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E-Series storage systems

Change the host I/O module protocol - EF50 and EF80

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You can change the protocol on the host I/O modules in your EF50 or EF80 storage system when you need a different protocol on your existing I/O modules, as part of an I/O module upgrade, or when the default protocol on new controllers part of a new storage system installation or controller upgrade is not the protocol you want.

Before you begin

If you are changing the host protocol as part of a hardware procedure (I/O module upgrade, new system installation, or controller upgrade), you need to have completed the applicable hardware procedure.

Note New hardware must already be installed because the default protocol and list of available protocols (you view in this procedure) are based on the host I/O modules currently installed.
If you are changing the host protocol…​ Then…​

On your existing host I/O modules (no new hardware needs to be installed)

Continue with this procedure.

As part of an I/O module upgrade

Upgrade the host I/O modules before continuing with this procedure.

Use the Upgrade I/O modules for an EF50 or EF80 procedure.

As part of a new storage system installation

Complete the system installation and setup before continuing with this procedure.

Use the Install and setup for an EF50 or EF80 procedure.

As part of a controller upgrade

Complete the controller upgrade before continuing with this procedure.

Start with the Learn about upgrading E-Series controllers procedure.
About this task

  • Change the protocol on the host I/O modules by preparing, stopping the host I/O operations, changing the protocol, and then configuring the host to use the new protocol.

  • The protocol is changed on all host I/O modules in your storage system.

  • When you change the protocol on the host I/O modules, you temporarily disrupt host access to all volumes and make the storage system unavailable during the reboot, which takes a few minutes.

Step 1: Prepare for the protocol change

Prepare to change the protocol on the host I/O modules by verifying the current protocol being used, determining if you need to change the protocol, and if yes, scheduling a downtime maintenance window.

Steps

  1. If you do not know the protocol on the host I/O modules in your storage system, verify it using SANtricity System Manager.

    1. Select Settings > System.

    2. In the Additional Settings section, select Change host I/O protocol to open that page.

    3. See the default protocol displayed in the Host I/O Protocol field.

      Note If you want to see the list of available protocols for your host I/O modules, select the drop-down menu in the Host I/O Protocol field. The protocol list is based on the host I/O modules currently installed.

  2. The next step depends on whether the default protocol is the protocol you want or not:

    If…​ Then…​

    The default protocol is the protocol you want

    No action is needed. You can exit this procedure.

    The default protocol is not the protocol you want

    Continue with this procedure to change the protocol.

  3. Schedule a downtime maintenance window for this procedure.

Step 2: Stop host I/O operations

You must stop all I/O operations from the host and then delete all defined hosts from the storage system before changing the protocol.

Note You cannot access data on the storage system until you successfully complete the protocol change.
Steps

  1. Make sure no I/O operations are happening between the storage system and all connected hosts. For example, you can perform these steps:

    • Stop all processes that involve the LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.

    • Ensure that no applications are writing data to any LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.

    • Unmount all file systems associated with LUNs on the storage system.

      Note The exact steps to stop host I/O operations depend on the host operating system and the configuration, which are beyond the scope of these instructions. If you are not sure how to stop host I/O operations in your environment, consider shutting down the host or contact NetApp Support.
      Caution Possible data loss — If you continue this procedure while I/O operations are occurring, you might lose data.

  2. On each controller, make sure the NV Caching Active (green) LED is off.

    When the NV Caching Active (green) LED is off, any data in cache memory has been written to the drives and it is safe to continue with this procedure.

    Note If the NV Caching Active (green) LED is on, cached data is being written to the drives. You must wait for the process to complete and the NV Caching Active (green) LED to turn off. However, if the LED remains on for longer than five minutes, contact NetApp Support before continuing with this procedure.

    The NV Caching Active (green) LED is located next to the NV icon on the controller.

    NV status LED location
    Callout number 1

    NV icon and NV Caching Active LED on the controller

  3. Confirm operations on the controllers have completed, using SANtricity System Manager:

    1. Select Storage > Operations in progress to see the Overview screen.

    2. Wait for all operations to complete and the Overview screen displays No operations currently in progress, before continuing to the next step.

  4. Delete all defined hosts from the storage system.

    For instructions, see the Delete a host or host cluster in SANtricity System Manager procedure.

Step 3: Change the protocol

Using SANtricity System Manager, change the protocol on the host I/O modules, wait for the controllers to complete their reboot cycle, confirm their status is Optimal, and then recreate the host definitions.

Steps

  1. Select Settings > System.

  2. In the Additional Settings section, select Change host I/O protocol to open that page.

  3. In the Host I/O Protocol field, select the drop-down menu and choose the protocol you want to use.

    The protocol list is based on the host I/O modules currently installed.

  4. Type CHANGE in the open field to confirm your change.

  5. Select the Change button.

  6. Wait for the controllers to complete their reboot cycle.

    This can take about five minutes.

  7. When the controllers are back online, confirm their status is Optimal, using SANtricity System Manager.

  8. Recreate the host definitions.

    For instructions, see the Create a host manually in SANtricity System Manager procedure.

Step 4: Configure the host to use the new protocol

After changing the host protocol, you must configure the host to use the new protocol.

For step-by-step instructions, see the guide appropriate for your storage system: