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Install and maintain

Detailed steps - AFF A250

Contributors thrisun netapp-martyh netapp-jsnyder netapp-lisa dougthomp
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This section gives detailed step-by-step instructions for installing an AFF A250 system.

Step 1: Prepare for installation

To install your AFF A250 system, you need to create an account and register the system. You also need to inventory the appropriate number and type of cables for your system and collect specific network information.

Note Customers with specific power requirements must check HWU for their configuration options.
Before you begin

  • Make sure you have access to the NetApp Hardware Universe (HWU) for information about site requirements.

  • Make sure you have access to the Release Notes for your version of ONTAP for more information about this system.

  • You need to provide the following at your site:

    • Rack space for the storage system

    • Phillips #2 screwdriver

    • Additional networking cables to connect your system to your network switch and laptop or console with a Web browser

Steps

  1. Unpack the contents of all boxes.

  2. Record the system serial number from the controllers.

    Example of system serial number

  3. Set up your account:

    1. Log in to your existing account or create an account.

    2. Register your system.

  4. Download and install NetApp Downloads: Config Advisor on your laptop.

  5. Inventory and make a note of the number and types of cables you received.

    The following table identifies the types of cables you might receive. If you receive a cable not listed in the table, see the NetApp Hardware Universe to locate the cable and identify its use.

    Type of cable…​ Part number and length Connector type For…​

    25 GbE cable

    X66240A-05 (112-00595), 0.5m;

    X66240-2 (112-00573), 2m

    100 GbE QSFP28 connector

    Cluster interconnect network

    X66240A-2 (112-00598), 2m;

    X66240A-5 (112-00600), 5m

    Data

    100 GbE cable

    X66211-2 (112-00574), 2m;

    X66211-5 (112-00576), 5m

    Storage

    RJ-45 (order dependent)

    Not applicable

    RJ-45 cable connector

    Management network (BMC and wrench port) and Ethernet data (e0a and e0b)

    Fibre Channel

    X66250-2 (112-00342) 2m;

    X66250-5 (112-00344) 5m;

    X66250-15 (112-00346) 15m;

    X66250-30 (112-00347) 30m

    OIE Fibre Channel optical cable

    Micro-USB console cable

    Not applicable

    Micro USB connector

    Console connection during software setup

    Power cables

    Not applicable

    Power cables

    Powering up the system

  6. Review the ONTAP Configuration Guide and collect the required information listed in that guide.

Step 2: Install the hardware

You need to install your system in a 4-post rack or NetApp system cabinet, as applicable.

Steps

  1. Install the rail kits, as needed.

  2. Install and secure your system using the instructions included with the rail kit.

    Note You need to be aware of the safety concerns associated with the weight of the system.
    Two-person lift caution

  3. Identify and manage cables because this system does not have a cable management device.

  4. Place the bezel on the front of the system.

Step 3: Cable controllers to cluster

Cable the controllers to a cluster by using the two-node switchless cluster method or by using the cluster interconnect network method.

Option 1: Two-node switchless cluster

The management, Fibre Channel, and data or host network ports on the controller modules are connected to switches. The cluster interconnect ports are cabled on both controller modules.

Before you begin

  • Contact your network administrator for information about connecting the system to the switches.

  • Be sure to check the illustration arrow for the proper cable connector pull-tab orientation.

    Cable connector with pull-tab on bottom
    Note As you insert the connector, you should feel it click into place; if you do not feel it click, remove it, turn it around and try again.
About this task

Use the animation or the tabulated steps to complete the cabling between the controllers and the switches. Perform the steps on each controller.

Animation - Cable two-node switchless cluster
Steps

  1. Use the the 25GbE cluster interconnect cable to connect the cluster interconnect ports e0c to e0c and e0d to e0d.

    GbE SFP copper connector:

    Cluster interconnect cabling in a two-node switchless cluster

  2. Cable the wrench ports to the management network switches with the RJ45 cables.

    Management port cabling
Important DO NOT plug in the power cords at this point.
Option 2: Switched cluster

All ports on the controllers are connected to switches; cluster interconnect, management, Fibre Channel, and data or host network switches.

Before you begin

  • Contact your network administrator for information about connecting the system to the switches.

  • Be sure to check the illustration arrow for the proper cable connector pull-tab orientation.

    Cable connector with pull-tab on bottom
    Note As you insert the connector, you should feel it click into place; if you do not feel it click, remove it, turn it around and try again.
About this task

Use the animation or the steps to complete the cabling between the controllers and the switches. Perform the steps on each controller.

Animation - Cable switched cluster
Steps

  1. Cable the cluster interconnect ports e0c and e0d to the 25 GbE cluster interconnect switches.

    Cluster interconnect cabling

  2. Cable the wrench ports to the management network switches with the RJ45 cables.

    Management port cabling

Step 4: Cable to host network or storage (Optional)

You have configuration-dependent optional cabling to the Fibre Channel or iSCSI host networks or direct-attached storage. This cabling is not exclusive; you can have cabling to a host network and storage.

