Quantum StorNext QS1200 User manual

StorNext QS1200 / QS2400
Replacing a Host Interface Card (HIC)
6-68079-01 Rev B *6-68079-01 B*

ii Replacing a Host Interface Card (HIC)
StorNext QS1200 / QS2400, Replacing a Host Interface Card (HIC), 6-68079-01 Rev B, April 2015, Product of USA.
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StorNext QS1200 / QS2400, Replacing a Host Interface Card (HIC) April 2015
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Replacing a Host Interface Card (HIC) in a StorNext QS1200 / QS2400
ATTENTION Possible equipment damage – Only a qualified service technician should perform this procedure, or
equipment damage might result.
ATTENTION Potential loss of connectivity – If both controllers in a duplex base system are powered up at the same
time with different types of HICs, a mismatch results that causes both controllers to lock down (shut
down and stop operating). If one controller is already running, and you replace the alternate controller
with a different HIC, only the replacement controller locks down, and the running controller remains
operational.
Use this procedure to replace a host interface card (HIC) that has failed. The replacement HIC can have Fibre Channel,
InfiniBand, iSCSI or SAS connections. Both controllers in a duplex base system must have the same arrangement of
HICs. Each controller must have the same type of HIC in the same relative position as the other controller.
Before you replace an HIC, gather antistatic protection, a new HIC, and the controller air blocker. If you are changing
your current configuration, you might need to replace these items in addition to the HIC:
Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers.
Host bus adapters or host channel adapters.
Cables – InfiniBand and SAS use copper cable, iSCSI uses Ethernet cable, and Fibre Channel uses copper cable,
optical cable, or fiber-optic cable.
The correct HIC subplate for the front of the controller.
ATTENTION Possible hardware damage – If you perform this procedure with the power turned on, the equipment
might overheat if the controller slot is left open for more than three minutes. To prevent the possibility
of overheating, you must insert the controller air blocker into the controller slot when servicing the
controller.
HIC in the StorNext QS1200 / QS2400
To replace a failed HIC, you must first remove the controller canister.
Gathering Support Data
1. Gather support data about your storage array by using one of these methods:
NOTE IB host ports do not support the Data Assurance (DA) premium feature.
ATTENTION Possible hardware damage – To prevent electrostatic discharge damage to the base system, use
proper antistatic protection when handling base system components.

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—Use the storage management software to collect and save a support bundle of your storage array. From the
Array Management Window toolbar, click Monitor > Health > Collect Support Data. Then name and
specify a location on your system where you want to store the support bundle.
—Use the command line interface (CLI) to run the save storageArray supportData command to
gather comprehensive support data about the storage array.
For more information about this command, see the Command Line Interface and Script Commands
document.
Running this command can temporarily impact performance on your storage array.
2. Did the Recovery Guru direct you to replace a failed I/O host interface card?
—Yes – Go to step 3.
—No – Run the Recovery Guru to identify the failed component, and go to step 3.
3. Put on antistatic protection.
4. Stop all host I/O operations.
5. Proceed to Locating the Failed HIC.
Locating the Failed HIC
1. Refer to Figure 1 to locate the controllers within the array (representative system).
Figure 1 Controller Location
1. Controller A
2. Expansion SFF-8088 Port Connector
3. Controller B
4. Expansion SFF-8088 Port Connector
2. Refer to Figure 2 on page 3 to locate the controller canister with the failed HIC by checking the Controller Service
Action Required LEDs.
—If a fault is detected, the amber Controller Service Action Required LED is on.
—If you can safely remove the controller canister, the blue Controller Service Action Allowed LED is on.

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Figure 2 Controller Service Action LEDs
1. Controller Serviced Action Allowed LED (Blue)
2. Controller Service Action Required LED (Amber)
Removing the Controller from the Array
1. Label each copper cable or fiber-optic cable that is attached to the controller canister so that you can reconnect
each cable correctly after the controller canister is reinstalled.
2. Record the information from the seven-segment display on the rear of the base system.
The display flashes a sequence of codes. To find information about the displayed diagnostic codes, refer to the
StorNext Q-Series Storage Install Guide.
Use either the GUI (first bullet) or the CLI (second bullet) to take the appropriate controller offline.
—From the Hardware pane in the Array Management Window, right-click the picture of the controller you
want to take offline, and select Advanced > Place > Offline.
—Run the following command:
SMcli <DNS-network-name-or-IP-address> -c “set controller [(a | b)]
availability=offline;”
If necessary, wait for the Controller Service Action Allowed LED to come on (Figure 3 on page 4). This indication might
take several minutes for a large configuration.
ATTENTION Potential degraded performance – To prevent degraded performance, do not twist, fold, pinch, or step
on the cables. Many cables have a minimum bending radius. For example, do not bend fiber-optic cables
tighter than a 5-cm (2-in.) radius. Check the specifications for your cables, and do not bend any cable
tighter than the minimum specified radius.

