10.2 NSS Management Utility (NSSMU) Quick Reference

The OES Storage Services Management Utility (NSSMU) is a console-based utility for managing NSS storage media on a server. You can use NSSMU at any time as an alternative to the browser-based iManager Storage plug-in.

NSSMU is installed when you install NSS. The Linux install creates symlinks in the /opt/novell/nss/sbin folder for common NSS utilities, including NSSMU. Symlinks allow the path to NSSMU to become part of the root user’s path, which allows you to run nssmu from a terminal console as the root user.

Table 10-11 identifies key functions available in NSSMU. This quick reference is also available in the nssmu(8) man page. To access the man page, enter the following at a terminal console prompt:

man 8 nssmu

Table 10-11 Summary of Management Options in NSSMU

Management Options	Description
Devices F3 or I= Initialize device (Do not initialize your system device.) F5 or F= Refresh display F6, S or U = Share (shareable/not shareable for clustering) Space = Select or unselect Enter = Show partitions Esc or Q = Previous menu	Use this option to initialize and maintain physical storage devices and software RAID devices available to this server. Use the Software RAID Devices option to create, repair, or delete RAIDs. Initialize the selected device by erasing its partition table, effectively destroying all of its data. If devices are present but not showing up for creating pools and volumes, you should initialize the disk. When you initialize a device, you can select the DOS or the GUID Partition Table (GPT) partitioning scheme for a given device. The DOS partitioning scheme supports devices up to 2 TB in size. It allows up to four partitions on a device. The GPT partitioning scheme supports device sizes up to 2E64 sectors (that is, up to 8388608 petabytes (PB) based on the 512-byte sector size). It allows up to 128 partitions per disk. Each of its disks partitions is a logical device that is identified by a unique 128-bit (16-byte) GUID. IMPORTANT:It is recommended that you do not take a snapshot on a VMware ESXi, which includes both thick and thin-provisioned devices. If a snapshot is taken, all the thick-provisioned devices are randomly converted to thin-provisioned devices and vice versa.
Partitions Ins or + = Create an NSS partition (disabled) Del or - = Delete an NSS partition F3 or M = Mirror partition (that contains an existing pool) F5 or F = Refresh details of the partition F6 or L= Label Enter =Show volumes Esc or Q = Previous menu	Use this option to display details about partitions. All types of partitions are displayed, including those for Linux file systems. The Create option is disabled. NSS partitions are automatically created for you as you define NSS pools or software RAIDs. You can delete a single partition at a time when repairing a failed software RAID partition. To delete all partitions for a software RAID, you should delete the RAID itself from the Software RAIDs page; otherwise, the RAID is not cleanly deleted. The Mirror option lets you specify 1 to 3 partitions to mirror an existing partition that contains an NSS pool. Effectively, you are creating a RAID1 mirror device for the pool. Each segment of the defined RAID is a complete mirror of the original pool and is the same size as the original partition. After you mirror the partition, manage the RAID from the Software RAIDs page. If you widen the NSSMU display screen, it widens the Partitions list panel and allows you to see the partitions' full names.
Pools Ins or + = Create a pool Del or - = Delete a pool F3 or E = Expand a pool (by adding space) F4 or U= Update NDS/eDirectory F5 or F= Refresh the pool list F6 or R = Rename a pool F7, A or D = Activate/deactivate a pool S = Display pool segments, segment size, and devices j = Join the cluster pool to the AD domain g = Media upgrade a pool to support AD users F8 or N = More (list more options) F9 or V = Show deleted volumes (then salvage, purge, or pause/resume autopurging) M = Move pool Enter = Show volumes for a pool Esc or Q = Previous menu Space = Refresh details of the selected pool T = Execute Fstrim on a pool	Use this option to create, delete, rename, and expand NSS storage pools to efficiently use all free space in the available devices. NOTE: NSSMU supports only the creation of NSS64 pool type. NSS64 pools use 64-bit block addressing and supports up to 8 EB (exabyte). NSS64 pool type is by default Trustee Index media upgraded. While creating a pool, specify a unique name for the pool. Creating NSS64 pools or media upgrading an existing NSS32 pools to support AD users in a mixed-node cluster environment is not recommended, because the pools will not be accessible from nodes older than OES 2015. You can still go ahead and click 'y' (yes) to create NSS64 pools or media upgrade (AD media or Trustee Index media) an existing NSS32 pools. The recommended way to media upgrade an existing NSS32 pool is as follows: For NSS32 Pools with AD Media Upgrade: Configure preferred nodes for each media-upgraded cluster resource, so that these resources load on OES 2015 or later nodes. For NSS32 Pools with Trustee Index Media Upgrade: Configure preferred nodes for each media-upgraded cluster resource, so that these resources load on OES 2015 SP1 or later nodes. For more information on creating preferred nodes, see Configuring Preferred Nodes and Node Failover Order for a Resourcein the OES 2023: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide. After you create a pool, you can expand it by adding free space from the same or different device to increase its size. Select from the available free space to allocate it to the pool. Each device can contribute a different amount of space to the pool. Devices that allocate space must be of the same logical sector size and it must be in the same share state as the pool, that is, Shared or Not Shared. You can increase the size of a pool, but you cannot reduce it. You can also media upgrade the pool to support AD users, and this is a one-time activity that cannot be reverted.
