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Replacing the disk drive using IBM i

Use this procedure to remove and replace a disk drive concurrently with IBM® i.

  1. Access the unit by:

    1. Open the front rack door.
    2. Loosen the thumbscrew (A) on the right side of the cover.
    3. Slide the cover to the right and remove it from the system unit slot (B).

  2. To recover any data that might be lost when a disk drive is replaced, you must know if the disk drive has data protection.

    Do you know the protection status of the disk drive to be removed?

    • No: Continue with the next step.
    • Yes: If the disk drive is mirrored, record the status of both disk drives in the mirrored pair and go to step 6. If the disk drive is parity protected, go to step 4.

  3. Determine the protection status of the disk drive to be removed:

    1. Sign on the operator console with at least service level authority.
    2. Type strsst on the command line of the IBM i session and press Enter.
    3. Type your service tools user ID and service tools password on the Start Service Tools (STRSST) Sign On display. Press Enter.
    4. Select Work with disk units from the System Service Tools (SST) display. Press Enter.
    5. Select Display Disk Configuration from the Work with Disk Units display. Press Enter.
    6. Select Display Disk Configuration Status from the Display Disk Configuration display. Press Enter.

      A list of each auxiliary storage pool (ASP) displays, showing the disk drives that are members of the ASPs.

    7. Is the status of the failing disk drive Mirrored?
      • No: Continue with the next step.
      • Yes: Record the status of both disk drives in the mirrored pair and continue at step 6.

  4. Determine if the failing disk drive is parity protected:

    Check the status of the failing disk drive for one of the following items:
    Note: An ASP with a status of unprotected might contain disk drives that are device parity protected.
    • DPY/Active
    • DPY/Failed
    • DPY/HDW Failure
    • DPY/Degraded
    • DPY/Power Loss
    • DPY/Not Ready
    • DPY/Unknown

    If the status of the failing disk drive and all other disk drives in the array is shown in the preceding list, the failing disk drive is parity protected.

    Is the failing disk drive parity protected?

    • Yes: Go to step 9.
    • No: Continue with the next step.
  5. Perform a backup of the data in the failing ASP.
    Note: This is a customer task. Refer to the system's operations information for instructions.

    Go to step 9.

  6. Does the disk drive you are replacing have a status of suspended?

    • Yes: Go to step 9.
    • No: Check the status of the disk drive that is mirrored to the disk drive you are replacing. If it is Suspended, go to step 8. If it is Active, continue with the next step.

  7. Suspend the disk drive that you are replacing by performing the following steps:

    1. Press F3 from the Display Disk Configuration display to return to the Work with Disk Units display.
    2. Select Work with Disk Unit Recovery from the Work with Disk Units display and press Enter.
    3. Select Suspend mirrored protection from the Work with Disk Unit Recovery display and press Enter.
    4. Select the option to suspend the disk drive that you are replacing from the Suspend Mirrored Protection display and press Enter.
    5. Go to step 9.
  8. The suspended mirrored pair of the failing drive has also failed and must be replaced.
    Note: Performing a backup is a customer task. Refer to the system's operations information for instructions.

    Perform a backup of the data in the failing ASP.

    Go to step 9 to replace the failing mirrored disk.

    Return to the beginning of this procedure to replace the disk that you originally intended to replace.

  9. Select Device Concurrent Maintenance from the Hardware Service Manager display. Press Enter. The Device Concurrent Maintenance display is displayed.

    1. Enter the location code of the disk drive being replaced in the form of: U787A.001.AAAXXXX-P3-D4
    2. Select option 1 (Remove device) for the Action to be performed.
    3. Set the time delay for one minute: 01.

      Important: Do not press Enter at this time.

    4. Locate the concurrent maintenance light that corresponds to the position of the disk drive that you are replacing.
      Important: When you press Enter, after a one minute delay, this light comes on and begins to blink rapidly. You then have nine seconds to remove the disk drive.
    5. Press Enter on the console.
    6. When the light blinks rapidly, perform the next step to remove the disk drive within 9 seconds.
  10. Remove the disk drive by:
    1. Unlock the disk drive handle by squeezing it and pulling it out toward you as shown.
    2. Support the bottom of the disk drive as you slide it out of the system or expansion unit. Do not hold the disk drive by the handle.

      The concurrent maintenance light for the slot turns off when you remove the disk drive.

  11. Loosen and pull out on the thumbscrew (B) to release the disk-drive bezel (C) from the disk drive, as shown in the graphic.

