Removing an I/O expansion unit with the system powered on

Learn about removing an input/output (I/O) expansion unit from the system with the system powered on.

1. Verify the existing 12X configuration. For details, see Verifying the 12X loops with an HMC. If problems exist with the 12X configuration, they must be corrected before continuing with the expansion unit removal procedure.
2. Verify the existing system power control network (SPCN) configuration by using the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI). For details, see Verifying the system power control network. If problems exist with the SPCN configuration, they must be corrected before continuing with the expansion unit removal procedure.
3. Optional: Identify the expansion unit that you want to remove. Select the Operations > LED Status > Identify LED task for the managed system from which the expansion unit is being removed in order to activate and deactivate identify indicators.
4. Select from the following options:
   • If the system is not in manufacturing default configuration (MDC), continue with step 5
   • If the system is in manufacturing default configuration (MDC), continue with step 7.
5. If the system is not in manufacturing default configuration (MDC), use one of the following methods to ensure that none of the I/O resources in the expansion unit to be removed are owned by active partitions:
   • Use dynamic logical partitioning to dynamically remove I/O resources in the expansion unit that are owned by active partitions.
   • Power off logical partitions that own I/O resources in the expansion unit.
6. If the system is not in manufacturing default configuration (MDC), remove all I/O resources in the expansion unit to be removed from logical partition profiles.
   Note: Failure to complete this step can result in messages when a profile is activated or edited that includes resources in an expansion unit that was removed. When such a profile is activated or edited, the HMC presents a message about missing resources. At that time, the option to have the HMC automatically remove the missing resources from the profile is given.
7. Power off the expansion unit that is to be removed by performing the following steps:
   1. Select the managed system, Serviceability > Hardware > Power On/Off Unit.
   2. In the Power On/Off Unit window, expand the managed system and select the expansion unit that is to be removed.
   3. Click Power Off, and follow the instructions on the HMC until the expansion unit is powered off.
8. Remove ac power from the expansion unit that is to be removed by disconnecting the ac cables from the power supplies on the expansion unit.
9. Familiarize yourself with the SPCN cabling rules. For SPCN cabling examples, see Examples: SPCN connections.
10. Perform the following steps:
    1. Remove the SPCN cable between the SPCN 0 connector on the expansion unit that is to be removed and the corresponding connector on the preceding unit on the SPCN loop.
       Note: The preceding unit on the SPCN loop might be another expansion unit or a system unit.
    2. Disconnect the SPCN cable from the SPCN 1 connector on the expansion unit that is to be removed. Attach that end to the connector on the preceding unit on the SPCN loop that was opened in the previous step.
11. Familiarize yourself with the 12X cabling rules. For 12X cabling examples, see Examples: 12X connections.
12. Choose from the following options for removing an expansion unit from a 12X loop.
    Note: To review the connector locations for your expansion unit, see Connector locations.
    • To remove an expansion unit from a 12X loop that has only one expansion unit, continue with step 13.
    • To remove an expansion unit from a 12X loop that has more than one expansion unit, continue with step 14.
13. To remove an expansion unit from a 12X loop with only one expansion unit, complete the following steps:
    1. Remove the 12X cable between connector T1 on the system unit and connector T1 on the expansion unit that is to be removed.
    2. Disconnect the 12X cable from connector T2 on the expansion unit that is to be removed and attach it to connector T1 on the system unit.
       Important: This step creates a 12X loop with no expansion units on it. The 12X cable runs between connectors T1 and T2 on the system unit. Do not skip this step. It is necessary for the system firmware to complete the removal process.
    3. Wait 2 minutes.
    4. Remove the 12X cable between connectors T1 and T2 on the system unit.
    5. Continue with step 15.
14. Perform the following steps to remove an expansion unit from a 12X loop that contains multiple expansion units.
    1. Remove the 12X cable between connector 0 on the expansion unit to be removed and the corresponding connector on the preceding unit on the 12X loop.
       Note: The preceding unit on the 12X loop might be another expansion unit or a system unit.
    2. Disconnect the 12X cable from connector 1 on the expansion unit to be removed. Attach that end to the connector on the preceding unit on the 12X loop that was opened in step 14.a.
    3. Continue with step 15.
15. Clear the inactive enclosure record for the expansion unit that was removed.
    1. Access the ASMI from the HMC
       1. In the navigation pane, select System Management > Servers.
       2. In the content pane, select the system that has the expansion unit you want to remove.
       3. Select Tasks > Operations > Launch Advanced Systems Management (ASM).
    2. Log in to ASMI with administrator or authorized service provider authority.
    3. Expand System Configuration.
    4. Click Configure I/O Enclosures > Clear inactive enclosures.
16. Repeat step 1 to verify the 12X configuration.
    Note: While concurrently removing an expansion unit, it is normal for error logs and event logs to be created with the following reference codes. The number and combination of these logs is dependent on the configuration. The logs can be ignored during this verification step if their timestamps indicate that they occurred during the removal procedure and if the resources that they reference were involved in the procedure.
    • B7006981: This permanent reference code indicates a 12X adapter failure.
    • B7006982: This permanent reference code indicates 12X link failure.
    • B7006984: This informational reference code indicates an open 12X loop.
    • B7006985: This informational reference code indicates the 12X loop was closed.
    • B70069E6: This informational reference code indicates a 12X link stopped.
    • B70069E7: This informational reference code indicates a 12X link started.
17. Repeat step 2 to verify the SPCN configuration.
    Note: While concurrently removing an expansion unit, it is normal for error logs and event logs to be created with the following reference codes. The number and combination of these logs is dependent on the configuration. The logs can be ignored during this verification step if their timestamps indicate that they occurred during the removal procedure and if the resources that they reference were involved in the procedure.
    • 100090F0: This permanent reference code indicates that an expansion unit was dropped from the power control network.
    • 10009135: This informational or permanent reference code indicates an open SPCN loop.
    • 10009137: This permanent reference code indicates disruption of the 12X loop.
    • 10009139: This informational reference code indicates that the SPCN loop was closed.
18. Check for new serviceable events that were generated during the removal procedure by performing the following steps:
    1. Select the managed system, and then click Serviceability > Manage Serviceable Events.
    2. In the Manage Serviceable Events window, specify event criteria to include any events that were generated during the procedure. Optionally, you can use the default criteria.
    3. Click OK. A table appears with the serviceable events that match your criteria.
    4. Close any serviceable events generated during the procedure that include one of the reference codes identified in step 16 or 17.
    5. Perform standard problem analysis on any remaining open serviceable events generated during the procedure.

    The expansion unit is now removed from the system configuration.

19. Physically remove the expansion unit from the rack. To learn about how to remove an enclosure from a rack, see Removing an enclosure from the rack.