NetApp SnapLock

This page provides a guide to configuring a NetApp SnapLock storage as a Storage Target in Verba.

SnapLock is an alternative to the traditional optical "write once, read many" (WORM) data. SnapLock is used for the storage of read-only WORM data. SnapLock is a license-based, disk-based, open-protocol feature that works with application software to administer non-rewritable storage of data. The primary objective of this Data ONTAP feature is to provide storage-enforced WORM and retention functionality by using open file protocols such as CIFS. SnapLock can be deployed for protecting data in strict regulatory environments in such a way that even the storage administrator is considered an untrusted party. SnapLock provides special purpose volumes in which files can be stored and committed to a nonerasable, non-rewritable state either forever or for a designated retention period. SnapLock allows this retention to be performed at the granularity of individual files through standard open file protocols such as CIFS.

For a general description of storage targets, please refer to Storage and export targets.

Please refer to the official NetApp SnapLock guide to deploy and configure the NetApp system.

Verba uses the NetApp Manageability SDK to access the WORM specific features of the Data ONTAP API.

NetApp SnapLock permissions

The system uses standard SMB protocol for file operations. The following permissions must be enabled:

• read, 
• write, 
• delete, 
• list.

The system requires permission for the following Data ONTAP API calls:

• Cluster mode (NetApp v9.x or later with cluster mode enabled):
  • snaplock-get-node-compliance-clock
  • snaplock-set-file-retention
  • snaplock-get-file-retention
• 7-mode (NetApp v8.x or earlier):
  • snaplock-get-system-compliance-clock
  • file-set-snaplock-retention-time
  • file-get-snaplock-retention-time

Configuring the DATA ONTAP API permissions on NetApp v9.x or later (cluster mode)

Follow the steps below to create a user account on NetApp with the necessary permissions:

Step 1 - Login to the cluster OnCommand System Manager

Step 2 - Navigate to Settings by pressing the gear icon on the top right

Step 3 - Create a new cluster-level role. Click on the Roles link on the right panel under the Management section, press Add. In the new window define the Role Name and add the Role Attributes by clicking on the Add button as follows:

Step 4 - Press Add to save the new role

Step 5 - Create a new cluster-level user. Click on the Users link on the right panel under the Management section, press Add. In the new window define the Username, Password and add the User Login Method by clicking on the Add button as follows:

Step 6 - Press Add to save the new user

Configuring the DATA ONTAP API permissions on NetApp v8.x or earlier (7-mode)

Follow the steps below to create a user account on NetApp with the necessary permissions:

Step 1 - Login to the NetApp server via SSH

Step 2 - Run the following commands to create a new role with the required permissions:

useradmin role add your_new_verba_role_name -a login-http-admin,api-snaplock-get-system-compliance-clock,api-file-set-snaplock-retention-time,api-file-get-snaplock-retention-time

Step 3 - Run the following commands to create a new group and assign the new role to the group:

useradmin group add your_new_verba_group_name -r your_new_verba_role_name

Step 4 - Run the following commands to create a new user and add the user to the new group:

useradmin domainuser add your_new_user_name -g your_new_verba_group_name

NetApp SnapLock compliance clock

When Verba uploads / moves media files to a NetApp SnapLock storage target, setting the retention period with auto-delete it takes the clock drift of SnapLock into account at the point of the file move. If the storage goes down at any time during the retention period (between the upload / move and the date of auto-deletion) Verba will not be able to retrieve that information, thus will try to delete the files in question earlier than SnapLock would allow it. As a result, auto-deletion by Verba policies might fail.

Creating a NetApp SnapLock target

Follow the steps below to create a new Verba Storage target for NetApp SnapLock:

Step 1 - Open the Verba Web interface then select Data Management > Storage targets from the top menu.

Step 2 - Click on Add New Storage Target

Step 3 - Fill out the configuration form according to the requirements in the following table.

verba::> volume show
Vserver   Volume       Aggregate    State      Type       Size  Available Used%
--------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ---- ---------- ---------- -----
verba-01  vol0         aggr0_verba_01
                                    online     RW       3.16GB     2.05GB   31%
vs1.verbatest.local
          test_volume    vfs          online     RW      342.5MB    50.46MB   84%
vs1.verbatest.local
          svm_root     vmd          online     RW         20MB    17.48MB    7%

/vol/test_volume

netapp_server_address;cluster_mode=1,vserver=vserver_name,node=node_name

verbalabs::> vserver show
Admin Operational Root
Vserver Type Subtype State State Volume Aggregate
test data default running running test_root test_root
verbalabs admin - - - - -
verbalabs-01
node - - - - -

verbalabs::> node show
Node Health Eligibility Uptime Model Owner Location
verbalabs-01 true true 1 days 15:54 SIMBOX

10.2.1.13;cluster_mode=1;vserver=test;node=verbalabs-01

Step 4 - Click Save to save the settings

After this point, the Storage target is available for use by other Verba components (e.g. Data management policies).

Configuring SSL certificates for the SnapLock Data ONTAP API connection

NetApp SnapLock can be configured to accept SSL connections from trusted sources only. You can configure the trusted and signed certificates used by the Verba system on the servers directly. If you intend to use multiple NetApp SnapLock systems for Verba, you need to use the same certificates for all, because it is a server-side setting in the Verba system. By default, Verba uses its own self-signed certificates for the SSL connection.

Follow the steps below to configure the certificates.

Step 1 - Copy the X.509 certificate and key files to the Verba server

Step 2 - Navigate to the Configuration / Servers

Step 3 - Click on the Verba server you would like to configure

Step 4 - Click on the Change Configuration Settings tab

Step 5 - Open the Storage Management / Upload Targets / NetApp SnapLock tree on a Verba Recording Server or the Storage Management / Storage Targets / NetApp SnapLock tree on a Verba Media Repository server or on a Verba Media Repository and Recording Server 

Step 6 - Configure a trusted custom X.509 certificate for the connection

Step 7 - Click the Save icon and follow the instructions on the page to apply the configuration on the server

Step 8 - Repeat the steps above on all Verba servers where you move files to NetApp SnapLock