ME4: Controller Replacement Best Practices

Summary: Best Practices to follow during ME4 Controller replacement.

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Instructions

In relation to possible field scenarios in consideration of the replacement Controllers shipped with G275 firmware, find the below action to assist.

Regarding the firmware upgrade, the supported upgrade path is GT275XXXX-XX to GT280R009-02 to GT280R014-01.

Upgrading the controller from GT275 to the latest may lead to an unexpected situation. The below steps must be followed to control this during field replacement.


Note: The below procedure is based on the consideration that the Working (Existing) Controller is already on a GT280 Bundle Firmware.

 

  1. Disable PFU.
  2. Shutdown failed controller if possible
  3. Physically remove the failed controller.
  4. Move the host cables from the old controller to new controller.
  5. Insert the replacement controller.
  6. Allow the controller to go through reboots for configuration cross-load.
  7. Once the replacement controller is stable, check the firmware bundle revision on both controllers.
  8. If the replacement controller came with an Old GT275 bundle revision, connect using FTP to the replacement controller and force upgrade from GT275XXXX-XX to GT280R009-02.
  9. Wait for the controller firmware upgrade to complete and the controller becomes stable.
  10. Once the replacement controller is stable, check to confirm the replacement is now at GT280R009-02.

After this stage, depending on the firmware bundle already installed on the working controller, the procedures may vary.

Option 01: Considering the working controller is already at GT280R014-01:
  1. Enable PFU and allow the system to auto-upgrade the replacement controller from GT280R009-02 to GT280R014-01.
  2. Wait for the controller to be stable, then check to confirm the replacement is now at GT280R014-01.

Option 02: Considering the working controller is on a GT280 firmware or later than GT280R009-02, but not at GT280R014-01:

  1. Manually upgrade replacement controller GT280R009-02 to GT280R014-01 (With PFU disabled)
  2. Wait for the controller to be stable, then check to confirm the replacement is now at GT280R014-01.
  3. Manually upgrade the working controller from GT280R009-02 to GT280R014-01 (With PFU disabled)
  4. Wait for the controller to be stable, then check to confirm the working controller is now at GT280R014-01.

Option 03: Considering the working controller is also on a firmware lower than GT280R009-02:

  1. Manually upgrade working controller to GT280R009-02 (With PFU disabled)
  2. Wait for the controller to be stable, then check to confirm the working controller is now at GT280R009-02.
  3. Now that both Controllers are at GT280R009-02, enable PFU.
  4. Manually upgrade both controllers from GT280R009-02 to GT280R014-01 (With PFU Enabled)
  5. Wait for both the controllers to be stable, then check to confirm both controllers are now at GT280R014-01.

Affected Products

Dell EMC PowerVault ME4012, Dell EMC PowerVault ME4024, Dell EMC PowerVault ME4084
Article Properties
Article Number: 000327468
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 04 Jun 2025
Version:  1
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