  12. Install the bezel on the new disk drive:
    1. Find the package that contains the new disk drive.
      Attention: Disk drives are fragile. Handle with care.
    2. Remove the disk drive from its static protective package.
    3. Unlock the handle of the replacement disk drive by squeezing and pulling it out toward you. If the handle is not all the way out, the disk drive will not slide into the system.
    4. Attach the disk drive bezel (A) to the replacement disk drive as shown.
    5. Press in and then tighten the thumbscrew (B) to secure the bezel to the disk drive.
    1. Return to the console and wait until the Concurrent Maintenance Results display is shown. Press F12.
    2. The physical locations you entered in step 6 of this procedure might still appear on the display. If not, retype the physical location where you will be installing the new disk drive.
    3. Select option 2 (Install device) for the Action to be performed.
    4. Set the time delay for one minute: 01.

      Important: Do not press Enter at this time.

    5. Locate the concurrent maintenance light that corresponds to the position of the disk drive that you are replacing
    6. Important: When you press Enter, after a one minute delay, this light comes on and begins to blink rapidly. You then have nine seconds to install the disk drive.
  14. Install the disk drive:
    1. 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.
    2. Slide the disk drive into the system until it stops.
    3. Press Enter on the console.
    4. When the light blinks rapidly, perform the next step to install the disk drive within 9 seconds.
    5. Push the disk drive handle in until it locks.
      Note: It is important to ensure that the drive is fully seated all the way into the system when installing a disk drive.
    1. If you removed a front cover, install the front cover
    2. Install or close the system, expansion unit or rack front door.
    3. Return to the console and wait until the Concurrent Maintenance Results display is shown. Press Enter.
    4. If you return to the service action log display, exit the service action log.
    5. When the Hardware Service Manager display is shown, press F3.
  16. Rebuild the data on the replacement disk drive by:
    1. If necessary, start System Service Tools (SST) by typing strsst on the command line of the IBM i session and pressing Enter.
    2. Type your service tools user ID and service tools password on the Start Service Tools (STRSST) Sign On display. Press Enter.

      Note: The service tools password is case sensitive.

    3. Select Work with disk units from the Start System Service Tools (SST) display. Press Enter.
    4. Select Work with disk unit recovery from the Work with Disk Units display. Press Enter.

    Was the failing disk drive mirrored?

    • Yes: Go to step 20.
    • No: Continue with the next step.

  17. Was the failing disk drive parity protected?

    • Yes: Go to step 19.
    • No: Continue with the next step.
  18. Restore the data on the replacement disk drive from the latest backup available.
    Note: Performing a restore is a customer task. Refer to the system's operations information for instructions.
    1. Select Rebuild disk unit data on the Work with Disk unit recovery display. Press Enter.
    2. Select 1 to rebuild the disk drive displayed (the disk drive displayed is the disk drive that you removed) on the Rebuild Disk Unit Data display. Press Enter.
    3. Press Enter on the Confirm Rebuild Disk Unit Data display. The rebuild process might take several minutes to complete.
    4. Press F5 to refresh the display until the Percent complete shows 5%.
    5. When the display shows at least 5% complete, you can either continue to monitor this display to completion, or press F3 (Exit) to return to the Work with disk units display.
    6. Press F3 (Exit) to return to the System service tools display.
    7. Press F3 (Exit) to return to the Exit SST display and press Enter.
    1. Select Replace configured unit on the Work with Disk unit recovery display. Press Enter.
    2. Select the configured disk drive that you are exchanging (suspended drive) on the Select Configured Unit to Replace display. Press Enter.
    3. Select the disk drive that you just installed on the Select Replacement Unit display. This drive has a non-configured status.

      Note: In some cases, it might take several minutes for a new disk drive to display. Repeat these steps until the new drive is shown.

      Press Enter.

    4. Press Enter on the Confirm Replace of Configured Unit display to confirm your choice for replacement.

      The replacement process might take several minutes to complete.

      When the process is complete, the Work with Disk unit recovery display is shown.

    5. Press F3 (Exit) to return to the Work with disk units display.
    6. Select Display disk configuration on the Work with disk units display.
    7. Select Display disk configuration status on the Display Disk Configuration display.

      Mirrored status shows Resuming. When complete, the mirrored status shows Active. This process might take several minutes to complete. You can either monitor this display to completion, or press F3 (Exit) three times, and then press Enter to return to the main menu.

    Was the failing disk drive mirrored?

    • Yes: Go to step 22.
    • No: Continue with the next step.

  21. To rebuild data on the replacement disk drive, refer to the information for the controller to which the disk drive is attached:

    • If the disk drive is attached to a PCI-X SCSI RAID controller, see the PCI−X SCSI RAID Controller Reference Guide for AIX®.
    • If the disk drive is attached to a PCI SCSI RAID adapter (feature code 2498), see the PCI 4−Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter Reference Guide.

    For more information, see the AIX System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.

  22. Go to Verifying a repair. This completes this procedure.
Parent topic: Disk drive

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Last updated: Fri, March 20, 2015