Build StaaS using microservices: Storage automation (Part 2)

Our pipeline starts with a ServiceNow form that asks the requester what the storage application is for, if they need a block or file, and what hosts need to connect, as well as what environment and capacity is required. ServiceNow sends application criticality and data classifications to the pipeline. The pipeline then configures the storage to the appropriate hardware based on the environment.

If application performance is specified, the request will be assigned to an appropriate service level. If performance is not assured, the request is placed at our default service level. The frequency of data protection and location requirements are configured based on the criticality and requirements of the RPO and RTO. All storage is encrypted based on the application data classification.

Next, we add storage to our monitoring platforms via API calls. We developed triage storage monitoring designed for storage administrators, and we designed a simple monitoring tool for application owners, which provides an overview of the health of the application. We then add the storage to our logging platform, which logs macro information about the storage to help us plan annual purchase and budget requirements. Pipeline outputs are added to the logging platform for audit metrics and success rates.

Finally, the pipeline conducts nightly feedback to ServiceNow to tie the application to all of its infrastructure resources.

As a result of our efforts to automate provisioning, we achieved our goals:

  • Giving requests no longer have to sit in a queue waiting on human hands to complete them.

  • Quality is improved by minimizing human error.

  • Any workflow errors are easier to test and fix permanently with our new logging capabilities.

  • Our storage engineers now have more time to spend on improving our service, including working towards our strategic initiative: container persistent storage.

In the next part of this blog series, I dive into automation for the deployment of new equipment, the efficiency gained, and some surprising quality benefits.

To learn more, check out this video we made with NetApp INSIGHT® 2021, “Build Storage as a Service (StaaS) with Micro-Services”.

Disclaimer

NetApp Inc. this content was published to 17 February 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Shared Public, unedited and unchanged, on Feb 18, 2022 10:40:03 UTC.

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