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E-Series storage systems

Replace the NV battery - EF50 and EF80

Contributors netapp-lisa
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Replace the NV battery in your EF50 or EF80 storage system when the battery begins to lose charge or fails, as it is responsible for preserving critical system data during power outages.

About this task

  • Replace the NV battery by preparing, placing the impaired controller offline, removing the controller, replacing the battery, reinstalling the controller, placing it online, completing the replacement, and returning the failed part to NetApp.

  • You must place the impaired controller offline before unplugging any of its cables.

  • You can turn on the storage system location (blue) LEDs (on the front of the storage system and both controllers) to aid in physically locating the affected storage system. Using SANtricity System Manager, select Hardware > Controllers and components, select the Controller shelf tab, and from the context menu select Turn on locator light.

Step 1: Prepare to replace the NV battery

Prepare to replace the NV battery by confirming the NV battery needs to be replaced, making sure there are no other storage system issues you need to address, making sure the volumes are in the correct state, gathering the necessary tools and equipment, and backing up the storage system's configuration database.

Steps

  1. Confirm that the Recovery Guru in SANtricity System Manager reports either a Battery Failed status or a Battery Replacement Required status. If either status is reported, you must replace the affected NV battery.

  2. Address any other storage system issues.

    Using SANtricity System Manager, review the details in the Recovery Guru to see if there are any other issues.

  3. Make sure that no volumes are in use or that you have a multipath driver installed on all hosts using these volumes.

  4. Make sure you have the following:

    • The replacement NV battery.

    • An ESD wristband or other antistatic precautions.

    • A flat static-free work surface.

    • Labels to identify each cable that is connected to the impaired controller.

    • A management station with a browser that can access SANtricity System Manager for the impaired controller.

      To open the System Manager interface, point the browser to the impaired controller's domain name or IP address.

  5. Back up the storage system's configuration database using SANtricity System Manager:

    If a problem occurs when you remove a controller, you can use the saved file to restore your configuration. The system saves the current state of the RAID configuration database, which includes all data for volume groups and disk pools on the impaired controller.

    1. Select Support > Support Center > Diagnostics.

    2. Select Collect Configuration Data.

    3. Select Collect.

      The file is saved in the Downloads folder for your browser with the name, configurationData-<arrayName>-<dateTime>.7z.

Step 2: Place the controller offline

Place the impaired controller offline so you can safely perform the rest of this procedure.

About this task

Whenever you place a controller offline, you need to wait at least one minute before bringing the controller back online. This waiting period allows the storage system to update the status of the controller and ensure that all cached data is written to the drives.

Steps

  1. If the impaired controller is not already offline, place it offline using SANtricity System Manager:

    1. Select Hardware > Controllers and components to show the controllers.

    2. Select the controller that you want to place offline to display its content menu.

    3. Select Place offline, and then confirm that you want to perform the operation.

      Note If you are accessing SANtricity System Manager using the controller you are attempting to place offline, a SANtricity System Manager Unavailable message is displayed. Select Connect to an alternate network connection to automatically access SANtricity System Manager using the other controller.

  2. Wait for SANtricity System Manager to update the controller's status to offline.

    Caution Do not begin any other operations until after the status has been updated.

  3. Confirm it is safe to remove the faulty component, using the Recovery Guru:

    1. Select Recheck.

    2. Confirm that the OK to remove field in the Details area displays Yes.

      Caution If the OK to remove field does not display Yes, do not proceed with the removal of the faulty component. Instead, troubleshoot the issue using the Recovery Guru.

Step 3: Remove the controller

Verify any data in cache memory has been written to the drives, unplug all of the cables from the impaired controller, and then remove the impaired controller from the chassis.

Steps

  1. On the impaired 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 remove the impaired controller.

    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 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

  1. Put on an ESD wristband or take other antistatic precautions.

  2. Label each cable that is attached to the impaired controller.

  3. Disconnect the power cord from the power supply on the impaired controller.

    Note The power supply (PSU) does not have a power switch.

  4. Unplug all cables from the impaired controller.

  5. Remove the impaired controller:

    The following illustration shows the operation of the controller handles (from the left side of the controller) when removing a controller:

    controller handle operation to remove a controller
    Callout number 1

    On both ends of the controller, push the vertical locking tabs outward to release the handles to their horizontal position.
    Callout number 2

    • Pull the handles towards you to unseat the controller from the midplane.

      As you pull, the handles extend out from the controller and then you feel some resistance, keep pulling.

    • Slide the controller out of the chassis while supporting the bottom of the controller, and place it on a flat, static-free work surface.
    Callout number 3

    If needed, rotate the handles upright (next to the tabs) to move them out of the way.

  6. Open the controller cover by turning the thumbscrew counterclockwise to loosen, and then open the cover.

Step 4: Replace the NV battery

Locate the faulty NV battery inside the impaired controller and replace it.

