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Add storage capacity to an ExtraHop packetstore

Adding storage capacity to your ExtraHop packetstore enables you to store more packets and extend the amount of lookback available when running packet queries. You can safely add ExtraHop Extended Storage Units (ESUs) to a packetstore and retain all packets currently stored on the packetstore.

Hardware specifications and compatibility

The ExtraHop Extended Storage Unit (ESU) is available in multiple configurations.

Packetstore ESU Product ID Storage capacity AC power supply units Rack units Maximum number of ESUs Compatibility
ETA 8250 MD1400 96 TB 2 x 600 W 2U 4 Supports only 96 TB MD1400
ETA 9350 MD2412 240 TB 2 x 800 W 2U 4 Does not support mixing with MD260
MD2460 1.2 PB 2 x 1500 W Requires high line 200-240 VAC 4U 1 Does not support mixing with MD2412

Installation prerequisites

Before connecting your extended storage unit (ESU), make sure you have the following items available:

  • A deployed ExtraHop packetstore. If you have not deployed the packetstore, follow the instructions in the deployment guide for your packetstore.
  • ExtraHop license for the extended packetstore feature
  • ExtraHop extended storage unit (ESU)
  • Power cables
  • SAS cables shipped with the ESU
  • Rail kit

Set up the extended storage unit

  1. Install the extended storage unit in your data center with the included rack-mounting kit.
    The mounting kit supports most four-post racks with either round or square holes.
  2. Connect the power cables to the power supply units (PSUs).

Shut down the packetstore

  1. Log in to the Administration settings on the ExtraHop system through https://<extrahop-hostname-or-IP-address>/admin.
  2. In the Appliance Settings section, click Shutdown or Restart.
  3. In the Actions column, click Shutdown.
  4. On the confirmation page, click Shut down.

Connect the extended storage unit

The extended storage unit (ESU) connects to the ExtraHop packetstore through both of the two enclosure management modules (EMMs). Each EMM has either two or four ports for connecting the SAS cables, but you should use only two of these ports.

  1. Connect the SAS cables to the EMM SAS connectors on the extended storage unit and to the host bus adapter (HBA) ports on the packetstore.
    For more information, see ESU connection guidelines.
  2. Push the cable into the connector until it clicks into place.
    Green link lights appear next to the ports when the ESU and packetstore are both powered on.
  3. Cable any additional storage units and create a redundant configuration by linking the ESUs together in a series, with one ESU connected to both HBA ports on the packetstore.
    Important:The ETA 9350 only supports one MD2460 ESU, which you connect to ports 0 and 2 on the HBA. For an ETA 9350 with multiple MD2412 ESUs, be sure to balance the ESUs across the two pairs of ports. For example, if you have three ESUs, connect one ESU to one pair of ports on the HBA, and chain the other two ESUs from the other pair of ports on the HBA.
  4. Make sure that the power switch on both PSUs is turned off and then connect the PSUs to the power source.
  5. For each ESU, power on the PSUs, and then wait 60 seconds before powering on the packetstore.

ESU connection guidelines

Follow these guidelines when connecting additional extended storage units (ESUs) to a packetstore.

  • Connectors on both ends of the SAS cable are universally keyed. You can connect either end of the cable to the enclosure management module (EMM) or the host bus adapter (HBA) on the packetstore.

  • Insert the SAS4 cable to the EMM until it is fully secured. The pull tab might be blue or white. Ensure that the SAS connector is oriented correctly, with the tab facing up.

  • Insert the SAS cable into the HBA on the packetstore until it is fully secured. Ensure that the SAS connector is oriented correctly, with the tab facing down.

  • To remove the SAS4 cable, grasp the connector by the pull tab and pull to release the cable from the connector on the EMM and the packetstore.

In a redundant configuration, the storage units are linked together in a series, with one of the extended storage units connected to both HBA ports on the packetstore.

Example of ETA 8250 with MD1400 SAS4 redundant-path cabling

Example of ETA 9350 with MD2412 SAS4 redundant-path cabling

Example of ETA 9350 with MD2460 SAS4 redundant-path cabling

Attach the extended storage unit

  1. Power on the ExtraHop packetstore.
  2. Log in to the Administration settings on the ExtraHop system through https://<extrahop-hostname-or-IP-address>/admin.
  3. In the Appliance Settings section, click Disks.
  4. Check if the packetstore was previously encrypted.
    If the packetstore was encrypted, under Appliance Settings, Disks (Locked) displays. An encrypted packetstore must be unlocked before you can attach the ESU.
  5. Confirm that all drives in the Drive Map section are colored green, indicating they are healthy.
    If any disk is unhealthy, contact ExtraHop Support.

    Example Drive Maps

  6. At the bottom of the Disks page, click Extended Storage Units.
  7. In the Unused Disks section for the ESU, for Manage Extended Storage, click Attach, and then click OK.
  8. After the configuration is complete, confirm that all drives in the ESU are colored green, indicating they are healthy.
    If any disk is unhealthy (yellow), contact ExtraHop Support.

    An example ESU

  9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to add additional ESUs.

Next steps

If the packetstore is locked, you must unlock it from the Packetstore Encryption Settings page before the ESU can be encrypted and new packets can be stored.
Last modified 2024-09-24