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Replacing the controller module

You must verify the following prerequisites for the replacement procedure.

Before you begin

  • All disk shelves must be working properly.
  • The healthy controller must be able to take over the controller that is being replaced (referred to in this procedure as the degraded controller).
  • If you are in a MetroCluster configuration, refer to the MetroCluster Management and Disaster Recovery Guide to determine if you should use this procedure.

    ONTAP 9 MetroCluster Management and Disaster Recovery Guide

About this task

  • This procedure includes steps for automatically or manually reassigning disks to the replacement controller, depending on your system's configuration.

    You should perform the disk reassignment as directed in the procedure.

  • 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 disks or disk shelves as part of this procedure.
  • In this procedure, the boot device is moved from the degraded controller to the replacement controller so that the replacement controller will boot up in the same version of ONTAP as the old controller.
  • Any PCIe cards moved from the old controller module to the new controller module or added from existing customer site inventory must be supported by the replacement controller module.

    Lenovo Press

  • It is important that you apply the commands in these steps on the correct systems:
    • The degraded controller is the controller that is being replaced.
    • The replacement controller is the new controller that is replacing the degraded controller.
    • The healthy controller is the surviving controller.
  • You must always capture the controller'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. Preparing the system for the replacement
    You must gather information and shut down the degraded controller by taking it over if it is in an HA pair.
  2. Shutting down the degraded controller
    You can shut down or take over the degraded controller using different procedures, depending on the storage system hardware configuration.
  3. Replacing the controller module hardware
    To replace the controller module hardware, you must remove the degraded controller, move FRU components to the replacement controller module, install the replacement controller module in the chassis, and then boot the system to Maintenance mode.
  4. Restoring and verifying the system configuration
    After completing the hardware replacement and booting to Maintenance mode, you verify the low-level system configuration of the replacement controller and reconfigure system settings as necessary.
  5. Completing system restoration
    To complete the replacement procedure and restore your system to full operation, you must recable the storage, confirm disk reassignment, restore the Lenovo Storage Encryption configuration (if necessary), and install licenses for the new controller.
  6. 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.
  7. Important information after replacing the controller module