Ideally, I'd like to see NetApp offer some dedicated media for root volumes in future systems. Just a pair of PCMCIA slots on the head, with a pair of mirrored (or WAFL'd) 1gb flash disks.
Does the 800 chassis still have the little slot above the fans that the 700's did? If I recall, this was for the NetCache branded boxes to run them w/o needing a storage shelf, but strapping 3 9gb's up there for root (2 + spare) would be fantastic.
Encourages ppl to have the dedicated root volume to prevent running into problems w/ snapmirror/snaprestore/volcopy, without sacrificing pricey storage shelf slots. Makes reconfiguration that much more flexible too, since you don't have to worry about the root vol having worked its way onto two of the shelves you want to yank and put somewhere else..
(I haven't looked since 5.3 days, but is there a way to 'relocate' a disk? ie, a pre-emptive replacement for juggling around layouts without jeopardizing volume integrity?)
..kg..