boot.