NetApp Data Mobility using FlexCache
Details
| Time | Module |
|---|---|
| 0:00 | Welcome & Introductions (5 min) |
| 0:05 | Module 1 — Architecture & ONTAP Integration (20 min) |
| 0:25 | Module 2 — Use Cases & Workload Fit (20 min) |
| 0:45 | Module 3 — Performance Deep Dive (20 min) |
| 1:05 | Break (10 min) |
| 1:15 | Module 4 — Config, Deployment & Best Practices (25 min) |
| 1:40 | Module 5 — Monitoring, Ops & Troubleshooting (10 min) |
| 1:50 | Q&A, Next Steps & Close (10 min) |
| Module 1: FlexCache Architecture & ONTAP Integration (20 minutes) |
Objective: Establish a solid technical foundation: how FlexCache works natively within ONTAP, the relationship to the origin volume, and the protocols it supports. Agenda Items: * FlexCache topology: origin volume vs. cache volume — what lives where and why * Supported protocols: NFS v3/v4, SMB 2.x/3.x — protocol-specific behavior differences * Data consistency model: read-through caching, write delegation, lock forwarding * ONTAP version compatibility matrix and licensing (FlexCache is included in ONTAP One — no add-on cost) |
| Module 2: Use Cases & Workload Fit (20 minutes) |
Objective: Connect FlexCache capabilities to real customer environments: where it solves pain, and where it does not. Agenda Items: * Remote office / branch office (ROBO): eliminating WAN-hop latency for shared file access * High-performance compute (HPC) & EDA: distributing read-heavy simulation datasets to compute nodes * Media & entertainment: accelerating render farm access to high-resolution assets * Cloud deployments: FlexCache between on-premises ONTAP and ONTAP in AWS, Azure, or GCP * Workloads where FlexCache is NOT a fit: write-intensive OLTP, high-frequency random writes |
| Module 3: Performance Deep Dive (20 minutes) |
Objective: Provide quantitative evidence of FlexCache's impact — latency, throughput, and WAN savings — with real-world benchmarking context. Agenda Items: * Cache hit ratio mechanics: how ONTAP tracks and continuously optimizes hit rates * NetApp TR-4886 latency benchmarks: NFS read latency with vs. without FlexCache * WAN bandwidth reduction: observed reduction rates in NFS ROBO deployments * FlexCache vs. full replication: capacity cost and consistency tradeoff analysis * ONTAP System Manager performance dashboard: live walkthrough or screenshot demo |
——— 10-Minute Break ———
| Module 4: Configuration, Deployment & Best Practices (25 minutes) |
Objective: Equip the technical audience with actionable knowledge to design, size, and deploy FlexCache in their environment. Agenda Items: * Sizing methodology: cache volume sizing relative to working set, not the full dataset * Inter-cluster peering setup: SnapMirror license requirements, LIF and network prerequisites * Creating a FlexCache volume: System Manager walkthrough * Cache policy configuration: prepopulate options, disconnected mode behavior * Multi-path and HA considerations: how node failover impacts cache volume availability |
| Module 5: Monitoring, Operations & Troubleshooting (10 minutes) |
Objective: Give admins the operational handles they need to maintain healthy FlexCache deployments post-day-one. Agenda Items: * Key ONTAP CLI commands: volume show -is-cache, statistics show for cache counters * System Manager dashboard: cache volume health, fill percentage, miss rates * Upgrade considerations: rolling ONTAP upgrades with active cache volumes in production |
Q&A, Next Steps & Close (10 min) * Open Q&A — address architecture and integration questions from the audience * Proof of Concept path — WWT lab environment options via the Advanced Technology Center * Resource handoff — NetApp TR-4886, WWT FlexCache ATC lab guide, ONTAP documentation * Agreed follow-on actions and owner assignments |
Please contact Dale Darby and John Lochausen for more details