Scaling Your Object First Cluster: A Guide to Expanding Veeam Backup Storage
As your organization grows, so does its data. For IT professionals managing backup infrastructure, this means storage capacity is a constantly moving target. A backup repository that was sufficient last year may be nearing its limit today. Fortunately, modern solutions like Object First OOTBI (Out-of-the-Box Immutability) are designed with this challenge in mind, offering a straightforward, scale-out architecture to meet growing demands without disrupting operations.
Expanding an Object First cluster is a seamless process designed for simplicity and efficiency. By adding new nodes, you can linearly increase both storage capacity and performance, ensuring your Veeam backup environment remains robust and future-proof. This guide walks you through the steps to scale your cluster, highlighting the key benefits of this intelligent design.
Why Scale Out? The Advantage of Adding Nodes
Unlike traditional scale-up storage systems that require you to replace existing hardware with larger, more expensive units, a scale-out architecture allows you to simply add more resources. In the context of Object First, this means adding another appliance (a node) to your existing cluster.
The primary benefits of this approach are:
- Linear Scalability: Each new node adds its full capacity and processing power to the cluster.
- No Downtime: The expansion process is non-disruptive, allowing your backup jobs to run without interruption.
- Simplified Management: The entire cluster, regardless of size, is managed from a single interface and presented to Veeam as a single, unified S3 endpoint.
Prerequisites for Cluster Expansion
Before you begin, ensure you have the following in place to guarantee a smooth process:
- A New Object First Node: You must have a new, unconfigured Object First appliance ready to be added.
- Network Connectivity: The new node must be connected to the same network and VLAN as the existing cluster nodes. This is critical for the auto-discovery process to function correctly.
- Administrative Access: You will need the login credentials for the web interface of your current Object First cluster.
Step-by-Step: How to Add a New Node to Your Cluster
The cluster scaling process is managed through a user-friendly wizard in the Object First web console. There is no need for complex command-line configurations.
Step 1: Access Your Existing Cluster
Log in to the web interface of any of the nodes already in your active cluster. The cluster operates as a single entity, so you can initiate the scaling process from any member.
Step 2: Initiate the Scaling Process
Once logged in, navigate to the Cluster section of the management interface. Here, you will find an option to expand your storage. Click the Scale Cluster button to begin the wizard.
Step 3: Discover and Select the New Node
The system will automatically scan the local network for new, uninitialized Object First appliances. Any discovered nodes will appear in a list.
- Identify the new node you wish to add (you can verify it by its serial number).
- Select the checkbox next to the node and proceed.
Step 4: Confirm and Add the Node
The wizard will display a confirmation screen with the details of the node you are about to add. Review the information to ensure it is correct and click to confirm.
The clustering process will now begin. The existing cluster will automatically configure the new node, format its storage, and integrate it into the collective resource pool. This process is fully automated and can take several minutes to complete.
Step 5: Verify the Successful Expansion
Once the process is finished, the Cluster page will refresh and display the newly added node as part of the cluster. You will also see the total cluster capacity accurately reflect the addition of the new storage.
Crucially, your S3 endpoint address for Veeam remains unchanged. The cluster intelligently manages data placement across all nodes, new and old, without requiring any reconfiguration on the Veeam side. Your existing backup and copy jobs will continue to run, now with access to a larger repository.
Key Security and Operational Takeaways
- Immutable by Design: Remember that Object First provides S3 object storage with immutability, a critical defense against ransomware. Scaling your cluster extends this protection across a larger capacity.
- Unified Endpoint is a Game-Changer: The fact that the S3 endpoint does not change is a massive operational benefit. It eliminates administrative overhead and the risk of misconfiguration that often comes with expanding traditional storage systems.
- Plan Your Network: The most common issue during scaling is network-related. Before starting, double-check that the new appliance is on the correct VLAN and can communicate with the existing cluster members. A simple network connectivity test can save significant time.
By following these straightforward steps, you can confidently and efficiently scale your Object First backup storage infrastructure to keep pace with your data growth, all while maintaining the highest levels of security and operational simplicity.
Source: https://nolabnoparty.com/come-espandere-il-cluster-object-first-ootbi/
