How to repalce controller for MSA P2000 G3

[hoangnguyen]

Hi Guys,

I'm new in HP storage products.

My MSA P2000 G3 has 02 controller A and B. P/N: AP836A, RFU PN: 592261-001.

At the moment controller- B is failed, the MSA is working with only controller-A.

We will replace failed one by a spare one, but I donnot know how to repalce it in a safe way.

I refered to some document and know that it can be replaced by hotswap, but I'm not sure.

Can some body advise me detail how to replace it.

Hope to hear fro you soonest..

[support_s]

System recommended content:

1. HP StorageWorks P2000 G3 FC MSA Dual Controller Small Business SAN Starter Kit Installation Overview (617351-001, June 2010)

2. HP P2000 G3 MSA System CLI Reference Guide

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[Cali]

Here you will find the Replacement Instructions:

Document - HPE MSA Controller Module Replacement Instructions | HPE Support

Check, if the replacement Controller has an SD Card installed, if not move it.

The configuration will be automatically replicated from Controller A to the new Controller B. 

The Firmware will be automatically updated if the Partner Firmware Update is enabled.

The replacement is typical online.

Cali

[hoangnguyen]

Hi,
Thanks for your quick response.
Do you mean I can use hotswap to replace the failed controller?
Do you mean SD card is flash card of controller?
Where and how can I enable Partner Firmware Update?
Thanks

[Cali]

Do you mean I can use hotswap to replace the failed controller?
Yes, it is Offline/Down, or if you Shutdown the Controller with the Command above.

Do you mean SD card is flash card of controller?
Yes, see attached Picture.

Where and how can I enable Partner Firmware Update?
Using Web GUI (Configuration > Advanced Settings > Firmware)
or this CLI: set advanced-settings partner-firmware-upgrade enable

Cali

[hoangnguyen]

Hi Cali,

Please help more things, thank you.

* One thing makes me confuse as:  my spare part is secondhand, not brand-new. It means that there is configuration file in the spare controller which had been used in another MSA. We are afraid that if this configuration file is replicated back from new controller-B to existing controller-A. If this happens it will be dangerous for the system.

* I summarize the steps below to be used for replacing controller-B, please have a look and correct it if something wrong:

1) Let MSA running with controller-B. Ensure spare part OK and with a SD Card installed. Ensure Partner Firmware Update is enabled on (Using Web GUI: Configuration > Advanced Settings > Firmware).
2) Shutdown controller.
3) Note the labels of controller-B.
4) Unplug cables and take controller-B out.
5) Insert new controller and re-plug cables.
6) Wait 30 minutes so that the configuration will be automatically replicated from Controller A to the new Controller B.
7) Check controller-B and the whole MSA LEDs and event.

[Cali]

Yes, I did it the last Years in that Way.

And as you already notice, if the Controller is an Original HPE Spare Part, it is clean without a config.

If not, it is better to change Online, because the System has an Active Primary Controller running and the new one will be the Secondary.

(Online Change is Supported if the Controller is down.)

If you boot up the System with two Controllers and different configs, who knows what happens?

Cali

[hoangnguyen]

Hi Cali,

You make me so confused.

Do you mean controller-A must be Active Primary Controller now and  controller-B must be Secondary Controller, If not we should change online?

And we can change in the current status? Where can I change online?

Thanks.

[Cali]

At the moment, one Controller is Good and running and one is failed.

Replace the failed.

[hoangnguyen]

Thanks, Ok we will follow steps above to replace.
However for some reason, we will perform replacement after one week. During waiting days if controller-A is failed also how can I use the spare controller to recover MSA at the begining. Can you instruct me?
Thanks.

[hoangnguyen]

Hi Cali,

can you instruct me as  I posted above? 

thanks

[Cali]

The question is, what happens if both controllers are dead and you have to replace the controllers?

So in that case, the Disk (Raid) Configuration is stored on the Disks and the replacement Controller inherits the configuration of the raid settings from the Disks.

All other settings like Name, IP, Hosts, and Exports are lost and you need to configure them again.

So in short, Data should stay, all other is lost.

Cali

[hoangnguyen]

Hi Cali,

- Here I attached some pictures of our MSA, please have a look and can you conclude which componet of controller is failed and Is controller actually failled?

- As you mentioned above about Active Primary Controller and Secondary Controller, I tried to file this information in Managment Utility but I cannot find them on any menu.

- Dou you think that all configurations we have configured for controllers and which we see on SMU are stored in fash card? In case both controllers are dead and I have to replace the controllers can we make use of the old card (card of controller-A, for instance) to use for new controller? If yes this method will keep the configuration which we need and we donnot need to configure more time.???

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks.

Moderator note: Post edited and removed the confidential info. 

[Cali]

The Flash Card did not hold any configuration, it is only for storing Caching Data in case of Power loss.

As controller B is dead, I assume there will no valid Data on this Card.

Just check, if the replacement Controller has a Flash Card inserted, sometimes they have not and you have to swap.

And follow the Replacement Guide I provided in the Link above to replace Controller B.

[hoangnguyen]

Yes new controller has  a card inserted already.

Do you mean, In case both controllers dead and need insert new one, there is no way to reuse the old configuration and we have to configure controller at the beginning?

[Cali]

Yes, in that case, the Controller will "Learn" the Raid Sets & Volumes from the Disks and all Data come back.

But all the configuration settings are lost because they are stored on the Controllers.

[hoangnguyen]

@Cali 

Hi Cali,

I have not yet replaced the controller.

You said that you ever replaced controller last year, may I know:

Did you use brandnew (clean) or secondhand controller (with old config in controller and old data in flash card) for replacment?

Thanks.

[hoangnguyen · Accepted solution]

Dear all,

We have replaced successfuly the controller in the last Thursday.

Just reused flash card for new controller, and disabled PFU, then did hot-swap replacement.

Once again thank you so much for your help.

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @hoangnguyen, 

Excellent! 

We are glad to know the problem has been resolved and we appreciate you for keeping us updated.