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Install and maintain

Replace the NVMEM battery - AFF A300

Contributors dougthomp netapp-martyh netapp-ivanad netapp-adityaw thrisun netapp-jsnyder

To replace an NVMEM battery in the system, you must remove the controller module from the system, open it, replace the battery, and close and replace the controller module.

All other components in the system must be functioning properly; if not, you must contact technical support.

Step 1: Shut down the impaired controller

You can shut down or take over the impaired controller using different procedures, depending on the storage system hardware configuration.

Option 1: Most configurations

To shut down the impaired controller, you must determine the status of the controller and, if necessary, take over the controller so that the healthy controller continues to serve data from the impaired controller storage.

About this task
  • If you have a SAN system, you must have checked event messages (cluster kernel-service show) for the impaired controller SCSI blade. The cluster kernel-service show command (from priv advanced mode) displays the node name, quorum status of that node, availability status of that node, and operational status of that node.

    Each SCSI-blade process should be in quorum with the other nodes in the cluster. Any issues must be resolved before you proceed with the replacement.

  • If you have a cluster with more than two nodes, it must be in quorum. If the cluster is not in quorum or a healthy controller shows false for eligibility and health, you must correct the issue before shutting down the impaired controller; see Synchronize a node with the cluster.

Steps
  1. If AutoSupport is enabled, suppress automatic case creation by invoking an AutoSupport message: system node autosupport invoke -node * -type all -message MAINT=<# of hours>h

    The following AutoSupport message suppresses automatic case creation for two hours: cluster1:> system node autosupport invoke -node * -type all -message MAINT=2h

  2. Disable automatic giveback from the console of the healthy controller: storage failover modify -node local -auto-giveback false

    Note When you see Do you want to disable auto-giveback?, enter y.
  3. Take the impaired controller to the LOADER prompt:

    If the impaired controller is displaying…​ Then…​

    The LOADER prompt

    Go to the next step.

    Waiting for giveback…​

    Press Ctrl-C, and then respond y when prompted.

    System prompt or password prompt

    Take over or halt the impaired controller from the healthy controller: storage failover takeover -ofnode impaired_node_name

    When the impaired controller shows Waiting for giveback…​, press Ctrl-C, and then respond y.

Option 2: Controller is in a two-node MetroCluster

To shut down the impaired controller, you must determine the status of the controller and, if necessary, switch over the controller so that the healthy controller continues to serve data from the impaired controller storage.

About this task
  • You must leave the power supplies turned on at the end of this procedure to provide power to the healthy controller.

Steps
  1. Check the MetroCluster status to determine whether the impaired controller has automatically switched over to the healthy controller: metrocluster show

  2. Depending on whether an automatic switchover has occurred, proceed according to the following table:

    If the impaired controller…​ Then…​

    Has automatically switched over

    Proceed to the next step.

    Has not automatically switched over

    Perform a planned switchover operation from the healthy controller: metrocluster switchover

    Has not automatically switched over, you attempted switchover with the metrocluster switchover command, and the switchover was vetoed

    Review the veto messages and, if possible, resolve the issue and try again. If you are unable to resolve the issue, contact technical support.

  3. Resynchronize the data aggregates by running the metrocluster heal -phase aggregates command from the surviving cluster.

    controller_A_1::> metrocluster heal -phase aggregates
    [Job 130] Job succeeded: Heal Aggregates is successful.

    If the healing is vetoed, you have the option of reissuing the metrocluster heal command with the -override-vetoes parameter. If you use this optional parameter, the system overrides any soft vetoes that prevent the healing operation.

  4. Verify that the operation has been completed by using the metrocluster operation show command.

    controller_A_1::> metrocluster operation show
        Operation: heal-aggregates
          State: successful
    Start Time: 7/25/2016 18:45:55
       End Time: 7/25/2016 18:45:56
         Errors: -
  5. Check the state of the aggregates by using the storage aggregate show command.

    controller_A_1::> storage aggregate show
    Aggregate     Size Available Used% State   #Vols  Nodes            RAID Status
    --------- -------- --------- ----- ------- ------ ---------------- ------------
    ...
    aggr_b2    227.1GB   227.1GB    0% online       0 mcc1-a2          raid_dp, mirrored, normal...
  6. Heal the root aggregates by using the metrocluster heal -phase root-aggregates command.

    mcc1A::> metrocluster heal -phase root-aggregates
    [Job 137] Job succeeded: Heal Root Aggregates is successful

    If the healing is vetoed, you have the option of reissuing the metrocluster heal command with the -override-vetoes parameter. If you use this optional parameter, the system overrides any soft vetoes that prevent the healing operation.

  7. Verify that the heal operation is complete by using the metrocluster operation show command on the destination cluster:

    mcc1A::> metrocluster operation show
      Operation: heal-root-aggregates
          State: successful
     Start Time: 7/29/2016 20:54:41
       End Time: 7/29/2016 20:54:42
         Errors: -
  8. On the impaired controller module, disconnect the power supplies.

