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Install and maintain

Replace the boot media - AFF A70 and AFF A90

Contributors netapp-jsnyder dougthomp
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The boot media in your AFF A70 or AFF A90 system stores essential firmware and configuration data. The replacement process involves removing the System Management module, removing the impaired boot media, installing the replacement boot media, and then transferring the ONTAP image to the replacement boot media.

Step 1: Replace the boot media

The boot media is located inside the System Management module and is accessed by removing the module from the system.

  1. Ensure that all drives in the chassis are firmly seated against the midplane by using your thumbs to push each drive until you feel a positive stop.

    Seat disk drives

  2. Go to the rear of the chassis. If you are not already grounded, properly ground yourself.

  3. Disconnect power to the controller module by pulling the controller module out about three inches:

    1. Press down on both of the controller module locking latches, and then rotate both latches downward at the same time.

    2. Pull the controller module about 3 inches out of the chassis to disengage power.

    3. Remove any cables connected to the System Management module. Make sure to label where the cables were connected, so that you can connect them to the correct ports when you reinstall the module.

    4. Rotate the cable management tray down by pulling the buttons on both sides on the inside of the cable management tray and then rotate the tray down.

    5. Depress the system management cam button. The cam lever moves away from the chassis.

    6. Rotate the cam lever all the way down and remove the System Management module from the controller module.

    7. Place the System Management module on an anti-static mat, so that the boot media is accessible.

  4. Remove the boot media from the management module:

    Boot media replace graphic
    Callout number 1

    System Management module cam latch
    Callout number 2

    Boot media locking button
    Callout number 3

    Boot media

    1. Press the blue locking button.

    2. Rotate the boot media up, slide it out of the socket, and set it aside.

  5. Install the replacement boot media into the System Management module:

    1. Align the edges of the boot media with the socket housing, and then gently push it squarely into the socket.

    2. Rotate the boot media down toward the locking button.

    3. Push the locking button, rotate the boot media all the way down and then release the locking button.

  6. Reinstall the System Management module:

    1. Rotate the cable management tray up to the closed position.

    2. Recable the System Management module.

Step 2: Transfer the boot image to the boot media

The replacement boot media that you installed is without an ONTAP image. You can transfer the ONTAP image to the replacement boot media by downloading the appropriate ONTAP service image from the NetApp Support Site to a USB flash drive and then to the replacement boot media.

Before you begin

  • You must have a USB flash drive, formatted to FAT32, with at least 4GB capacity.

  • Download a copy of the same image version of ONTAP as what the impaired controller was running. You can download the appropriate image from the Downloads section on the NetApp Support Site. Use the version -v command to display if your version of ONTAP supports NVE. If the command output displays <10no- DARE>, your version of ONTAP does not support NVE.

    • If NVE is supported by your version of ONTAP, download the image with NetApp Volume Encryption, as indicated in the download button.

    • If NVE is not supported, download the image without NetApp Volume Encryption, as indicated in the download button.

  • If your system is an HA pair, you must have a network connection between the node management ports of the controllers (typically the e0M interfaces).

Steps

  1. Download and copy the appropriate service image from the NetApp Support Site to the USB flash drive.

    1. Download the service image from the Downloads link on the page, to your work space on your laptop.

    2. Unzip the service image.

      Note If you are extracting the contents using Windows, do not use WinZip to extract the netboot image. Use another extraction tool, such as 7-Zip or WinRAR.

      The USB flash drive should have the appropriate ONTAP image of what the impaired controller is running.

    3. Remove the USB flash drive from your laptop.

  2. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB-A port on the System Management module.

    Make sure that you install the USB flash drive in the slot labeled for USB devices, and not in the USB console port.

  3. Reconnect power to the controller module:

    1. Firmly push the controller module into the chassis until it meets the midplane and is fully seated.

      The locking latches rise when the controller module is fully seated.

    2. Rotate the locking latches upward into the locked position.

      The controller begins to boot as soon as power is reconnected to the system.

  4. Interrupt the boot process by pressing Ctrl-C to stop at the LOADER prompt.

    If you miss this message, press Ctrl-C, select the option to boot to Maintenance mode, and then halt the controller to boot to LOADER.

What's next?

After replacing the boot media, you need to boot the recovery image.