	The join cluster pool option joins a cluster pool to the AD domain. When you join, you can choose to specify the container under which the pool object will be created or you could choose to use an existing pre-created object. You can choose to perform kinit before the launch of nssmu or during AD join process. kinit during the join process is valid for only one pool join as the kdestroy is performed for every join operation. For more information, see Section 10.2.1, Joining Cluster Pools to the AD Domain. The move pool option moves an NSS pool from one location to another on the same system. The pool remains active during this process. All the segments in the pool are consolidated and moved to the specified device(s). If the specified device is larger than the original device, the pool is automatically expanded on the completion of move job. If a clustered pool is moved, on performing cluster resource migration the Move pool job is resumed on other node. In the cluster setup, the exact status of the pool move can be seen only on the node where the pool move job is in progress. For more information, see Section 16.13, Moving a Pool. You can use the fstrim option to trim the unused blocks on the selected NSS pool. When you execute this option, the fstrim process runs in the background. Go to pool information page to view the fstrim state, last executed time, and last trimmed size on the selected pool. For more information on fstrim, see /var/log/messages. The fstrim option is supported only on thin-provisioned SCSi devices with the Vmware ESXi. NOTE:The fstrim option is not supported in the following cases: If the pool is created on the NSS software RAID device. If the NSS pool is created using both thin and thick storage devices. The NSS pool on which the snapshot is created.
Volumes Ins or + = Create a new volume Del or - = Delete a volume F2 or P = Rename mount point for the volume (new path with volume name) F3 or C = View Compression Statistics g = AD-enable a volume F4 or U = Update NDS/eDirectory F5 or F = Refresh details of the volume F6 or R = Rename volume F7, M or D = Dismount/mount a volume. If it is encrypted, the volume prompts for a password on the first mount after a system boot or reboot. F8 or N = More (list more options) F9 or S = Name Space - choose Long (default), UNIX, DOS, or Macintosh Enter = View volume properties Esc or Q = Previous menu	Use this option to create, delete, rename, activate/deactivate, and mount/dismount NSS volumes and to set their attributes. You can also AD-enable a volume to support AD users. These volumes must be active and must be part of an AD media upgraded pool. AD-enabling a volume is a one-time activity and cannot be reverted. If the pool is AD media enabled and NSSMU validates the OES server that is currently joined to the AD domain, then "AD Enable the volume?" pop-up is displayed. If you click "Yes" the volume is AD-enabled. If the switch /(No)EnableNewVolumeToAD is enabled through nsscon, then this option takes preference. So even if you select "No" for the "AD Enable the volume?" pop-up, the volumes are AD-enabled. To store data in encrypted format, select the encryption key type, and then specify a password when you create the volume. This enables the Encryption attribute. The encryption setting persists for the life of the volume. The encryption password can be 2 to 16 standard ASCII characters, with a suggested minimum of 6. The password generates a 128 or 256-bit NICI key based on the key type selected for encryption. On system reboot, specify the password when you activate the volume for the first time. NOTE:The AES256 encryption key type should be used only on the NSS64 pool type with the pool media upgraded to AES. You can mount encrypted volumes only from NSSMU on the first time after a system reboot. Provide the password when needed. Until you provide a password for encrypted volumes, you cannot mount multiple encrypted volumes at a time.
Linux Volumes Ins or + = Create Del or - = Delete F3 or R = Rename F5 or F = Refresh details of the Linux volumes F7, M or D = Mount or Dismount Esc or Q = Previous menu	Use this option to create and manage the Linux volumes. For more information, see Managing Linux Volumes with NSSMU in the OES 2023: Linux POSIX Volume Administration Guide.
RAID Devices Ins or + = Create a software RAID Del or - = Delete a software RAID device F3 or E = Expand a RAID device (add partitions) F4, S or M = Restripe (S) (to restripe or resume restriping for paused RAID 0 or RAID 5). Remirror (M) (to remirror or resume remirroring for paused RADI 1) F5 or F = Refresh details of the software RAID device F6 or R = Rename a RAID device Enter = Show segments (list member partitions for selected device) Esc or Q = Previous menu F8 or N = More (list more options) Space = Status Refresh	Use this option to create and manage NSS software RAID devices. A software RAID device emulates a hardware RAID device. RAID devices combine partitioned space on multiple physical devices into a single virtual device that you manage like any device. Each member device contributes an equal amount of space and only a single partition to the RAID. Pressing F6 would either restripe or remirror based on the chosen RAID device. NOTE:If the RAID 1 is already synchronized, pressing F6 will not show any remirroring progress.
Snapshot Ins or + = Create a pool snapshot Del or - = Delete a pool snapshot F5 or F = Refresh display F7, M or D = Mount or dismount the pool snapshot as an active pool. The snapshot functions continue whether the snapshot is mounted or dismounted. Esc or Q = Previous menu	Use this option to create, delete, mount, and dismount pool snapshots for NSS pools. Snapshots are stored on a separate partition that you specify, not another pool. After it is created, the partition for the snapshot pool cannot be expanded.

