Western Digital (WD) Data24 Configuration
WD Data24 NVMe-oF Setup with QuantaStor
This guide describes how to configure a WD Data24 NVMe-oF JBOF with QuantaStor using RDMA (RoCE) transport in a highly-available scale-up configuration.
Prerequisites
- QuantaStor installed on both HA nodes
- WD Data24 connected via 100GbE RDMA-capable NICs
- Dedicated 100GbE links between each QuantaStor node and the Data24
- Lossless Ethernet configuration supported by the network adapters and switches
Driver Installation
Before configuring networking or NVMe-oF connectivity, install the Mellanox OFED drivers using the QuantaStor-supplied script:
/opt/osnexus/quantastor/bin/mellanox-ofed-install.sh
After installation:
The NIC port names will change to the OFED naming scheme.
A system reboot is required.
Reboot the node before proceeding.
Network Configuration
After reboot:
Open Modify Interface / Port in the QuantaStor GUI. Configure static IP addresses on the 100GbE ports connected to the WD Data24. In the same dialog, enable Lossless Networking on those ports.
Repeat this configuration on both HA nodes.
- These ports are dedicated exclusively for NVMe-oF connectivity to the WD Data24. They should not be used for client data access (NFS/SMB/iSCSI).
NVMe-oF Software Adapter Creation
Navigate to Enclosures & Controllers. Create a new Software Adapter. Select:
- Mode: NVMe-oF
- Transport: RDMA (not TCP)
Once the adapter logs into the WD Data24, new devices should appear under Physical Disks.
If the devices do not appear:
Click Rescan Disks. Verify connectivity and retry.
HA Node Configuration
Repeat all steps above on the second HA node:
OFED installation
Network configuration
Software Adapter creation
Once both nodes see the same NVMe devices, continue configuring the system as a standard QuantaStor scale-up HA deployment.
Port Naming and HA Considerations
With OFED drivers installed, NIC ports use long device names which may be inconvenient for HA Virtual Interface (VIF) attachment.
It is recommended to:
Rename the interfaces to shorter logical names, or
Bond the interfaces and use the bond device for HA VIF assignment
This simplifies management and avoids HA configuration limitations related to long interface names.
Important Design Notes
Ports connected to the WD Data24 are strictly for NVMe-oF JBOF access.
Separate 100GbE ports should be used for:
- NFS
- SMB
- iSCSI
Do not mix storage front-end traffic with NVMe-oF back-end traffic.
Summary
This configuration enables QuantaStor to access the WD Data24 as a high-performance NVMe-oF backend using RDMA, providing a fully redundant, scale-up HA architecture suitable for high-bandwidth and low-latency workloads.