Auto-scale for Azure NetApp Files

In Azure storage NetApp files, you have an ANF account that can have multiple capacity pools. Capacity pools are created with a service level (Standard, Premium, Ultra) that determines performance. Within each capacity pool you can have one or more volumes that, in aggregate, cannot exceed the size of this capacity pool. The cost of the ANF storage is determined by the size of the capacity pool, with the minimum size of 4 TiB. You can grow and shrink a capacity pool in increments of 1 TiB, but not smaller than the sum of the volumes that are contained within that capacity pool.

The throughput limit of the ANF storage system is determined by a combination of the quota assigned to the volume and the service level selected.

Storage auto-scaling with ANF is required when you need to dial-up the performance of a particular volume during times of high demand on the storage system, and then dial it back down, on a scheduled basis, when that performance is no longer needed. For example, during sign in/sign out storms from Azure VD machines. Or it could be needed when there is heavy activity on the storage system in the middle of the day and the latency of that volume is detected to be high.

Storage auto- scaling with ANF can also be used to maintain a specified headroom to avoid running out of space on the volume or capacity pool.

To configure and manage auto-scale for Azure NetApp files:

1. Navigate to Storage > Azure NetApp Files.

2. Locate the ANF you want to manage.

3. From the action menu, select Auto-scale > Configure.

4. Toggle the Auto-Scale option to On.

5. Enter the Provisioned Size settings.

   Note: If the volume free space drops below the Min, the system tries to grow the volume. If it cannot grow the volume within the current capacity pool, the capacity pool is always expanded by 1 TiB, and the volume grows at least for 1 TiB.

   The volume won't grow beyond the configured maximum size.

   • Mode: From the drop-down list, select the mode:

     • Volume only: Auto-scales the volume without the capacity pool that contains it. The volume is limited to the available free space within the capacity pool, and the capacity pool does not increase automatically.

     • Volume and capacity pool: Auto-scales the volume and the capacity pool that contains it (default).

   • For Volume only:

     • Size unit: From the drop-down list, select the unit (Relative % or Absolute GiB). Relative is a percentage of currently used capacity.

     • Minimum size: When scaling down, type the minimum size to maintain on the volume. This is evaluated as the currently used capacity + headroom amount.

       Note: If the available space drops below the configured minimum free space, the volume is increased to meet the minimum available space. If exceeding capacity pool size, and capacity pool scaling is enabled, then an additional 1 TiB is added to the capacity pool to increase the volume – up to the configured maximum total size.

     • Maximum size: When scaling out, type the maximum amount the volume should increase. This is evaluated as the currently used capacity + the scaling amount.

       • Less than: Define the Max size the volume may grow in order to prevent the uncontrolled system growth. This is limited by the available capacity pool size.

   • For Volume and capacity pool:

     • Minimum volume free space: Type the minimum free to maintain on the volume. If the current free space falls below this threshold, the volume automatically grows along with the capacity pool.

     • Maximum volume total size: Type the maximum volume size of the volume in TiBs. The volume and capacity pool combination cannot grow larger than this value.

   • Exceeding the limit should trigger an error: Select this option to have the auto-scale process trigger an error if the calculated size exceeds the maximum limit.

     Note: This allows you to track these errors using notifications. See Configure Email Notifications for details.

   The Size and Performance calculator displays the minimum and maximum configuration values and displays the performance characteristics.

6. Optionally, toggle Scheduled-Based Scaling On and configure the settings.

   Note: This is useful if you have peaks in demand on the storage system (for example, when multiple users sign in and sign out during the same time). You can specify more than one period of the peak auto-scaling, after which the system automatically scales down to the Min size. Be sure that the schedules do not overlap.

   • Time Zone: From the drop-down list, select the time zone.

   • Days: From the drop-down list, select the days.

   • Hours: From the drop-down list, select the range of hours.

   • Set provisioned size to: Type the amount of additional capacity to add to the volume, beyond the current capacity.

7. Optionally, toggle Latency-Based Scaling On and configure the settings.

   • Select auto-scale trigger: From the drop-down list, select the trigger.

     Note: This is the average or maximum time used to process a successful request by Azure Storage.

   • Increase volume size (scale out): The system increases the volume size by the value that you set if the server latency exceeds the specified threshold.

   • Decrease volume size (scale in): The system decreases the volume size by the value that you set if the server latency drops below the specified threshold.

8. Once you have entered all the desired information, select Save or Save & close.

   The configured file appears in the list of files on the Azure NetApp Files list.

Related Topics

Auto-scale for Azure Files Storage Premium