Step 2: Open the controller module

To access components inside the controller, you must first remove the controller module from the system and then remove the cover on the controller module.

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

  2. Loosen the hook and loop strap binding the cables to the cable management device, and then unplug the system cables and SFPs (if needed) from the controller module, keeping track of where the cables were connected.

    Leave the cables in the cable management device so that when you reinstall the cable management device, the cables are organized.

  3. Remove and set aside the cable management devices from the left and right sides of the controller module.

    Removing the cable management arms][
  4. Loosen the thumbscrew on the cam handle on the controller module.

    Loosening the thumbscrew to open the cam handle

    Callout number 1

    Thumbscrew

    Callout number 2

    Cam handle

  5. Pull the cam handle downward and begin to slide the controller module out of the chassis.

    Make sure that you support the bottom of the controller module as you slide it out of the chassis.

Step 3: Replace the NVMEM battery

To replace the NVMEM battery in your system, you must remove the failed NVMEM battery from the system and replace it with a new NVMEM battery.

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

  2. Check the NVMEM LED:

    • If your system is in an HA configuration, go to the next step.

    • If your system is in a stand-alone configuration, cleanly shut down the controller module, and then check the NVRAM LED identified by the NV icon.

      NV LED
      Note The NVRAM LED blinks while destaging contents to the flash memory when you halt the system. After the destage is complete, the LED turns off.
      • If power is lost without a clean shutdown, the NVMEM LED flashes until the destage is complete, and then the LED turns off.

      • If the LED is on and power is on, unwritten data is stored on NVMEM.

        This typically occurs during an uncontrolled shutdown after ONTAP has successfully booted.

  3. Open the CPU air duct and locate the NVMEM battery.

    Replacing the NVMEM battery

    Callout number 1

    Battery lock tab

    Callout number 2

    NVMEM battery pack

  4. Grasp the battery and press the blue locking tab marked PUSH, and then lift the battery out of the holder and controller module.

  5. Remove the replacement battery from its package.

  6. Align the tab or tabs on the battery holder with the notches in the controller module side, and then gently push down on the battery housing until the battery housing clicks into place.

  7. Close the CPU air duct.

    Make sure that the plug locks down to the socket.

Step 4: Reinstall the controller

After you replace a component within the controller module, you must reinstall the controller module in the system chassis and boot it.

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

  2. Align the end of the controller module with the opening in the chassis, and then gently push the controller module halfway into the system.

    Note Do not completely insert the controller module in the chassis until instructed to do so.
  3. Recable the system, as needed.

    If you removed the media converters (QSFPs or SFPs), remember to reinstall them if you are using fiber optic cables.

  4. Complete the reinstallation of the controller module:

    The controller module begins to boot as soon as it is fully seated in the chassis.

    1. With the cam handle in the open position, firmly push the controller module in until it meets the midplane and is fully seated, and then close the cam handle to the locked position.

      Note Do not use excessive force when sliding the controller module into the chassis to avoid damaging the connectors.
    2. Tighten the thumbscrew on the cam handle on back of the controller module.

    3. If you have not already done so, reinstall the cable management device.

    4. Bind the cables to the cable management device with the hook and loop strap.

Step 5: (two-node MetroCluster only): Switch back aggregates

After you have completed the FRU replacement in a two-node MetroCluster configuration, you can perform the MetroCluster switchback operation. This returns the configuration to its normal operating state, with the sync-source storage virtual machines (SVMs) on the formerly impaired site now active and serving data from the local disk pools.

This task only applies to two-node MetroCluster configurations.

Steps
  1. Verify that all nodes are in the enabled state: metrocluster node show

    cluster_B::>  metrocluster node show
    
    DR                           Configuration  DR
    Group Cluster Node           State          Mirroring Mode
    ----- ------- -------------- -------------- --------- --------------------
    1     cluster_A
                  controller_A_1 configured     enabled   heal roots completed
          cluster_B
                  controller_B_1 configured     enabled   waiting for switchback recovery
    2 entries were displayed.
  2. Verify that resynchronization is complete on all SVMs: metrocluster vserver show

  3. Verify that any automatic LIF migrations being performed by the healing operations were completed successfully: metrocluster check lif show

  4. Perform the switchback by using the metrocluster switchback command from any node in the surviving cluster.

  5. Verify that the switchback operation has completed: metrocluster show

    The switchback operation is still running when a cluster is in the waiting-for-switchback state:

    cluster_B::> metrocluster show
    Cluster              Configuration State    Mode
    --------------------	------------------- 	---------
     Local: cluster_B configured       	switchover
    Remote: cluster_A configured       	waiting-for-switchback

    The switchback operation is complete when the clusters are in the normal state.:

    cluster_B::> metrocluster show
    Cluster              Configuration State    Mode
    --------------------	------------------- 	---------
     Local: cluster_B configured      		normal
    Remote: cluster_A configured      		normal

    If a switchback is taking a long time to finish, you can check on the status of in-progress baselines by using the metrocluster config-replication resync-status show command.

  6. Reestablish any SnapMirror or SnapVault configurations.

Step 6: 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.