VNXe3100: Format a disk?

Hi! I'm new to VNXe. I've just had a system dropped on me that has had a disk fault. We ordered a replacement disk from our vendor, and they told us that the disk in question was no longer available for purchase, but that they had a replacement that would work. When installing it, the system doesn't see it at all, and thus doesn't rebuild across it.

The vendor has told us that their "EMC guys" have suggested that we need to "format and initialize" the disk. I can find no such option during my brief tour through the Unisphere interface, the Unisphere CLI command reference, or the help page when logged in via SSH.

We're having a few other oddball problems that might simply be due to slightly older system software (2.4.0.20932), but we can't install upgrades to either the system software or the hard disk firmware while the system doesn't pass a health check, so getting the faulted disk(s) successfully replaced seems to be the top priority.

The system is in use, which makes wiping or re-initializing the entire box undesirable.

Does such a function exist? If so, how do I find it? Or is the vendor spinning tales?