Data Domain: Controller Upgrade Fails with License Check

Summary: If the license is in the old format when upgrading a Data Domain controller to a new model, it fails on newer DDOS codes.

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Instructions

Symptom:

You get an error similar to the below when trying to run the system headswap command and the license is not in the right format:

License check failed: Headswap failed: A legacy ELMS .LIC license was found in the system. Please update your license file to the new ELMS .XML license format.


Cause:

Older DDOS versions use a license format called ELMS, and the license file has a .lic extension.
Newer DDOS versions use a new XML format which has a .xml extension.
When doing a headswap for the controller upgrade, it forces the license to be in the new format.


Resolution:

  1. Move the storage back to the old head unit
  2. Update the license to the XML format
  3. Move storage to new head unit
  4. Attempt the headswap again

The licensing team must provide the updated license file if the customer is unable to download the XML format from the Dell Digital Locker

Affected Products

Data Domain
Article Properties
Article Number: 000256145
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 10 Jan 2025
Version:  2
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