Installing a disk drive or solid-state drive with the AIX system or logical partition powered on

You can install a disk drive or solid-state drive in a system or expansion unit while the AIX® operating system or logical partition that controls the disk drive location is powered on. Use the procedure in this section to perform this task.

If you are installing Solid State Drives, review the configuration rules and then return here. For more information, see Solid-state drives.

DANGER

When working on or around the system, observe the following precautions:

Electrical voltage and current from power, telephone, and communication cables are hazardous. To avoid a shock hazard:

Connect power to this unit only with the IBM provided power cord. Do not use the IBM provided power cord for any other product.
Do not open or service any power supply assembly.
Do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform installation, maintenance, or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm.
The product might be equipped with multiple power cords. To remove all hazardous voltages, disconnect all power cords.
Connect all power cords to a properly wired and grounded electrical outlet. Ensure that the outlet supplies proper voltage and phase rotation according to the system rating plate.
Connect any equipment that will be attached to this product to properly wired outlets.
When possible, use one hand only to connect or disconnect signal cables.
Never turn on any equipment when there is evidence of fire, water, or structural damage.
Disconnect the attached power cords, telecommunications systems, networks, and modems before you open the device covers, unless instructed otherwise in the installation and configuration procedures.
Connect and disconnect cables as described in the following procedures when installing, moving, or opening covers on this product or attached devices.
To Disconnect:
1. Turn off everything (unless instructed otherwise).
2. Remove the power cords from the outlets.
3. Remove the signal cables from the connectors.
4. Remove all cables from the devices
To Connect:
1. Turn off everything (unless instructed otherwise).
2. Attach all cables to the devices.
3. Attach the signal cables to the connectors.
4. Attach the power cords to the outlets.
5. Turn on the devices.
(D005)

Attention: The powered-on procedure is a complex set of steps that must be performed precisely as instructed to avoid potential data loss or system damage. You might also consider the powered-off procedure, which is a simpler task that involves less risk of data loss or system damage. For instructions, see Installing a disk drive or solid-state drive with the system or logical partition powered off.

Note: Some of the figures in these procedures might not look exactly like the system or expansion unit that you have. However, the steps to perform the task are the same.

Prepare the system

Perform prerequisite tasks as described in Before you begin.
If applicable, remove the system unit door, remove the expansion unit door, or open the rack.
If applicable, remove the front cover.
Determine the next available disk drive position in your system or expansion unit. For information, see Disk drive locations.
Note: When you have a system with an expansion unit, fill the slot positions in the system unit first. However, you can choose a different disk drive placement depending on your data protection strategy.
Record the position where the new disk drive will be installed. For example, the next available disk drive slot might be P3-D4.
Perform the following steps to install a disk drive.

Install the disk drive

Log in as root user.
At the command line, type diag and press Enter.
Press Enter to continue.
On the Function Selection display, select Task Selection.
On the Tasks Selection display, select Hot Plug Task.
Select SCSI and SCSI RAID Hot Plug Manager.
Select Attach a Device to a SCSI Hot Swap Enclosure Device. A list of empty slots in the SCSI hot swap enclosure device is shown.
Select the slot where you want to install the disk drive and press Enter.
The disk drive slot enters the Identify state. The concurrent maintenance light for the slot begins flashing. To view the locations of the concurrent maintenance lights, select the model into which you are installing a disk drive. For a list of models, see Disk drive locations or Disk-drive concurrent maintenance lights.
If the slot you want to use contains a disk-drive filler, complete one of the following steps:
- For 2.5" small form or solid-state disk drives, the disk drive filler is a single piece that does not attach to the new disk drive. Store the filler for future use, or discard it, then move on to step Insert the disk drive.
- For 3.5" disk drives you might need to remove the bezel from the filler to attach it to the disk drive. Continue with the procedure from here.
Important: .

Pull the disk-drive filler from the slot that you want to use, as shown in Figure 1
Attention:
- Attach a wrist strap to an unpainted metal surface of your hardware to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging your hardware.
- When using a wrist strap, follow all electrical safety procedures. A wrist strap is for static control. It does not increase or decrease your risk of receiving electric shock when using or working on electrical equipment.
- If you do not have a wrist strap, just prior to removing the product from ESD packaging and installing or replacing hardware, touch an unpainted metal surface of the system for a minimum of 5 seconds.
Figure 1. Removing a disk-drive filler from a model .
If the slot you want to use contains a disk-drive filler, complete the following step.
Remove the disk-drive bezel latch (A) from the front of the filler, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 2. Removing a disk-drive bezel from a disk-drive filler
If the slot you want to use contains a disk-drive filler, complete the following step.
Loosen, and then pull out on the thumbscrew (C) to release the bezel (B) from the front edge of the filler.
Find the package that contains the new disk drive.
Attention: Disk drives are fragile. Handle with care.
Remove the disk drive from the static-protective package.
Unlock the disk drive handle by squeezing it and pulling it out toward you. If the handle is not all the way out, the disk drive will not slide into the system or expansion unit.
If the disk drive you are installing does not have a bezel preinstalled, then complete the following step.
Attach the disk-drive bezel (A) to the disk drive, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3. Installing a disk-drive bezel on a disk drive
If the disk drive you are installing does not have a bezel preinstalled, then complete the following step.
Press in and then tighten the thumbscrew (B) to secure the bezel (A) to the disk drive.
Support the bottom of the disk drive as you align it with the guide rails in the system unit. Do not hold the disk drive by the handle.
Slide the disk drive into the system unit until it stops, as shown in Figure 4.
Push the disk drive handle in until it locks. The light on the disk drive will turn on.
Figure 4. Installing a disk drive in a model

Figure 5. Installing a small-form factor disk drive

Figure 6. Installing a small-form factor disk drive in the 5803 expansion unit
Press Enter.
If you are installing more than one disk drive, repeat step 1 through step 20 until all disk drives are installed.
Cancel to get to the SCSI and SCSI RAID Hot Plug Manager menu.
Select Configure Added/Replaced Devices.
Exit to the command line.

Complete the procedure

Replace the front cover.
Install or close the system, expansion unit, or rack door.
Verify the installed part. For instructions, see Verifying an installed feature or replaced part on an AIX system or logical partition.
To prepare the newly installed disk drive for use, go to Preparing a disk drive for use in an AIX system or logical partition.

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Last updated: Wed, August 06, 2014