Management Options

Description

Devices

F3 or I= Initialize device (Do not initialize your system device.)
F5 or F= Refresh display
F6, S or U = Share (shareable/not shareable for clustering)
Space = Select or unselect
Enter = Show partitions
Esc or Q = Previous menu

Use this option to initialize and maintain physical storage devices and software RAID devices available to this server. Use the Software RAID Devices option to create, repair, or delete RAIDs.

Initialize the selected device by erasing its partition table, effectively destroying all of its data. If devices are present but not showing up for creating pools and volumes, you should initialize the disk.

When you initialize a device, you can select the DOS or the GUID Partition Table (GPT) partitioning scheme for a given device.

The DOS partitioning scheme supports devices up to 2 TB in size. It allows up to four partitions on a device.

The GPT partitioning scheme supports device sizes up to 2E64 sectors (that is, up to 8388608 petabytes (PB) based on the 512-byte sector size). It allows up to 128 partitions per disk. Each of its disks partitions is a logical device that is identified by a unique 128-bit (16-byte) GUID.

IMPORTANT:It is recommended that you do not take a snapshot on a VMware ESXi, which includes both thick and thin-provisioned devices. If a snapshot is taken, all the thick-provisioned devices are randomly converted to thin-provisioned devices and vice versa.

Partitions

Ins or + = Create an NSS partition (disabled)
Del or - = Delete an NSS partition
F3 or M = Mirror partition (that contains an existing pool)
F5 or F = Refresh details of the partition
F6 or L= Label
Enter =Show volumes
Esc or Q = Previous menu

Use this option to display details about partitions. All types of partitions are displayed, including those for Linux file systems.

The Create option is disabled. NSS partitions are automatically created for you as you define NSS pools or software RAIDs.

You can delete a single partition at a time when repairing a failed software RAID partition. To delete all partitions for a software RAID, you should delete the RAID itself from the Software RAIDs page; otherwise, the RAID is not cleanly deleted.

The Mirror option lets you specify 1 to 3 partitions to mirror an existing partition that contains an NSS pool. Effectively, you are creating a RAID1 mirror device for the pool. Each segment of the defined RAID is a complete mirror of the original pool and is the same size as the original partition. After you mirror the partition, manage the RAID from the Software RAIDs page.

If you widen the NSSMU display screen, it widens the Partitions list panel and allows you to see the partitions' full names.

Pools

Ins or + = Create a pool
Del or - = Delete a pool
F3 or E = Expand a pool (by adding space)
F4 or U= Update NDS/eDirectory
F5 or F= Refresh the pool list
F6 or R = Rename a pool
F7, A or D = Activate/deactivate a pool
S = Display pool segments, segment size, and devices
j = Join the cluster pool to the AD domain
g = Media upgrade a pool to support AD users
F8 or N = More (list more options)
F9 or V = Show deleted volumes (then salvage, purge, or pause/resume autopurging)
M = Move pool
Enter = Show volumes for a pool
Esc or Q = Previous menu
Space = Refresh details of the selected pool
T = Execute Fstrim on a pool

Use this option to create, delete, rename, and expand NSS storage pools to efficiently use all free space in the available devices.

