Expanding the PowerFlex Cluster with New Disks shows how to add new disks to current SDS devices.
Our PowerFlex cluster is running on a nested environment. So, all steps demonstrated here are not in a production environment. The PowerFlex cluster is 4.5.2, and all nodes are CentOS-based!
If you are new to PowerFlex, start with this overview of PowerFlex architecture and its core components, including the role of SDS nodes and storage pools.
For a related walkthrough of a nested PowerFlex 4.5.2 deployment, see the PowerFlex cluster deployment guide.
Currently, which disks are used on each SDS?
1- Access the MDM primary node by SSH and execute the following command:
scli --query_sds_device_info --sds_name SDS01 --all_devices | grep -i -E "Original Path:"As we can see in the following picture, we have disks from /dev/sdb to /dev/sdm:
The following command can be executed to list all attached disks:
lsblk --pathAs we can see in the following picture, the disks /dev/sdn and /dev/sdo are attached to the system; however, they are not in use in the PowerFlex cluster:
So, in this case, the disks /dev/sdn and /dev/sdo are available to add to the PowerFlex cluster!
2- Adding both disk devices:
scli --add_sds_device --sds_name SDS01 \
--storage_pool_name SP01 \
--device_path /dev/sdn \
--device_name SDS01-sdn
scli --add_sds_device --sds_name SDS01 \
--storage_pool_name SP01 \
--device_path /dev/sdo \
--device_name SDS01-sdoNote: Replace the sds name, protection domain, storage pool, device path, and device name to reflect your details!
3-Afterward, both disks /dev/sdn and /dev/sdo are in use, as we can see in the following picture:
4- Repeat the same tasks on all SDS devices!
Closing Thoughts
Adding disks to an existing SDS can increase the capacity available to a PowerFlex Storage Pool, but the operation is destructive to data already present on the selected devices.
Verify each disk’s identity and eligibility before adding it, then confirm that PowerFlex reports the expected path, pool, capacity, and healthy device state.
This nested CentOS-based lab is useful for demonstrating the workflow; for production, use an operating system and configuration listed in Dell’s support matrix and follow the guidance for the specific PowerFlex release.
External References
- Dell — PowerFlex 4.5.x CLI Reference: `add_sds_device` Documents the command syntax and options for adding a storage device to an SDS. It explains that PowerFlex checks devices before adding them, runs performance tests by default, and that `–force_device_takeover` destroys data.
- Dell — PowerFlex 4.5.x Install and Upgrade Guide: Add Storage Devices Shows the SCLI workflow for adding storage devices and repeating the operation for the required PowerFlex storage nodes.
- Dell — PowerFlex 4.5.x Technical Overview: Configure Direct-Attached Storage Explains the raw-device recommendations, the device-clear check, data erasure when a device is added to an SDS, and restrictions involving filesystems, LVM, and multipath devices.
- Dell — PowerFlex CLI Reference: `query_sds_device_info` Documents how to query one SDS device or all devices on an SDS, including device paths, Storage Pool assignments, capacities, and device state.
- Dell — PowerFlex Operating-System Support Matrix Lists supported operating-system and PowerFlex component combinations. Check the current matrix for the exact release before using CentOS or another Linux distribution in a production environment.
