Data Domain: Charging NVRAM Batteries

Charging NVRAM Batteries

PURPOSE

To provide instructions on how to charge the NVRAM batteries.

APPLIES TO

• All Data Domain systems
• All DD OS Releases

NVRAM Batteries Partially Discharged

If the NVRAM Card or Battery Backup Unit (BBU) has been replaced or the system has been powered off for a long period of time, the batteries on the NVRAM card may be discharged.
In this situation, when you power on the system, an error light at the back of the NVRAM card begins blinking and an error message similar to the following appears on the console:

Event Id EVT-NVRAM-00001 Event Name NvramWarning Description NVRAM's battery or card status is not OK. DDFS cannot be enabled. If the battery status is low charge, it might take up to 3 hrs for the battery to be fully charged. When battery is full, this NVRAM alert will be cleared.

The batteries will begin recharging after power-on, but it can take up to three hours before they are fully charged. The system cannot be used before the batteries are fully charged.

If any battery has less than 80% charge, follow the procedure Recharge NVRAM batteries (recommended method) or Recharge NVRAM batteries (alternate method) to disable system operation temporarily.
You can check NVRAM battery status with the command:

system show nvram

All batteries new to be >=80% charged capacity before the Filesystem can be enabled.

Recharge NVRAM batteries (recommended method)

1. Reboot the system by using the command:

   system reboot

2. Access BIOS Setup during system Boot cycle (usually F2 or Del key during boot)
3. Leave the system at BIOS password prompt or Setup screen.
4. After at least three hours, check battery status by looking at the back of the system. NVRAM cards should only have the green power LED on. The Fault and Remove LEDs should be off.
5. If the Fault LED continues to blink, the NVRAM card is defective and must be replaced.
6. Simultaneously press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys on the keyboard to reboot the system.

Recharge NVRAM batteries (alternate method)

If leaving the system in the BIOS setup phase is not possible, follow this alternate procedure:

1. Check the file system status by using the command:

   filesys status

2. If the file system is enabled, disable it by using the command:

   filesys disable

3. After at least three hours, check battery status again by using the command:

   system show nvram

   Note: Do not issue any other system command while the batteries are charging.
4. If the batteries are still not fully charged, the card is defective. Replace the NVRAM card.
5. If the batteries are fully charged, check the file system status again by using the command:

   filesys status

6. If the file system is disabled, enable it by using the command:

   filesys enable