Steps

  1. If you are not already grounded, properly ground yourself.

  2. Locate the NV battery.

  3. Remove the NV battery:

    Replace the NV battery
    Callout number 1

    Lift the NV battery up and out of its compartment.
    Callout number 2

    Remove the wiring harness from its retainer.
    Callout number 3

    1. Push in and hold the tab on the connector.

    2. Pull the connector up and out of the socket.

      As you pull up, gently rock the connector from end to end (lengthwise) to unseat it.

  4. Unpack the replacement NV battery and set it on a flat static-free surface near the storage system.

    Save the packing materials to use when returning the faulty NV battery.

  5. Install the replacement NV battery:

    1. Plug the wiring connector into its socket.

    2. Route the wiring along the side of the power supply, into its retainer, and then through the channel in front of the NV battery compartment.

    3. Place the NV battery into its compartment.

      The NV battery should sit flush in its compartment.

Step 5: Reinstall the controller

Reinstall the controller into the chassis, reconnect its power cord, and all of its cables.

About this task

The following illustration shows the operation of the controller handles (from the left side of a controller) when reinstalling the controller, and can be used as a reference for the controller reinstallation steps.

controller handle operation to install a controller
Callout number 1

If you rotated the controller handles upright (next to the tabs) to move them out of the way while you serviced the controller, rotate them down to the horizontal position.
Callout number 2

Push the handles to reinsert the controller into the chassis.
Callout number 3

Rotate the handles to the upright position and lock in place with the locking tabs.
Steps

  1. Close the controller cover and turn the thumbscrew clockwise until tightened.

  2. Insert the controller into the chassis:

    1. Align the rear of the controller with the opening in the chassis, and gently but firmly push on the handles until the controller meets the midplane and is fully seated.

      Note Do not use excessive force when sliding the controller into the chassis; it could damage the connectors.

    2. Rotate the controller handles up and lock in place with the tabs.

  3. Reconnect the power cord to the power supply and secure the power cord with the power cord retainer.

    Once power is restored to the power supply, the status LED should be green.

  4. Reconnect all of the cables to the controller.

    Note Reconnecting the cables must be done before placing the controller online. This is especially important for the mirroring cable connections because they ensure full system redundancy and are used for cache mirroring and I/O shipping.

Step 6: Place the controller online

Place the impaired controller back online.

Steps

  1. Place the controller online using SANtricity System Manager:

    1. Select Hardware > Controllers and components to show the controllers.

    2. Select the controller that you want to place online to display its context menu.

    3. Select Place online, and then confirm that you want to perform the operation.

      The system places the controller online.

  2. As the controller boots, check the controller LEDs.

    When communication with the other controller is reestablished:

    • The amber Attention LED remains on.

    • The Host Link LEDs might be on, blinking, or off, depending on the host interface.

  3. When the controller is back online:

    1. Confirm its status is Optimal.

    2. Confirm that the Attention LED on the controller is off.

      If the status is not Optimal or if any of the Attention LEDs are on, confirm that all cables are correctly seated and the controller is installed correctly. If necessary, remove and reinstall the controller.

      Note If you cannot resolve the problem, contact NetApp Support before continuing with this procedure. If needed, collect support data for your storage system using SANtricity System Manager.

Step 7: Complete the NV battery replacement

Using SANtricity System Manager, make sure the latest version of SANtricity OS is installed, verify that all volumes are returned to their owning controllers, and collect support data so that you can resume operations.

Steps

  1. Make sure the latest version of SANtricity OS is installed on the storage system:

    1. Select Support > Upgrade Center

    2. As needed, install the latest version.

  2. Verify all volumes are returned to their owning controllers:

    If…​ Then…​

    Recovery Guru is present and indicates volumes are not on their preferred path (not returned to their owning controllers)

    1. Redistribute the volumes to their owning controllers, by selecting Storage > Volumes > More and from the drop-down menu, select Redistribute volumes.

    2. Verify all volumes are redistributed to their owning controllers by checking if Recovery Guru is present and still indicates volumes are not on their preferred path.

    Note If the volumes are still not returned to their owning controllers, contact NetApp Support.

    Recovery Guru is not present (it appears that all volumes are returned to their owning controllers)

    Verify all volumes are returned to their owning controllers by selecting Storage > Volumes > More and from the drop-down menu, select Change volume ownership to view volume owners.

  3. Collect support data for your storage system:

    1. Select Support > Support Center > Diagnostics.

    2. Select Collect Support Data.

    3. Select Collect.

      The file is saved in the Downloads folder for your browser with the name, support-data.7z.

Step 8: Return the failed part to NetApp

Return the failed part to NetApp, as described in the RMA instructions shipped with the kit. See the Part Return and Replacements page for further information.