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Figure 3 Controller LEDs
1. Host Link 1 Service Action Required LED (Green)
2. Host Link 2 Service Action Required LED (Green)
3. Battery Service Action Required LED (Amber)
4. Controller Service Action Allowed LED (Blue)
5. Controller Service Action Required LED (Amber)
3. Disconnect all cables from the controller canister that contains the HIC.
—If the storage array is running while you perform this replacement, do not disturb the second controller
canister.
—If fiber-optic cables are present, you can use the two release levers to partially remove the controller canister.
Opening these release levers makes it easier to press down the fiber-optic cable release tab.
—If the storage array is running while you perform this replacement, do not disturb the second controller
canister.

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4. Prepare the controller air blocker (Figure 4) by removing it from its packaging and folding it inward at right
angles, so it is ready to insert into the open controller slot.
Figure 4 Controller Air Blocker
5. Remove the controller canister (Figure 5):
a. Unlock and pull out the release levers to release the controller canister.
b. Using the release levers and your hands, pull the controller canister out of the base system.
Figure 5 Removing and Reinstalling a Controller Canister
1. Release Levers
2. Controller Canister

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6. Set the controller canister on a flat, static-free surface with the release levers up.
ATTENTION Possible equipment damage – The controller slot cannot remain open for more than three minutes
because of the possibility of overheating the equipment. The controller air blocker fills the controller slot
so that the equipment will not overheat.
7. Insert the controller air blocker into the open controller slot (Figure 6on page 6) to make sure that correct airflow
is maintained.
Figure 6 Inserting the Controller Air Blocker into the Open Controller Slot
8. If Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers are present, record the ports to which they are attached, and
remove them.

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Removing the HIC from the Controller
1. On the controller canister (Figure 7), press down on both of the top cover latch buttons, and slide the top cover
to the rear. Remove the top cover.
Figure 7 Host Interface Card Replacement
1. Top Cover Latch Buttons
2. HIC Thumbscrews
3. Host Interface Card
4. HIC Interface Connector
5. Front Bezel
6. Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) Socket
7. Front Bezel Screws
2. Disconnect the front bezel flex harness by gently opening the zero insertion force (ZIF) socket.
NOTE The ZIF socket is very fragile and is easily broken. Either use your fingers or a screwdriver to gently pull the
ZIF socket open.

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3. Remove the screws holding the front bezel to the controller canister with a Phillips screwdriver.
4. Remove the front bezel from the controller canister, carefully working it from side to side until you can slide it off
and gain access to the HIC.
5. Loosen the HIC thumbscrews that secure the HIC to the controller card.
6. Gently disengage the HIC from the controller card, and remove the HIC.
NOTE The connector is located on the edge of the HIC next to the thumbscrews.
7. Place the HIC that you removed on a static-free surface.
Installing the HIC in the Controller
1. Install the new HIC by gently connecting the HIC to the HIC interface connector. Do not scratch or bump any of
the components on the bottom of the HIC or the top of the controller card.
2. Align the connectors in the controller canister with the corresponding openings in the front bezel, and reattach
the front bezel to the controller canister by reinserting the screws.
NOTE The front bezel can suddenly pop loose and cause damage to either the front bezel flex harness or the ZIF
socket that is attached to the controller card. Make sure that you gently move the front bezel away from the
controller canister to allow access to the HIC.
NOTE If the thumbscrews were overtightened, you can use a Phillips screwdriver to help loosen them.
NOTE You must place the HIC in the same location in the new controller canister, being careful not to scratch or
bump any of the components on the bottom of the HIC or the top of the controller card.
NOTE Make sure that you have the correct host interface card (HIC).
ATTENTION Potential loss of connectivity – If both controllers in a duplex base system are powered up at the same
time with different types of HICs, a mismatch results that causes both controllers to lock down (shut
down and stop operating). If one controller is already running, and you replace the alternate controller
with a different HIC, only the replacement controller locks down, and the running controller remains
operational.
NOTE Tighten the thumbscrews by hand only. Using a screwdriver can overtighten the screws.
NOTE Make sure that the seven-segment display ribbon cable is still connected to the motherboard connector. If
the ribbon cable is not connected, you must lift the center piece of the motherboard connector and insert
the ribbon cable into the motherboard connector.