Welcome to the Unity internal Battery Backup, or BBU, replacement demonstration. For more detailed instructions always refer to the applicable procedure on support.emc.com To begin, we’re going to log in to Unisphere using the admin account. As we can see on the Unity Dashboard, in the System Health window there are two hardware issues reported. Click on the hardware icon to view more details.
This brings us to the Systems View page. Here, we can see that the battery for storage processor A, or SP A, needs attention. We could click on it, or just navigate to the Enclosures view for the disk processor enclosure and select the top view. Now we can see that the BBU in SP A is marked orange.
Now, let’s take a look at the Alerts page. As we can see, there are three alerts associated with this failure. Now that we have confirmed that it is BBU on SP A, let’s start the replacement procedure. We’ll begin by navigating to the System Service page, and then select Service Tasks.
In order to replace the BBU for SP A, we must first put it in Service Mode. Confirm that the Enter Service Mode button for SP A is highlighted, and then click ‘Execute.’ When prompted, enter the service password.
Entering Service Mode, stops I/O on the SP so that it can be safely removed. Wait until the SP fault LED is flashing, alternating amber and blue before continuing to the next task. Here, we can see that SP A is in Service Mode.
Also notice that the ‘Unsafe to Remove’ LED is illuminated on SP B. Make sure that you do not remove an SP with the ‘Unsafe to Remove’ LED illuminated. Begin by rotating the power cord retention bale to the left and remove the power cord for SP A. Make sure any network or I/O module cables are labeled, and then remove them.
Do not remove any cables from SP B. Pull the torque limit screw handle out of the SP assembly, and turn it counterclockwise to release SP A from the DPE. As the handle is turned, the SP assembly extracts out of the enclosure. When the outward movement stops, the SP assembly is ready for removal. Use the handle to pull the SP assembly outward enough to grasp the sides with both hands.
Then, with both hands supporting the SP assembly pull the SP assembly out of the enclosure. Place the SP assembly with topside upward on a clean, flat, static-free work surface. Verify that all SP assembly LEDs are off to ensure that the SP has completed its power-off after the removal from the DPE, or disk processor enclosure. While pushing down the blue release button slide the top cover rearward approximately one half inch, until it stops.
Lift the top cover upward, and remove it from the SP. Locate the BBU, also known as a battery on bus module and the cable that connects it to the motherboard. On the battery on bus module press the release tab on the cable connector and disconnect it from the battery.
Then, using one hand, press out on the two retaining tabs at the base of the BBU and, at the same time, use the other hand to lift the front of the BBU at an angle and remove it from the motherboard. To install the replacement BBU angle the bottom of it into the housing on the motherboard and then press down on the front end of the module to secure in the two retaining tabs at the base of the module.
Now you can connect the motherboard battery cable to the connector on the BBU module. Position the top cover over the SP assembly, and align it with the slots in the sides at the rear of the assembly. Pull the top cover forward approximately one half inch to secure it in place.
Align the SP assembly with the enclosure slot, and slide it into the slot until it stops. Turn the orange torque-limit screw handle clockwise until you hear a click sound from the handle. The click sound indicates the torque limit is reached and the SP assembly is seated fully in the enclosure. Push the orange torque-limit screw handle into the SP assembly, until you hear a click again.
The click indicates the screw handle is secured in the assembly. The SP will begin to boot into the Service Mode. Reconnect each I/O module cable and network cable into the same port from which it was removed. Connect the AC power cord to the power supply, and secure the cord with the retention bale.
Here, we can see that the SP has booted into Service Mode with the SP fault LED flashing, alternating amber and blue. Now we can log back in to Unisphere to confirm the replacement. Now that we are logged back in to Unisphere, we can see we have some hardware issues. These are expected errors.
Let’s click on the hardware error to confirm. Here, we can see SP A and SP B are reporting errors. If we select SP A, we can see that it’s reporting that it is in Service Mode. If we click on SP B, we can see that it’s reporting an ‘Unsafe to Remove’ condition.
Since these are both expected errors, we can now go back to the Service Task page and reboot SP A. This action will reboot SP A into Normal Mode. Select ‘Reboot’ for SP A, and then click on ‘Execute.’ When prompted, enter the service password. Note that it may take up to 20 minutes for the system to complete its reboot and return to normal. After approximately 20 minutes log out and log back in to Unisphere, to refresh the view.
Let’s check the BBU status by navigating to the System View. Click on the Enclosures tab, and then select the top view. Here, we can see that the battery for SP A is now normal. Now let’s check the Alerts page. Here, we can see the alerts associated with a BBU failure in the replacement procedure.
After the initial alerts we see the user executing the SP A Service Mode task. Then we see the user initiated SP reboot and, finally, ending with the storage system operating in Normal Mode.
To complete the BBU replacement task we are going to acknowledge all the alerts associated with this action. This completes the Unity BBU replacement demonstration.
