Dell PowerFlex Appliance with PowerFlex 4.x Administration Guide

Create a file system for NFS exports

Ensure that there is a NAS server that is configured to support the NFS protocol.

1. Click File > File Systems.
2. Click + Create File System.
3. Select an NFS enabled NAS server for the file system.
   NOTE: Leave the Advanced SMB Settings as is, since this is applicable only for creating file system for SMB shares.
4. Click Next.
5. Select the storage pool (where you want to create file system) from drop down list.
6. Specify the file system details, including the file system name and size, minimum size is 3 GB, maximum size is 256 TB.
   NOTE: All thin file systems, regardless of size, have 1.5 GB reserved for metadata upon creation. For example, after creating a 100 GB thin file system, PowerFlex file immediately shows 1.5 GB used. When the file system is mounted to a host, it shows 98.5 GB of usable capacity. The metadata space is reserved from the usable file system capacity.
7. Optionally, from the Create File System window, select the file-retention type (available for general file systems only):
   NOTE:File-level retention state and file-retention type are set at the file system creation and cannot be modified.
   Set retention periods:

   • Minimum retention period: Specifies the shortest for which a file-level retention enabled file system can be protected. The default value is one day.
   • Default retention period: Used when a file is locked and a retention period is not specified. The default value for enterprise is unlimited, and for compliance is one year.
   • Maximum retention period: Specifies the longest period for which a file-level retention enabled file system can be protected. The default value is unlimited.
8. Click Next.
9. Configure the initial export for the file system.
   NOTE: You can add NFS exports to the file system at a later time.
10. Click Next.
11. Configure security, access permissions, and host access for the system. This option will be enabled only if you created the NFS export.

    Table 1. File system options and descriptionsFile system options and descriptions.

    Option	Description
    Minimum security	Select Sys to allow users with non-secure NFS, or Secure NFS to mount and NFS export on the file system. If you are not configuring Secure NFS, you must select this option. If you are creating a file system with Secure NFS, then you can choose from the following options: Kerberos to allow any type of Kerberos security for authentication (krb5/krb5i/krb5p). Kerberos with Integrity to allow both Kerberos with integrity and Kerberos with encryption security or user authentication (krb5i/krb5p). Kerberos with Encryption to allow only Kerberos with encryption security for user authentication (krb5p).
    Default access	The default access that is applied to the hosts unless the hosts are configured with a different access permission.
    Add host	Enter hosts individually, or you can add hosts by uploading a properly formatted .CSV file. You can download the CSV file first to obtain a template.

    If you are planning to create same file system for both NFS and SMB exports, enter the details, otherwise leave this option as is.
12. Click Next.
13. Optionally, add a protection policy to the file system.
    If you are adding a protection policy to the file system, the policy must have been created before creating the file system. Only snapshots are supported for protection for file systems. Replication is not supported on file system.
14. Review the summary and click Create File System.
    The file system is added to the File System tab. If you created an export simultaneously, then the export displays in the NFS export tab.

    Table 2. NFS export summary and descriptionNFS export summary and description.

    Summary NFS Export	Description
    Local path	The path to the file system storage resource on the storage system. This path specifies the unique location of the share on the storage system. Each NFS share must have a unique local path. PowerFlex file automatically assigns this path to the initial export created within a new file system. The local path name is based on the file system name. Before you create more exports within an NFS file system, create a directory to share from a Linux/UNIX host that is connected to the file system. Then you can create an export from PowerFlex file and set access permissions accordingly.
    NFS export path	The path used by the host to connect to the export. PowerFlex file creates the export path that is based on the IP address of the host, and the name of the export. Hosts use either the file name or the export path to mount or map to the export from a network host.