Dell PowerFlex Rack with PowerFlex 3.x Administration Guide

Add NVDIMM to PowerFlex

Use this procedure to add an NVDIMM to PowerFlex.

1. Using the PowerFlex GUI, enter the SDS into maintenance mode.
   1. Select the SDS, and click MORE.
   2. Click Enter Maintenance Mode > Protected > Enter Maintenance Mode.
2. Use VMware vCenter or single vCenter (customer cluster) to shut down the SVM.
3. Add the NVDIMM device to the SVM:
   1. Edit the SVM settings.
   2. Add an NVDIMM device.
   3. Set the required size of the NVDIMM device.
   4. Click OK.
      
4. Increase the RAM size according to the following node configuration table:

   Configuration	FG capacity	NVDIMM capacity required	NVDIMM capacity delivered (minimum 16 GB units - must add in pairs)	Required FG RAM capacity	Additional services memory	Total RAM required in the SVM (no CloudLink)	Total RAM required in the SVM (with CloudLink)
   R640/R650 with 10x 960 GB disks	9.3 TB	8 GB	2 x 16 GB = 32 GB	17 GB	MDM: 5.4 GB	25 GB	29 GB
   R640/R650 with 10x 1.92 TB disks	1.92 TB	15 GB	2 x 16 GB = 32 GB	22 GB	LIA: 350 MB	30 GB	34 GB
   R640/R650 with 10x 3.84 TB disks	3.84 TB	28 GB	2 x 16 GB = 32 GB	32 GB	Operating system base: 1 G	40 GB	44 GB
   R740xd/R750 and R840 with 24x 960 GB disks	22.5 TB	18 GB	2 x 16 GB = 32 GB	25 GB	Buffer: 1 GB	32 GB	36 GB
   R740xd/R750 and R840 with 24x 1.92 TB disks	46.08 GB	34 GB	4 x 16 GB = 64 GB	38 GB	CloudLink: 4 GB	46 GB	50 GB
   R740xd/R750 and R840 with 24x 3.84 TB disks	92.16 TB	66 GB	6 x 16 GB = 96 GB	62 GB	(8 GB without CL - 12 GB with CL)	70 GB	74 GB

5. Power on the SVM from VMware vCenter or single vCenter (customer cluster).
6. Using the PowerFlex GUI, exit the SDS from maintenance mode.
7. Create a namespace on the NVDIMM:
   1. Use SSH to connect to the SVM.
   2. Type ndctl create-namespace -f -e namespace0.0 --mode=dax --align=4K.
8. Repeat these steps for each PowerFlex node with NVDIMMs.
9. Add the NVDIMM devices on the acceleration pool:
   1. Use SSH to connect to the primaryMDM.
   2. For each SDS with NVDIMM, add the NVDIMM devices to the acceleration pool, type scli --add_sds_device --sds_name <SDS_NAME> --device_path /dev/daxX.0 --acceleration_pool_name <ACCP_NAME> --force_device_takeover.

      For SDS name, in the PowerFlex GUI, check for the name of the acceleration pool.