Configuring auto-scaling for Amazon access nodes

Configuring auto-scaling for Amazon workloads includes creating a scale configuration client, creating a workload resource pool, and associating the scale configuration server group with the resource pool.

Multi-tenant environments

In multi-tenant environments:

Service providers can offer auto-scaling as a service.
Tenants can either use their service provider auto-scaling service or configure their own auto-scaling.

Before you begin

Subscribe to the required Commvault AMIs on AWS Marketplace. For information about supported AMIs, see AMIs used for auto-scaled access nodes.
Auto-scaling is supported for commercial AWS Regions only. Edge locations (such as GovCloud, AWS Outposts, Local Zones, and Wavelength Zones) are not supported.
Ensure you have the necessary IAM permissions to create EC2 instances and manage resources in the target AWS account.

Create a scale manager node

You must have an access node to serve as the scale manager node. This node manages the auto-scaling operations but does not perform data protection operations itself. You can use an existing access node or create a new one.

Important

The scale manager node should be dedicated to managing auto-scaling and should not be used for other data protection operations.
For EC2 instances, the dmidecode command-line utility must be installed on the machine for it to appear in the scale manager node dropdown list.
The scale manager node must run on an Amazon EC2 instance with the CommvaultScaleManagementRole IAM role assigned to the instance.

If you want to create a new access node, do the following:

From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Manage > Infrastructure > Servers.
Click Add server, and then specify host name, credentials, and OS type.
Select the appropriate packages for your access node.
Select a plan, confirm the installation path, and enable Reboot if required.
Click Install, and then refresh the Servers page.

Create a scale configuration for AWS

Create a scaling configuration that specifies the AWS credentials, Scale manager node, Availability Zones, IAM role, and maximum number of access nodes.

Multi-tenant environments

Service providers: Use your AWS account credentials where the auto-scaled access nodes will be deployed.
Tenants configuring your own auto-scaling: Use your own AWS account credentials.

For detailed steps, see Create a scaling configuration for AWS.

Important

By default, AWS Graviton (c7g.xlarge) instances are used. Auto-scaled access nodes shut down after 5 minutes of idle time and are deleted after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Create a server group

The server group must include a scale configuration client and at least one permanent node.

A permanent node is a dedicated, always-on access node that is excluded from auto-scaling and remains online to host management and persistent services (for example, the scale manager or other long-running processes). Use a permanent node to provide stable capacity, maintain group membership, and ensure reliable access for client associations.

Permanent node recommendations

Dedicated: Do not use the permanent node for other data-protection roles.
Sufficient resources: Ensure adequate CPU, memory, and network bandwidth for management tasks.
Secure and configured: Assign correct IAM roles, security groups, and networking so the node can communicate with AWS and other access nodes.

Create a server group and add the scale configuration to the server group.

Configure auto-scaling for the specific Amazon workload instances.

For new instances

When configuring a new Dynamo instance, select the server group of the scaling configuration directly as the access node. For more information, see Configure backup for instances.
Configuring a new MSSQL instance. For more information, see Configure the Native Backup and Restore Option for the Amazon RDS for SQL Server Instance.

For existing instances

From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Databases.
On the Instances tab, click the instance for which you want to enable auto-scaling.
On the Configuration tab, in the Access nodes tile, click Edit .
From the Access node list, select the scale configuration server group as the access node.
Click Save.