AWS Marketplace
Deploying Hammerspace in AWS is a simple and straightforward process. By leveraging powerful AWS tools, such as CloudFormation, you can be up and running in a matter of a few minutes. This blog will outline the steps to take after logging into your AWS Console and finish by logging into and validating your Hammerspace deployment.
Hammerspace Software
The first step is to locate Hammerspace in the AWS Marketplace. This can be as simple as entering “Hammerspace” in the AWS search bar, located to the right of the “Services” dropdown menu.
Configuration Steps
Hammerspace is 100% software-defined which gives you the freedom and flexibility to add block, file, or object storage entirely based on your objectives. Through a process we call assimilation it is possible, and fast, to add Elastic Block Storage, any file system or NAS, as well as S3 object storage. Running Hammerspace does require a license, but the first 10 TB under management are free. You can obtain a license for 10 TB of free Hammerspace by going to the Get Started with Hammerspace Today web page.
Software Subscription
Next, let’s continue to subscribe to Hammerspace software on the Marketplace. You’ll have to click through a few screens to confirm, but the steps are simple, easy, and fast to move through.
CloudFormation
Once you have confirmed your subscription, you will need to choose how to launch CloudFormation. The choices are simple and intuitive:
- Delivery Method = Hammerspace.
- Software Version = Choose the latest version at the top of the dropdown menu.
- Region: Select the AWS Region you desire for this deployment.
Launch Parameters
Stack Details
This page determines your Hammerspace configuration. Some of the parameters are required while others are optional. First, you will be asked to give the stack a name and then, whether you wish to deploy a High Availability or Standalone solution. Make sure to choose “High Availability” for production workloads. Standalone is intended only for evaluations, testing, or lab environments. To move through the process quickly, you can simply accept the default parameters and move further down the page to the Network and Securitysection that will require additional information.
Networking and Security
This is the section that will require the most attention to detail in the entire deployment process. You will need to enter the VPC ID, Availability Zone, Subnet ID, and Security Group information that relates to your AWS deployment. The KeyPair Name form field is optional, as noted in the image below. After hitting “Next” the deployment will begin. Please note, this may take several minutes. If you accepted the default settings (High Availability), you should see a minimum of three (3) Hammerspace instances, two Anvil metadata controllers for high availability, and one or more DSX (Data Services) nodes. You can instantiate multiple DSX nodes during CloudFormation simply by changing the default number from “1” to the number you desire. You can, of course, also instantiate additional DSX nodes after an initial deployment.
CAUTION: Although optional from a CloudFormation perspective, Hammerspace strongly recommends you provide a keypair for any production environment. Entering a proper keypair ensures that you can access the Hammerspace CLI through SSH. Without a keypair it will not be possible to access the Hammerspace CLI.
Hammerspace Admin GUI
After CloudFormation has completed, go to the Outputs tab. This value identifies how to access the Hammerspace Admin GUI. Hit the hyperlink that the ManagementUrl points to, and the GUI will launch.
Logging In
Once Hammerspace Admin GUI launches, simply login as “Admin” with the Management Instance ID as password. We recommend that you change this password at your earliest convenience in accordance with your security and policy requirements.
Validation
A simple validation that your deployment is up and running properly, go to the Infrastructure & Data icon in the navigation bar on the left side. Selecting the Storage Systems tab will reveal the Elastic Block Volume size you configured in the CloudFormation Stack Details.
Next Steps
For more in-depth detailed configuration information, please view the following Hammerspace video for additional details.
You can also find this video and a lot more on the Hammerspace YouTube Channel.
In the next blog and video, we will show how you can easily add already existing storage or add new storage to a Hammerspace deployment. In addition, we will demonstrate how to non-disruptively migrate on-prem files to AWS as well as how to leverage Hammerspace and AWS together for Disaster Recovery.
Hammerspace and AWS provide the simplest and fastest way to move your data to Cloud – without any downtime or business interruption!
Johan Ballin, Director of Technical Product Management