NOTE:

NSSMU supports only the creation of NSS64 pool type. NSS64 pools use 64-bit block addressing and supports up to 8 EB (exabyte). NSS64 pool type is by default Trustee Index media upgraded.
While creating a pool, specify a unique name for the pool.
Creating NSS64 pools or media upgrading an existing NSS32 pools to support AD users in a mixed-node cluster environment is not recommended, because the pools will not be accessible from nodes older than OES 2015. You can still go ahead and click 'y' (yes) to create NSS64 pools or media upgrade (AD media or Trustee Index media) an existing NSS32 pools. The recommended way to media upgrade an existing NSS32 pool is as follows:
- For NSS32 Pools with AD Media Upgrade: Configure preferred nodes for each media-upgraded cluster resource, so that these resources load on OES 2015 or later nodes.
- For NSS32 Pools with Trustee Index Media Upgrade: Configure preferred nodes for each media-upgraded cluster resource, so that these resources load on OES 2015 SP1 or later nodes.
For more information on creating preferred nodes, see Configuring Preferred Nodes and Node Failover Order for a Resourcein the OES 2023: OES Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

After you create a pool, you can expand it by adding free space from the same or different device to increase its size. Select from the available free space to allocate it to the pool. Each device can contribute a different amount of space to the pool. Devices that allocate space must be of the same logical sector size and it must be in the same share state as the pool, that is, Shared or Not Shared. You can increase the size of a pool, but you cannot reduce it. You can also media upgrade the pool to support AD users, and this is a one-time activity that cannot be reverted.

The join cluster pool option joins a cluster pool to the AD domain. When you join, you can choose to specify the container under which the pool object will be created or you could choose to use an existing pre-created object. You can choose to perform kinit before the launch of nssmu or during AD join process. kinit during the join process is valid for only one pool join as the kdestroy is performed for every join operation. For more information, see Section 10.2.1, Joining Cluster Pools to the AD Domain.

The move pool option moves an NSS pool from one location to another on the same system. The pool remains active during this process. All the segments in the pool are consolidated and moved to the specified device(s). If the specified device is larger than the original device, the pool is automatically expanded on the completion of move job.

If a clustered pool is moved, on performing cluster resource migration the Move pool job is resumed on other node. In the cluster setup, the exact status of the pool move can be seen only on the node where the pool move job is in progress. For more information, see Section 16.13, Moving a Pool.

You can use the fstrim option to trim the unused blocks on the selected NSS pool. When you execute this option, the fstrim process runs in the background. Go to pool information page to view the fstrim state, last executed time, and last trimmed size on the selected pool. For more information on fstrim, see /var/log/messages. The fstrim option is supported only on thin-provisioned SCSi devices with the Vmware ESXi.

NOTE:The fstrim option is not supported in the following cases:

If the pool is created on the NSS software RAID device.
If the NSS pool is created using both thin and thick storage devices.
The NSS pool on which the snapshot is created.

Volumes

Ins or + = Create a new volume
Del or - = Delete a volume
F2 or P = Rename mount point for the volume (new path with volume name)
F3 or C = View Compression Statistics
g = AD-enable a volume
F4 or U = Update NDS/eDirectory
F5 or F = Refresh details of the volume
F6 or R = Rename volume
F7, M or D = Dismount/mount a volume. If it is encrypted, the volume prompts for a password on the first mount after a system boot or reboot.
F8 or N = More (list more options)
F9 or S = Name Space - choose Long (default), UNIX, DOS, or Macintosh
Enter = View volume properties
Esc or Q = Previous menu

Use this option to create, delete, rename, activate/deactivate, and mount/dismount NSS volumes and to set their attributes. You can also AD-enable a volume to support AD users. These volumes must be active and must be part of an AD media upgraded pool. AD-enabling a volume is a one-time activity and cannot be reverted.

If the pool is AD media enabled and NSSMU validates the OES server that is currently joined to the AD domain, then "AD Enable the volume?" pop-up is displayed. If you click "Yes" the volume is AD-enabled. If the switch /(No)EnableNewVolumeToAD is enabled through nsscon, then this option takes preference. So even if you select "No" for the "AD Enable the volume?" pop-up, the volumes are AD-enabled.