Note NetApp Hardware Universe slot priority for host network cards (Fibre Channel or 25GbE) is slot 2. However, if you have both cards, the Fibre Channel card goes in slot 2 and the 25GbE card goes in slot 1 (as shown in the options below). If you have an external shelf, the storage card goes in slot 1, the only supported slot for shelves.
Option 1: Cable to Fibre Channel host network

Fibre Channel ports on the controllers are connected to Fibre Channel host network switches.

Before you begin

  • Contact your network administrator for information about connecting the system to the switches.

  • Be sure to check the illustration arrow for the proper cable connector pull-tab orientation.

    Cable connector with pull-tab on top
    Note As you insert the connector, you should feel it click into place; if you do not feel it click, remove it, turn it around and try again..
About this task

Perform the following step on each controller module.

Steps

  1. Cable ports 2a through 2d to the FC host switches.

    Fibre Channel host cabling

Option 2: Cable to 25GbE data or host network

25GbE ports on the controllers are connected to 25GbE data or host network switches.

Before you begin

  • Contact your network administrator for information about connecting the system to the switches.

  • Be sure to check the illustration arrow for the proper cable connector pull-tab orientation.

    Cable connector with pull-tab on top
    Note As you insert the connector, you should feel it click into place; if you do not feel it click, remove it, turn it around and try again.
About this task

Perform the following step on each controller module.

Steps

  1. Cable ports e4a through e4d to the 10GbE host network switches.

    25 GbE cabling

Option 3: Cable controllers to single drive shelf

Cable each controller to the NSM modules on the NS224 drive shelf.

Before you begin

Be sure to check the illustration arrow for the proper cable connector pull-tab orientation.

Cable connector with pull-tab on top
Note As you insert the connector, you should feel it click into place; if you do not feel it click, remove it, turn it around and try again.
About this task

Use the animation or the tabulated steps to complete the cabling between the controllers and the single shelf. Perform the steps on each controller module.

Animation - Cable the controllers to a single NS224
Steps

  1. Cable controller A to the shelf.

    Controller A cabling

  2. Cable controller B to the shelf.

    Controller B cabling

Step 5: Complete system setup

Complete the system setup and configuration using cluster discovery with only a connection to the switch and laptop, or by connecting directly to a controller in the system and then connecting to the management switch.

Option 1: If network discovery is enabled

If you have network discovery enabled on your laptop, you can complete system setup and configuration using automatic cluster discovery.

Steps

  1. Plug the power cords into the controller power supplies, and then connect them to power sources on different circuits.

    The system begins to boot. Initial booting may take up to eight minutes.

  2. Make sure that your laptop has network discovery enabled.

    See your laptop's online help for more information.

  3. Use the animation to connect your laptop to the Management switch:

    Animation - Connect your laptop to the Management switch

  4. Select an ONTAP icon listed to discover:

    Select an ONTAP icon

    1. Open File Explorer.

    2. Click Network in the left pane.

    3. Right-click and select refresh.

    4. Double-click either ONTAP icon and accept any certificates displayed on your screen.

      Note XXXXX is the system serial number for the target node.

    System Manager opens.

  5. Use System Manager guided setup to configure your system using the data you collected in the ONTAP Configuration Guide.

  6. Verify the health of your system by running Config Advisor.

  7. After you have completed the initial configuration, go to the ONTAP & ONTAP System Manager Documentation Resources page for information about configuring additional features in ONTAP.

Option 2: If network discovery is not enabled

If network discovery is not enabled on your laptop, you must complete the configuration and setup using this task.

Steps

  1. Cable and configure your laptop or console:

    1. Set the console port on the laptop or console to 115,200 baud with N-8-1.

      Note See your laptop or console's online help for how to configure the console port.

    2. Connect the laptop or console to the switch on the management subnet.

      Connecting to the management subnet

    3. Assign a TCP/IP address to the laptop or console, using one that is on the management subnet.

  2. Plug the power cords into the controller power supplies, and then connect them to power sources on different circuits.

    The system begins to boot. Initial booting may take up to eight minutes.

  3. Assign an initial node management IP address to one of the nodes.

    If the management network has DHCP…​ Then…​

    Configured

    Record the IP address assigned to the new controllers.

    Not configured

    1. Open a console session using PuTTY, a terminal server, or the equivalent for your environment.

      Note Check your laptop or console's online help if you do not know how to configure PuTTY.

    2. Enter the management IP address when prompted by the script.

  4. Using System Manager on your laptop or console, configure your cluster:

    1. Point your browser to the node management IP address.

      Note The format for the address is https://x.x.x.x.

    2. Configure the system using the data you collected in the ONTAP Configuration Guide.

  5. Verify the health of your system by running Config Advisor.

  6. After you have completed the initial configuration, go to the ONTAP & ONTAP System Manager Documentation Resources page for information about configuring additional features in ONTAP.