Dynamic Data Tiering on existing Single Node productive environment

[Former Member]

Hi Experts,

We are currently on SPS8 of HANA and are in production using a single node configuration. This single node is running a small BW system along with custom data mart scenarios. We are interested in upgrading to SPS9 or SPS10 and start leveraging the Extended Tables (for custom datamarts) and/or Dynamic Data Tiering concept for BW.

However on reading some articles, it seems that Dynamic Data Tiering requires a separate host and shared storage. Can someone please validate that this is indeed a requirement? Do we have to purchase a whole new HANA box for starting to use ET/DDT? I had hoped it was as easy as install SPS9, follow some config and then pick a table or two to mark as extended and start playing around with that.

Can someone please elaborate on the sequence of steps required for starting to leverage DDT or Extended tables on an existing single node production scenario?

thanks,
Nitin

[lbreddemann · Accepted solution]

You need another host, yep.

SAP HANA Dynamic Tiering Architecture - SAP HANA Dynamic Tiering: Installation Guide - SAP Library

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thank you Lars. Also, can you please confirm whether the shared storage applies to the entire DB footprint of the original host? For example, the current host in production uses internal SSD storage. Would we need to migrate it out to an external storage before we can begin setting up dynamic tiering?

Also, does the dynamic tiering host need same sizing as the original host, or is that dependent entirely on a separate DDT sizing? Could you please provide a reference to the same?

thanks,

Nitin

[lbreddemann · Accepted solution]

You'll surely find the answers to these questions by leveraging more of the documentation I send you the link for.

Fun fact: the colleagues from the documentation development wrote it just for this purpose

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Final question ... and I did go through the documentation but could not come up with the answer.

Does the additional host needed for Dynamic Tiering need to be a certified HANA appliance, or can it be any VM as long as it has the same OS as the HANA system and follows the very rudimentary sizing guidelines mentioned in the documents?

[lbreddemann · Accepted solution]

From the Master Guide:

3.2 SAP HANA Dynamic Tiering Hardware and Software Requirements

SAP HANA Dynamic Tiering Host Hardware Requirements
There are no specific hardware requirements for the SAP HANA dynamic tiering host.
Its specifications do not need to match that of the SAP HANA host. Hardware should be chosen to meet your dynamic tiering requirements. For example, increasing CPU and memory on the SAP HANA dynamic tiering host may help increase performance when querying against warm data.