IBM Cloud Orchestrator, Version 2.5

Working with volumes

The IBM® Cloud Orchestrator provides a self-service offering and actions to manage volumes using the OpenStack Cinder component.

It also provides options for mounting and formatting the attached volumes on the operating system level.

Creating storage volumes

  1. Navigate to SELF-SERVICE CATALOG > Deploy cloud services > Create storage volume for creating new volumes.
  2. Select a region and availability zone, then specify the volume name and the size of the volumes.
  3. You can create either one or multiple volumes at the same time by specifying the number of the volumes to be created in the Instances field. Optionally, add a description for the volumes.

Attaching a volume

  1. Navigate to RESOURCES > Volumes.
  2. In the table, select a volume that is in available status.
  3. In the Actions menu to the left of the table, click Attach volume.
  4. Select a server.
  5. Specify whether the volume should be formatted on the operating system level or whether the volume should only be attached to the server.
  6. The format operation requires the following additional parameters: the operation system type, the file system type, the mount point, a user, and the related credentials for accessing the server to run the format operation. The given user must have the rights to perform the operations for partitioning, formatting, and mounting the new volume in the operating system. Note the following restrictions for the format operation:
    • Do not run format operations on the same server in parallel.
    • If the attached volume cannot be detected on the operating system level after 5 minutes then the operation will stop with an error.
    • Windows: initially, only one disk (Disk 0) must be specified. The format operation works on Disk1, Disk2, and so forth, for each newly attached volume. This means it would erase data on these disks if you would initially start with more than one disk.
    • Windows: the new disk is mounted into the file system of an existing drive as specified by the mount point option.Basically, this means always specify the mount point as C:\somePath. The path is created if it does not already exist.
    • Windows: the operating system must be enabled for RXA access as described in Requirements for using Remote Execution and Access (RXA).
    Note: If the attachment of the new volume does not terminate within 30 minutes then the action will stop with an error.
    Note: Formatted volumes cannot be attached.

Deleting volumes

  1. Navigate to RESOURCES > Volumes.
  2. In the table, select one or more volumes that are in available status.
  3. In the Actions menu to the left of the table, click Delete volumes.
Note: Do not run this action for formatted volumes if there are pending attach or detach actions in place for these volumes.

Detaching volume

  1. Navigate RESOURCES > Volumes.
  2. In the table, select one volume that is in in-use status.
  3. If the volume was formatted and mounted on the operating system level then additional parameters for unmounting the volume are required: the operating system type, a user name, and the related credentials for accessing the system. The specified user must have the rights to unmount the volume on operating system level.
Parent topic: Managing resources