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Replace NVRAM - AFX 1K

Contributors netapp-driley netapp-jsnyder
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Replace the NVRAM in your AFX 1K storage system when the non-volatile memory becomes faulty or requires an upgrade. The replacement process involves shutting down the impaired controller, replacing the NVRAM module or the NVRAM DIMM, and returning the failed part to NetApp.

The NVRAM module consists of the NVRAM12 hardware and field-replaceable DIMMs. You can replace a failed NVRAM module or the DIMMs inside the NVRAM module.

Before you begin

  • Make sure you have the replacement part available. You must replace the failed component with a replacement component you received from NetApp.

  • Make sure all other components in the storage system are functioning properly; if not, contact NetApp support.

Step 1: Shut down the impaired controller

Shut down or take over the impaired controller.

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

About this task

  • If you have a cluster with more than four nodes, it must be in quorum. To view cluster information about your nodes, use the cluster show command. For more information about the cluster show command, see View node-level details in an ONTAP cluster.

  • If the cluster is not in quorum or if the health or eligibility of any controller (other than the impaired controller) shows as false, 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 impaired controller:

    storage failover modify -node impaired-node -auto-giveback-of false

    Note When you see Do you want to disable auto-giveback?, enter y.

    1. If you are running ONTAP version 9.17.1 and the impaired controller cannot be brought up or is already taken over, you must take the HA interconnect link down from the healthy controller before booting up the impaired controller. This prevents the impaired controller from performing automatic giveback.

      system ha interconnect link off -node healthy-node -link 0

      system ha interconnect link off -node healthy-node -link 1

      Note If you are not running ONTAP version 9.17.1, skip the above step and go to step 3.

  3. Take the impaired controller to the LOADER prompt:

    If the impaired controller is displaying…​ Then…​

    The LOADER prompt

    Go to the next step.

    System prompt or password prompt

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

    The -halt true parameter brings the impaired node to the LOADER prompt.

Step 2: Replace the NVRAM module or NVRAM DIMM

Replace the NVRAM module or NVRAM DIMMs using the appropriate following option.

Option 1: Replace the NVRAM module

To replace the NVRAM module, locate it in slot 4/5 in the enclosure and follow the specific sequence of steps.

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

  2. Unplug the power supply cables from the PSUs from the controller.

  3. Rotate the cable management tray down by gently pulling the pins on the ends of the tray and rotating the tray down.

  4. Remove the impaired NVRAM module from the enclosure:

    1. Depress the locking cam button.

      The cam button moves away from the enclosure.

    2. Rotate the cam latch down as far as it will go.

    3. Remove the impaired NVRAM module from the enclosure by hooking your finger into the cam lever opening and pulling the module out of the enclosure.

      Remove the NVRAM12 module and DIMMs

      Callout number 1

      Cam locking button

      Callout number 2

      DIMM locking tabs

  5. Set the NVRAM module on a stable surface.

  6. Remove the DIMMs, one at a time, from the impaired NVRAM module and install them in the replacement NVRAM module.

  7. Install the replacement NVRAM module into the enclosure:

    1. Align the module with the edges of the enclosure opening in slot 4/5.

    2. Gently slide the module into the slot all the way, and then rotate the cam latch all the way up to lock the module in place.

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

Option 2: Replace the NVRAM DIMM

To replace NVRAM DIMMs in the NVRAM module, you must remove the NVRAM module, and then replace the target DIMM.

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

  2. Unplug the power supply cables from the PSUs.

  3. Rotate the cable management tray down by gently pulling the pins on the ends of the tray and rotating the tray down.

  4. Remove the target NVRAM module from the enclosure.

    Remove the NVRAM 12 module and DIMMs

    Callout number 1

    Cam locking button

    Callout number 2

    DIMM locking tabs

  5. Set the NVRAM module on a stable surface.

  6. Locate the DIMM to be replaced inside the NVRAM module.

    Note Consult the FRU map label on the side of the NVRAM module to determine the locations of DIMM slots 1 and 2.

  7. Remove the DIMM by pressing down on the DIMM locking tabs and lifting the DIMM out of the socket.

  8. Install the replacement DIMM by aligning the DIMM with the socket and gently pushing the DIMM into the socket until the locking tabs lock in place.

  9. Install the NVRAM module into the enclosure:

    1. Gently slide the module into the slot until the cam latch begins to engage with the I/O cam pin, and then rotate the cam latch all the way up to lock the module in place.

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

Step 3: Reboot the controller

After you replace the FRU, you must reboot the controller module.

  1. Plug the power cables back into the PSU.

    The system will begin to reboot, typically to the LOADER prompt.

  2. Enter bye at the LOADER prompt.

Step 4: Complete NVRAM replacement

Perform the following steps to complete the NVRAM replacement.

Steps

  1. From the LOADER prompt on the controller, boot the controller and enter y when prompted to override the system ID due to a system ID mismatch.

    The following is an example of the prompt for overriding the system ID:

    WARNING: System ID mismatch. This usually occurs when replacing a boot device or NVRAM cards!
Override system ID? {y|n}

  2. From the healthy controller, verify that the new partner system ID has been automatically assigned: storage failover show

    In the command output, you should see a message displaying the current state of the storage replacement. In the following example, node2 has undergone replacement and displays the current state as "In takeover".

    node1:> storage failover show
                                    Takeover
Node              Partner           Possible     State Description
------------      ------------      --------     -------------------------------------
node1             node2             false        In takeover
node2             node1             -            Waiting for giveback

  3. Give back the controller:

    1. From the healthy controller, give back the replaced controller's storage:`storage failover giveback -ofnode replacement_node_name`

      The controller takes back its storage and completes booting.

      Note If the giveback is vetoed, you can consider overriding the vetoes.

      For more information, see the Manual giveback commands topic to override the veto.

    2. After the giveback has been completed, confirm that the HA pair is healthy and that takeover is possible: storage failover show

      The output from the storage failover show command should not include the System ID changed on partner message.

  4. Verify that the expected volumes are present for each controller:

    vol show -node node-name

  5. Press <enter> when console messages stop.

    • If you see the login prompt, go to the next step.

    • If you do not see login prompt, log into the partner node.

  6. Wait 5 minutes after the giveback report completes, and check failover status and giveback status:

    storage failover show and storage failover show-giveback

    Note The following command is only available in the Diagnostic mode privilege level.

  7. If the HA internconnect links were taken down, bring them back up:

    system ha interconnect link on -node healthy-node -link 0

    system ha interconnect link on -node healthy-node -link 1

  8. Return the impaired controller to normal operation by giving back its storage:

    storage failover giveback -ofnode impaired_node_name

  9. If automatic giveback was disabled, reenable it:

    storage failover modify -node local -auto-giveback-of true

  10. If AutoSupport is enabled, restore/unsuppress automatic case creation:

    system node autosupport invoke -node * -type all -message MAINT=END

Step 5: 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.