Prepare Components for Hot-Remove Operation

You can remove many components from the chassis while the system is running by using a hot-plug procedure. To determine which modules are hot-pluggable, see About Hot-Pluggable Components.

To remove modules from the chassis while the system is running, you need to:

  1. Prepare the module for hot-removal by using the ILOM web interface or command-line interface (CLI).

  2. Verify in one of the ILOM interfaces that the module's status is Ready-to-Remove and that the module has returned the expected feedback. See the table below.

  3. Physically remove the module from the chassis.

    Note

    Some operating systems, some PCIe ExpressModules (EMs), and some Network Express Modules (NEMS) do not support a hot-plug operation. Check your operating system documentation, the I/O module documentation, and the Sun Blade 8000 Series Product Notes to verify the hot-plug support.

Using the ILOM Web Interface

  1. Log in to the ILOM web interface using the IP address of the active Chassis Monitoring Module.

    The first page of the ILOM web interface appears.

  2. In the left navigation pane, select CMM (Chassis Monitoring Module).

    The ILOM Version Information page appears.

  3. Select the System Information tab, and then the Components tab.

    The Component Management page appears.

  4. Select the radio button next to the appropriate component.

    If you select the wrong component, click the deselect icon at the top of the radio button column. Only components that are hot-pluggable have radio buttons.

  5. From the Actions drop-down list, select Prepare to Remove.

    When you select the Prepare to Remove option, the system shuts down the selected component, changes its Ready to Remove status to Ready, and lights the component's blue Ready-to-Remove LED.

    If you selected Prepare to Remove from the Component Management page and have corrected the problem without removing the component or if you decided not to remove the component, complete Step 5a and Step 5b to return the component to service. Otherwise, go to Step 6.

    1. Select the radio button next to the component that you want to hot-insert.

      If you select the wrong component, click on the deselect icon at the top of the radio button column.

    2. From the Actions drop-down list, select Return to Service.

      When you select the Return to Service option, the system recognizes the component, changes its Ready to Remove status to Not Ready, and lights the component's green OK indicator.

  6. Verify that the selected component has returned the expected feedback.

    See the table below.

  7. Physically remove the component. See the Service and Upgrades section for information about component removal.

Using the ILOM Command-Line Interface

  1. Log in to the ILOM CLI for the Chassis Monitoring Module.

  2. For a list of components in your system, type:

    show /CH

  3. Type this command to prepare a component for hot-plugging:

    set /CH/component prepare_to_remove_action=true

    For example:

    set /CH/NEM1 prepare_to_remove_action=true

    The component status changes to Ready-to-Remove.

    If you corrected the problem without removing the component or if you decided not to remove the component, complete Step 3a to return the component to service. Otherwise, go to Step 4.

    1. Type this command to return the component to service:

      set /CH/component return_to_service_action=true

      For example:

      set /CH/NEM1 return_to_service_action=true

  4. To verify that the component status has changed to Ready-to-Remove, type:

    show /CH/component

    The system returns this message:

    prepare_to_remove_status=Ready

  5. Use the table below to verify that the selected component has returned the expected feedback.

  6. Physically remove the component. See the Service and Upgrades section for information about component removal.

Verifying Component Status

The following table describes what occurs when a component is ready for a hot-plug removal.

Component

Expected Feedback

Server Modules (blades)

  • Graceful shutdown of blade is requested.

  • Blue Ready-to-Remove LED lights Solid On.

  • Green OK LED goes out.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

Network Express Modules (NEM)

  • All active blades are sent a request to stop using the NEM's PCI links.

  • Green OK LED starts to Slow Blink.

  • If all operating systems correctly drop their links, then the blue Ready-to-Remove LED lights and the green OK LED goes out.

  • If any one link to a blade still exists, then the green OK LED goes to Solid On. Identify which blade is still linked, then disconnect that link from the OS side. To identify the connected link, see "Troubleshooting a Network Express Module Hot-Remove Operation" in Replace Network Express Module.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

ExpressModules (EM; Sun Blade 8000 Chassis only)

EM hot-plug removal must be initiated by pressing the Attention button on the EM. EMs cannot be hot-plugged through the ILOM interfaces. To remove an EM using a hot-plug operation, see Replace ExpressModule (Sun Blade 8000 Chassis).

Chassis Monitoring Module (CMM)

  • Blue Ready-to-Remove LED lights Solid On.

  • Green OK LED goes out.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

Power Supplies

  • Blue Ready-to-Remove LED lights Solid On.

  • Green DC-OK LED goes out.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

Front Fan Modules (Sun Blade 8000 Chassis only)

  • Blue Ready-to-Remove LED lights Solid On.

  • Green OK LED goes out.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

Rear Fan Modules

  • Green Normal LED goes out.

  • Ready to Remove status shows Ready in the ILOM interfaces.

Hard Disk Drives (on the blades)

Hard disk drives (HDDs) can be safely removed from a powered-on blade if the drive is not in use. If you remove a drive while it is in use, data might be lost and the operating system may hang or crash. An exception to this rule is whan a pair of HDDs are in a RAID-1 (mirrored) configuration, there is no preparation necessary before removing one of the drives. The RAID-1 mirrored volume is fully resilient to such an action and no data will be lost, independent of the OS type. The command or procedure that is required to prepare a drive for removal varies by the OS. Note that when you have prepared a hard disk drive for hot-plugging, the blue Ready-to-Remove indicator does NOT illuminate.