13.3 Managing Partitions using iManager

The Partitions page in the Storage plug-in to iManager and in NSSMU is a reporting tool that allows you to view a list of partitions. You can view the types of partitions that are being virtualized by higher-level storage entities such as NSS pools or software RAID devices.

In iManager, you can use the Partitions page, or access information about partitions through a related task.

13.3.1 Viewing Partitions on the Server

The Partitions page in iManager reports the partitions that it finds on a selected server, and displays information about them.

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Partitions.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select the server that you want to manage.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. View the list of partitions on the device.

    For information about the partition types, see Section 13.1, Understanding Partitions.

13.3.2 Viewing Partitions on a Device

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Devices.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select the server that you want to manage.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. In the Devices list, select a device.

  4. In the Details area, click the arrow on the Partitions drop-down list to expand it.

  5. Select a partition, then click the View Details icon.

    The Partitions page displays a list of all the partitions that currently exist on the selected device.

13.3.3 Viewing Partitions in a Software RAID Device

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Software RAIDs.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select the server that you want to manage.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. In the Software RAIDs list, select a device.

    Wait for the page to refresh before continuing.

  4. In the Details area, click the arrow on the Partitions drop-down list to expand it.

  5. To view details about partitions, click the View Partition Details icon.

    This opens the Partitions page. It displays a list of all the partitions that currently exist on the selected device.

  6. Select a partition from the Partitions list, then click Details to view more information.

13.3.4 Viewing Partitions in an NSS Pool

Although NSS abstracts the partitions underlying the pool structure, you can view information about those partitions.

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Pools.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select the server that you want to manage.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. In the Pools list, select the pool you want to manage.

    Wait for the page to refresh and display the details. The pool must be active to see partition details.

  4. If the pool is deactive, make sure the pool is selected, then click Activate.

    After the page refreshes, the Partitions drop-down list is available.

  5. Click on the arrow next to the Partitions drop-down list to expand the list.

  6. To view details about the partitions, click the View Partition Details icon.

    A Partitions page opens where you can view details about the pool’s partitions.

  7. Select a partition from the Partitions list, then click Details to view more information.

13.3.5 Viewing Details for a Partition using iManager

  1. In iManager, go to the Storage > Partitions page, then select a server.

  2. in the list of Partitions, select a partition.

  3. Click Details to view its Partition Details page.

    For information about the details, see Section 13.1.3, Understanding Partition Details.

  4. Click the View Details icon next to the Device Name to go to the Devices page.

    The device is preselected and its details are displayed automatically on the right.

  5. Click the View Details icon next to the Pool Name to go to the Pools page.

    The pool is preselected and its details are displayed automatically on the right.

13.3.6 Deleting an NSS Partition using iManager

Deleting a partition results in data loss. We recommend that you delete the storage structure that uses the partition instead of deleting the partition itself.

Deleting Partitions in a Pool

You cannot shrink the size of a pool by deleting its partitions. Use the Pools page in iManager or NSSMU to delete the pool. For information, see Section 16.4.5, Deleting a Pool.

Deleting Partitions in an NSS Software RAID Device

You can delete all of the partitions in a software RAID device by deleting the software RAID. For information, see Section 14.5.7, Deleting a Software RAID Device.

For NSS software RAIDs that provide fault-tolerance, there is limited support for deleting individual partitions used in the RAID.

NSS Software RAID

Delete a Partition (Yes/No)

Guidelines

RAID 0

No

Delete the RAID to remove its partitions.

RAID 1 (mirror)

Yes

Delete the RAID, or delete all but one partition.

RAID 5

Yes

Delete the RAID, or delete only one failed partition at a time to repair and restore the RAID. See also Section 14.7, Replacing a Failed Segment in a Software RAID using NSSMU.

Using iManager to Delete a Partition in a Software RAID

The Storage plug-in to iManager does not allow you to delete partitions from the Partitions page because it is designed to abstract all partition management. To delete a single partition in a software RAID 1 or RAID 5 device:

  1. In iManager, click Storage > Software RAIDs.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.5, Accessing Roles and Tasks in iManager.

  2. Select the server that you want to manage.

    For instructions, see Section 10.2.6, Selecting a Server to Manage.

  3. In the Software RAIDs list, select the software RAID 1 or RAID 5 device you want to manage.

    Wait for the page to refresh and display the details.

  4. Click the View Partition Details icon to open the Partitions page for the selected software RAID.

  5. Select a partition, then click Delete to delete the partition and its contents.

Using NSSMU to Delete a Partition in a Software RAID

NSSMU allows you to delete any NSS partition directly from the Partitions page.

  1. In NSSMU, select Partitions.

  2. Select the partition you want to delete.

  3. Click Delete to delete the partition and its contents, then click OK to confirm deletion.