NetApp Ontap 9.1 HW refresh: Faster ports and more ports

NetApp announced hardware refresh recently, basically renewing all current FAS / AFF controller models.  This time I will investigate network connectivity and more so port counts rather than port speeds.

Continue reading “NetApp Ontap 9.1 HW refresh: Faster ports and more ports”

Return of Jedi…, ehm FlashCache

For the past couple of years I haven’t designed a single Netapp solution which still included FlashCache. I was quite surprised when NetApp introduced their latest hardware refresh along with Ontap 9.1. Now all new controller models come with NVMe M.2 Flash chips, which in essense are acting as FlashCache. Does that mean that FlashCache is now better option than FlashPool? Typical Pre-Sales answer applies: It depends 🙂 Continue reading “Return of Jedi…, ehm FlashCache”