The vserver nvme namespace convert-from-lun command in ONTAP facilitates an in-place conversion of an existing LUN into an NVMe namespace. This process is a metadata-only operation. It alters the attributes and access protocols associated with the data object without moving or copying the underlying user data blocks. By changing the metadata, the same data can be accessed via the more efficient NVMe protocol, which is why an administrator would perform this action to increase host performance. The conversion is fast and non-disruptive to the data itself.

A. FlexVol: The command modifies a specific object (the LUN) residing within a FlexVol, not the FlexVol container itself.

B. FlexClone: A FlexClone creates a writable, space-efficient copy of an object. The conversion command modifies the original object in-place, it does not create a clone.

C. LUN clone: This command converts the LUN's type to a namespace; it does not create a separate, cloned copy of the LUN.

1. NetApp ONTAP 9 SAN Administration Guide: In the section "Convert a LUN to a namespace

" the documentation states

"You can convert an existing LUN to an NVMe namespace. The conversion is a metadata operation and does not involve data copy." (Search for "Convert a LUN to a namespace" in the ONTAP 9.13.1 SAN Administration Guide).

2. NetApp ONTAP 9 Commands Manual Page Reference: The description for the vserver nvme namespace convert-from-lun command specifies its function is to "convert an existing LUN to an NVMe namespace." The nature of this in-place conversion is inherently a metadata change

as confirmed by the administration guides. (Reference the command's manual page in the official ONTAP documentation).