Uninstalling an IBM Storage Defender sensor

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You can uninstall the sensor from one or more systems by using the CLI of the sensor control node.

Procedure

To uninstall a defender sensor from the system, complete the following steps:

Log in to the sensor control node.
Create an inventory file that contains the FQDN or IP address of all systems whose sensor you wish to remove.
1. Edit the /etc/ansible/hosts file.
  Tip: You can use a different file to build the inventory. If you use a different file for the inventory, specify the argument -i /your-directory/your-file in the ansible-playbook command in the next step.
2. Add the FQDN or IP address of all systems whose sensor you wish to remove. Add one per line under the tag [defender_sensor_hosts].
Tip: Use the following template (in INI format) that includes the FQDNs of the IBM® Storage Defender® sensor hosts in the /etc/ansible/hosts file or alternative Ansible hosts inventory file.
```
[defender_sensor_hosts]
<FQDN1>
<FQDN2>
<FQDN3>

[defender_sensor_hosts:vars]
ansible_ssh_common_args='-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no'
ansible_connection=ssh
ansible_ssh_pass=<ssh password>
ansible_ssh_user=<ssh username>
```
Tip: If you are using an existing inventory file in YAML format, you can extend the inventory file by adding a defender_sensor_hosts group.
```
all:
  vars:
    ansible_connection: ssh
    ansible_ssh_user: <ssh username>
    ansible_ssh_pass: <ssh password>
    ansible_ssh_common_args: '-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no'
  children:
    defender_sensor_hosts:
      hosts:
        <FQDN1>:
        <FQDN2>:
        <FQDN3>:
```
Run the ansible-playbook sensor_uninstall.yml --ask-vault-pass [-i <path_to_alternative_inventory_file>] command. Press return.
Enter the Ansible® vault password.

Important: If you are trying to uninstall a sensor that belongs to a connection manager that is destroyed or not properly backed up and restored, the sensor uninstallation fails. For troubleshooting such a sensor uninstallation, see Resolving an IBM Storage Defender sensor uninstallation failure.