VPlex: How to Manually Remove Device From VPlex After Removing Disk From Array

Summary: This KB article outlines how to remove underlying storage from VPlex if the components were not removed from VPlex before removing the storage from the array.

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Instructions

Please follow this KB article if either of the following scenarios is present:

  1. Customer informed that they have removed a specific LUN from the storage array without first removing from the VPlex
  2. Storage arrays are showing as degraded on the VPlex and volume shows as having no underlying storage array
 
  1. Gather all information regarding the device
VPlexcli:/> show-use-hierarchy /clusters/cluster-1/storage-elements/storage-volumes/Symm0737_0000
  local-device: device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447 (8.43G, raid-0, cluster-1)
    extent: extent_Symm0737_0000_1 (8.43G)
      storage-volume: Symm0737_0000 (8.43G)
        logical-unit: VPD83T3:6006048000028746073753594d303030
         
 
  1.  Remove the local device from the VPlex using the command: local-device destroy -d <DeviceName>
VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-1/devices> local-device destroy -d device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447
 
  1. Remove the Extent from the VPlex using the command: extent destroy --force <ExtentName>
VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-1/storage-elements/extents> extent destroy --force extent_Symm0737_0000_1
 
  1. Remove the Storage-Volume from the VPlex using the command: storage-volume unclaim -d <StorageVolumeName>
VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-1/storage-elements/storage-volumes> storage-volume unclaim -d Symm0737_0000
 
 
Please note there is another VPLEXCLI command ( advadm dismantle) which will take care of above steps from 2 to 4 in single command syntax. There are interactive steps while execute following command syntax.  
 
VPlexcli:/> advadm dismantle -r /clusters/cluster-1/devices/device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447 --unclaim-storage-volumes
 
Example of output of interactive advadm dismantle command 
 

VPlexcli:/> advadm dismantle -r /clusters/cluster-1/devices/device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447 --unclaim-storage-volumes
This will destroy the following devices:
    device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447 at cluster-1
        extent_Symm0737_0000_1 at cluster-1    

This will unclaim the following storage-volumes:
    at cluster-1
        VPD83T3:6006048000028746073753594d303030
        
Do you wish to continue (yes/no): Yes
WARNING: The following items will be destroyed:
Context
-----------------------------------
/clusters/cluster-1/devices/device_Symm0737_0000_12016Feb18_092447

Do you wish to proceed?  (Yes/No) Yes

WARNING: The following items will be destroyed:
Context
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/clusters/cluster-1/storage-elements/extents/extent_Symm0737_0000_1

Do you wish to proceed?  (Yes/No) Yes

Destroyed 1 out of 1 targeted extents.

1 devices(s) were successfully dismantled. Unclaimed 1 of 1 storage-volumes.

VPlexcli:/>

 
Note: Please do not use force (-f) option with advadm command as it forces the destruction without asking for confirmation
 
  1. Remove the Logical Unit from the VPlex using the command: logical-unit forget <LogicalUnitVPID>
VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-1/storage-elements/storage-arrays/logical-units/> logical-unit forget VPD83T3:6006048000028746073753594d303030
 
  1. Confirm VPlex is healthy and no errors are seen by running the following commands:
  • Health Check
  • ll **/storage-arrays/*


In the event the volume or device cannot be removed and you get errors similar to the following, then reboot the management console and both if system is a Metro.

Failed to destroy local-devices.
Unable to destroy local Device.
Firmware command error: No device with the name <device name>"
failed.
cause: Command execution failed.
cause: Invalid context 'devices' of type 'devices' specified for --targets 

Additional Information

To remove a device from the VPlex safely before removing the disk from the array please follow the steps below:

1. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/exports/storage-views> removevirtualvolume  -view storage_view_name --virtual-volumes name,name,name  -force

2. If the volume is part of a consistency group:
VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/consistency-groups> remove-virtual-volumes  -consistency-group consistency_group_name  -virtual-volumes name,name,name  -force

3. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID> virtual-volume destroy  virtual_volume_name --force

4. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/devices> local-device destroy -d <DeviceName>

5. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/storage-elements/extents> extent destroy
--force <Extent Name>

6. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/storage-elements/storage-volumes>
storage-volume unclaim -d <StorageVolumeName>

7. VPlexcli:/clusters/cluster-Cluster_ID/storage-elements/storage-arrays/logical-units/
Unit VPDID> logical-unit forget


This procedure can be found in Solve Procedure Generator: VPlex -> Miscellaneous -> Admin procedures -> Manage -> Remove disk or array from VPLEX

Affected Products

VPLEX Series

Products

VPLEX GeoSynchrony, VPLEX Series, VPLEX VS2
Article Properties
Article Number: 000158282
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 10 Nov 2025
Version:  6
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