Replace FC HBA card with dual 10GbE card in a Nimble HF

[NOS205]

We've had a request to replace an FC HBA card with an 10GbE card and just trying to get my head around if this can be achieved with out downtime to the hosts? If we were to replace the card in the standby controller first. We then have an active controller running FC and standby running iSCSI.  We would have to create iscsi subnet and assign to interfaces, sort new connections. Would the Active controller running FC failover to Standby?

[support_s]

System recommended content:

1. HPE Nimble Storage HF-Series - Parts Support Guide | NIC or HBA Expansion Card

2. HPE Nimble Storage AFxxxx, CSxxxx, SFxxx – Parts Support Guide | HPE Nimble Storage AFxxxx, CSxxxx, SFxxx PCIe Adapter Replacement

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[NOS205]

Many thanks for that but that just shows how to replace a card, like for like.

Its more a question on the implications of replacing an FC HBA with a Ethernet card.

[SprinkleJames · Accepted solution]

Hi @NOS205,

Assuming all your hosts are currently FC-attached and not iSCSI-attached, and you want to change to iSCSI. You cannot do it without downtime, because a Nimble Storage volume cannot be accessed via FC and iSCSI simultaneously.

Here's your basic process (does not include every step):

1. Add 10GbE card to each controller. This can be done one controller at a time, without downtime.
2. Connect hosts and storage to iSCSI switch(es), and configure iSCSI networking. You can create a test volume to be sure everything is working.
3. Unmount FC volumes from hosts, change the volumes over to iSCSI access, and then re-mount them via iSCSI
4. Once you have no more volumes presented via FC, I'd guess you can non-disruptively remove the FC HBA from each controller if you wish. Check with Nimble Storage Support to verify this can be done.

[NOS205]

Hi @SprinkleJames 

Thank you for that. 

Most of it is assumption at the moment and the request as come across to us as just an "Upgrade" but wanted to sanity check my own thoughts that this is not just a simple replace cards, and a way you go.

You had done this, so thanks.