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Replacing the controller module

You must review the prerequisites for the replacement procedure and select the correct one for your version of the ONTAP operating system.

  • All drive shelves must be working properly.

  • If your system is in a MetroCluster configuration, you must review the section "Choosing the correct recovery procedure" in the MetroCluster Management and Disaster Recovery Guide to determine whether you should use this procedure.

    ONTAP 9 MetroCluster Management and Disaster Recovery Guide

  • You must replace the failed component with a replacement FRU component you received from your provider.
  • You must be replacing a controller module with a controller module of the same model type. You cannot upgrade your system by just replacing the controller module.
  • You cannot change any drives or drive shelves as part of this procedure.
  • In this procedure, the boot device is moved from the impaired node to the replacement node so that the replacement node will boot up in the same version of ONTAP as the old controller module.
  • It is important that you apply the commands in these steps on the correct systems:
    • The impaired node is the node that is being replaced.
    • The replacement node is the new node that is replacing the impaired node.
    • The healthy node is the surviving node.

  • You must always capture the node's console output to a text file.

    This provides you a record of the procedure so that you can troubleshoot any issues that you might encounter during the replacement process.

  1. Shutting down the impaired controller
    You can shut down or take over the impaired controller using different procedures, depending on the storage system hardware configuration.
  2. Replacing the controller module hardware
    To replace the controller module hardware, you must remove the impaired node, move FRU components to the replacement controller module, install the replacement controller module in the chassis, and then boot the system to Maintenance mode.
  3. Running diagnostics
    After you have replaced a component in your system, you should run diagnostic tests on that component.
  4. Completing the replacement process
    After you replace the part, you can return the failed part to Lenovo, as described in the RMA instructions shipped with the kit.Contact technical support at Lenovo Data Center Support if you need the RMA number or additional help with the replacement procedure.