Replacing Physical Machines (Automated)

This topic describes how to replace a failed physical machine (PM), or node, in a dual-node ztC Edge system with the automated node replacement process. It supplements information in the replacing a node guide for your system.

You replace a node in a dual-node system while the system is running.

Prerequisite: To request a replacement ztC Edge node, log on to your Stratus Customer Service Portal account, expand Customer Support, and click Add Issue. When creating the issue, please have the following information ready:

A customer service representative will contact you to diagnose the issue and provide a replacement node, if necessary.

Prerequisite: The replacement node must be factory fresh, installed with Release 3.0.0.0 or higher, and the same model as the healthy/running node. If you need to use a spare node that is imaged with any release prior to Release 3.0.0.0, you must exchange it for a factory-imaged Release 3.x.x.x node to support pairing with any Release 3.x.x.x primary node. Contact your authorized Stratus service representative for assistance.
Prerequisite: If you need to replace the preferred node that contains an unprotected VM, you must shut down the unprotected VM, export the VM, and delete the VM before replacing the node; otherwise, you will be unable to boot the VM on the replacement node. After replacing the node, you can import the VM and configure it as an unprotected VM again. For more information about unprotected VMs, see Unprotected Operation.

To replace a node in a ztC Edge system

  1. Locate the node to replace. The faulted node is either powered off (automatically) or powered on with the SYS LED off or solid green or yellow (not healthy). If the node is already powered off, skip to step 3.
  2. If the faulted node is still powered on, open the ztC Edge Console to resolve any issues blocking shutdown. For example, a failed network connection on the healthy node can cause a dependency on the faulted node. Resolve any issues and shut down the faulted node.
  3. Disconnect the power cable from the faulted node, disconnect the signal ground wire and network cables, and then remove the node from the system.
  4. Add the replacement node to the system. Reconnect the network cables and signal ground wire, then reconnect power to automatically power on the node. The node replacement is complete. The system begins to synchronize with no user input required.
  5. After 20 minutes, the SYS LED cycles from off to solid green or yellow to show that the software on the replacement node is starting. After another 15 minutes, the SYS LED starts flashing to show that the system is healthy.
  6. Log on to the ztC Edge Console to confirm the system health. The virtual machines may continue to synchronize for hours. After synchronization completes successfully, the Dashboard should display green check marks with no outstanding issues.

  7. If the replacement node does not automatically exit maintenance mode and begin synchronizing VMs, you might need to re-activate the product license for the ztC Edge system. On the Preferences page, click Product License and click Check License Now to automatically activate the license. If the system has no Internet access, activate the license as described in Managing the Product License.

    Note: The new node cannot exit maintenance mode and run VMs until the ztC Edge license is re-activated.
  8. If needed, when you are ready to bring the replacement node online, open the Physical Machines page and click Finalize to exit maintenance mode. Verify that both PMs return to the running state and that the nodes finish synchronizing.

Replacing a Node Guides

ztC Edge 100i/110i Systems: Replacing a Node (R013Z)

ztC Edge 200i/250i Systems: Replacing a Node (R019Z)

Related Topics

Maintenance Mode

Maintaining Physical Machines

ztC Edge Console

Physical Machines and Virtual Machines

Physical Machines Page