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Why enabling Auto-Giveback is a good idea

  1. Last updated
    Apr 2, 2025
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Category:
ontap-9
Specialty:
generalsupport
Last Updated:
4/2/2025, 1:39:56 PM

Applies to

  • ONTAP 9

Answer

It is a Best Practice Setting for various good reasons

  • Auto-Giveback is enabled by Default starting with ONTAP 9.0 and later
  • > 95% of Panic/HA storage failure cases due to transient errors are resolved by a system reset
Common Concerns:

What about Boot-loop and repeated Takeover-Giveback  after Panics?

  • ONTAP will NOT attempt to Auto-Giveback a node as long as it is  NOT in "Waiting for Giveback" state
  • ONTAP will NOT force a Giveback when it is vetoed
  • ONTAP will (default setting) try to perform Auto-Giveback of the same node twice within 60 minutes
    If the node is not stable and panics a third time Auto-Giveback is deactivated

What if Encryption Keys are out of sync?

  • ONTAP will perform a CFO only Giveback as the Giveback for the Data Aggregate is vetoed automatically

Example:

CLUSTER::> storage failover show-giveback

  (storage failover show-giveback)

Node                     Aggregate                Giveback Status

--------------         -----------------          ---------------------------------------------

NODE-1                  CFO Aggregates            Done

                        Data01_Node2              Failed: Operation was vetoed by keymanager                                                      Check the event log

NODE-2                                            No aggregates to give back

2 entries were displayed.

 

Conclusion:

Enabling Auto-Giveback on a NetApp storage system is a Best Practice in most environments, particularly those that require high availability, optimal performance, and minimal administrative overhead.

Auto-Giveback ensures that the system can quickly recover from failures or maintenance events, maintaining balance and performance with minimal manual intervention.

Additionally, by automating the giveback process, the risk of double failures is minimized, as resources are promptly returned to their original state, reducing the window of vulnerability where both nodes could potentially fail.

Additional Information

N/A

 

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