To store data in encrypted format, select the encryption key type, and then specify a password when you create the volume. This enables the Encryption attribute. The encryption setting persists for the life of the volume. The encryption password can be 2 to 16 standard ASCII characters, with a suggested minimum of 6. The password generates a 128 or 256-bit NICI key based on the key type selected for encryption. On system reboot, specify the password when you activate the volume for the first time.

NOTE:The AES256 encryption key type should be used only on the NSS64 pool type with the pool media upgraded to AES.

You can mount encrypted volumes only from NSSMU on the first time after a system reboot. Provide the password when needed. Until you provide a password for encrypted volumes, you cannot mount multiple encrypted volumes at a time.

Linux Volumes

Ins or + = Create
Del or - = Delete
F3 or R = Rename
F5 or F = Refresh details of the Linux volumes
F7, M or D = Mount or Dismount
Esc or Q = Previous menu

Use this option to create and manage the Linux volumes. For more information, see Managing Linux Volumes with NSSMU in the OES 2023: Linux POSIX Volume Administration Guide.

RAID Devices

Ins or + = Create a software RAID
Del or - = Delete a software RAID device
F3 or E = Expand a RAID device (add partitions)
F4, S or M = Restripe (S) (to restripe or resume restriping for paused RAID 0 or RAID 5). Remirror (M) (to remirror or resume remirroring for paused RADI 1)
F5 or F = Refresh details of the software RAID device
F6 or R = Rename a RAID device
Enter = Show segments (list member partitions for selected device)
Esc or Q = Previous menu
F8 or N = More (list more options)
Space = Status Refresh

Use this option to create and manage NSS software RAID devices. A software RAID device emulates a hardware RAID device. RAID devices combine partitioned space on multiple physical devices into a single virtual device that you manage like any device. Each member device contributes an equal amount of space and only a single partition to the RAID.

Pressing F6 would either restripe or remirror based on the chosen RAID device.

NOTE:If the RAID 1 is already synchronized, pressing F6 will not show any remirroring progress.

Snapshot

Ins or + = Create a pool snapshot
Del or - = Delete a pool snapshot
F5 or F = Refresh display
F7, M or D = Mount or dismount the pool snapshot as an active pool. The snapshot functions continue whether the snapshot is mounted or dismounted.
Esc or Q = Previous menu

Use this option to create, delete, mount, and dismount pool snapshots for NSS pools.

Snapshots are stored on a separate partition that you specify, not another pool. After it is created, the partition for the snapshot pool cannot be expanded.

The default unit for setting and displaying the volume quota or pool size is Gigabyte (GB). However, the following units will also be displayed relative to the storage size:

Pool / Volume Quota Size	Displayed Unit
<= 1023 KB	KB
>= 1024 KB and <= 1023 MB	MB
>= 1024 MB and <= 1023 GB	GB
>= 1024 GB	TB

NOTE:

The pool size is not displayed in KB as the minimum allowed pool size should be at least 12 MB.
When the volume quota is entered without specifying any units, the volume quota size is assumed to be in GB. For example, specifying a value of 1 will be considered as 1 GB, 2 as 2 GB and 0.5 as 512 MB. Specifying the value of 'ALL' will create a pool consuming the entire disk space or LUN size.

10.2.1 Joining Cluster Pools to the AD Domain

This section describes the procedures to join cluster NSS resources to an AD domain so that they are accessible to AD users. Joining a cluster resource to the AD domain does not enable the pools and volumes for AD user access. NSS AD Media upgrade for pools and AD-enabling at volume must be done separately following the instructions at Section A.14.1, NSS Media Upgrade Commands and Volume AD-enabling.

You could also use the novell-ad-util CLI tool for the domain join. For more information, see novell-ad-util Command Line Utility in the OES 2023: NSS AD Administration Guide.

Ensure that your cluster node is joined to the AD domain. You should find an entry for the cluster node object created in the Active Directory Users and Computers screen of the AD server. Also ensure that the shared pool has at least one active volume for a successful domain join operation.
Launch NSSMU, select the shared pool that you want to join to the AD domain, then press j.
Specify the AD container where the computer object will be created. If you already have a pre-created computer object, select Yes, then specify the container where the pre-created computer object exist.
Select Proceed.
Perform kinit if not done already, then specify the appropriate AD user credentials for the domain join operation to complete. This user should have the following rights on the AD server: create computer objects, change password and reset password.
After a successful domain join operation, you should find your cluster pool computer object in the Active Directory Users and Computers screen of the AD server.