Skip to main content

This Site will be down for up to 3 hours on December 2, 2023 from 8 PM - 11 PM PST, to deploy an infrastructure update.

NetApp Knowledge Base

Is it possible to replace small drives with bigger ones without downsizing them?

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
Views:
234
Visibility:
Public
Votes:
0
Category:
disk-drives
Specialty:
hw
Last Updated:

Applies to

  • Disk downsizing
  • RAID groups

Answer

No.

  • NetApp Write Anyware File Layout (WAFL) uses Virtual Block numbers (VBNs) when creating RAID groups and aggregates.
  • The VBNs used by each disk are "fixed" in the RAID group so, if a disk is replaced with a bigger one, the amount of VBNs will remain.
  • The empty space in the bigger drive won't be used by WAFL for new VBNs. No data will be stored in the "available" space.
  • The aggregate with mixed drives should be destroyed and recreated again with the correct ones. 

Additional Information

NetApp provides no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or reliability or serviceability of any information or recommendations provided in this publication or with respect to any results that may be obtained by the use of the information or observance of any recommendations provided herein. The information in this document is distributed AS IS and the use of this information or the implementation of any recommendations or techniques herein is a customer's responsibility and depends on the customer's ability to evaluate and integrate them into the customer's operational environment. This document and the information contained herein may be used solely in connection with the NetApp products discussed in this document.
Scan to view the article on your device