Performing FC-to-SAS bridge maintenance

If necessary, you can nondisruptively replace the FC-to-SAS bridges or upgrade their firmware in the MetroCluster configuration.

Note: FibreBridge 6500N bridges are not supported in configurations running ONTAP 9.8 and later.

Support for FibreBridge 7600N bridges in MetroCluster configurations
The FibreBridge 7600N bridge is supported on ONTAP 9.5 and later as a replacement for the FibreBridge 7500N or 6500N bridge or when adding new storage to the MetroCluster configuration. The zoning requirements and restrictions regarding use of the bridge's FC ports are the same as that of the FibreBridge 7500N bridge.
Support for FibreBridge 7500N bridges in MetroCluster configurations
The FibreBridge 7500N bridge is supported as a replacement for the FibreBridge 6500N bridge or for when adding new storage to the MetroCluster configuration. The supported configurations have zoning requirements and restrictions regarding use of the bridge's FC ports and stack and storage shelf limits.
Enabling IP port access on the FibreBridge 7600N bridge if necessary
If you are using an ONTAP version prior to 9.5, or otherwise plan to use out-of-band access to the FibreBridge 7600N bridge using telnet or other IP port protocols and services (FTP, ExpressNAV, ICMP, or QuickNAV), you can enable the access services via the console port.
Updating firmware on a FibreBridge bridge
The procedure for updating the bridge firmware depends on your bridge model and ONTAP version.
Replacing a single FC-to-SAS bridge
You can nondisruptively replace a bridge with a same model bridge or with a new model bridge.
Replacing a pair of FibreBridge 6500N bridges with 7600N or 7500N bridges
To take advantage of the additional FC2 port on the FibreBridge 7600N or 7500N bridges and reduce rack utilization, you can nondisruptively replace 6500N bridges and consolidate up to four storage stacks behind a single pair of FibreBridge 7600N or 7500N bridges.
Requirements for using other interfaces to configure and manage FibreBridge bridges
You can use the combination of a serial port, Telnet, and FTP to manage the FibreBridge bridges instead of the recommended management interfaces. Your system must meet the requirements for the applicable interface before you install the bridges.
Hot-replacing a failed power supply module
When there is a change in status of a power supply module to the bridge, you can remove and install the power supply module.
In-band management of the FC-to-SAS bridges
Beginning with ONTAP 9.5 with FibreBridge 7500N or 7600N bridges, in-band management of the bridges is supported as an alternative to IP management of the bridges. Beginning with ONTAP 9.8, out-of-band management is deprecated.
Securing or unsecuring the FibreBridge bridge
To easily disable potentially unsecure Ethernet protocols on a bridge, beginning with ONTAP 9.6 you can secure the bridge. This disables the bridge's Ethernet ports. You can also reenable Ethernet access.