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Replacing the System Memory

Topic
VxRail Hardware Replacement Procedures

Selections
Select the VxRail Appliance Model: VxRail E560/E560F
Select the Hardware Component to replace: System Memory
Select the software version running on the Appliance: v7.0.000

Generated: January 3, 2024 6:27 AM GMT

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Publication Date: January, 2024

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 Contents
Preliminary Activity Tasks .......................................................................................................3
Read, understand, and perform these tasks.................................................................................................3

VxRail v4.7.3x/v7.0.x/v8.0.x Component Replacement Procedure.........................................4

Handling field and customer-replaceable units (FRUs and CRUs)...............................................................4
Emergency procedures (without an ESD kit) ................................................................................................4
Prerequisites for replacing a component ......................................................................................................5
Task 1: Back up ESE key before replacing the system board. .....................................................5
Task 2: Power off node before performing component replacement ............................................6
Replacing the System Memory ...................................................................................................................12
Task 3: Removing System Cover................................................................................................12
Task 4: Replacing System Memory ............................................................................................13
Task 5: Installing System Cover..................................................................................................14
Task 6: Checking System Memory setting..................................................................................15
Post Replacement Procedure .....................................................................................................................15
Task 7: Post Replacement ..........................................................................................................15

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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Preliminary Activity Tasks
This section may contain tasks that you must complete before performing this procedure.

Read, understand, and perform these tasks

1. Table 1 lists tasks, cautions, warnings, notes, and/or knowledgebase (KB) solutions that you need to
be aware of before performing this activity. Read, understand, and when necessary perform any
tasks contained in this table and any tasks contained in any associated knowledgebase solution.

Table 1 List of cautions, warnings, notes, and/or KB solutions related to this activity

• VxRail 7.0.320 and later releases contain resolutions for two of the VMware vSAN issues detailed in
VMware Proactive Customer Advisory issued in June 2022: KB 88870
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/88870. One issue is not yet resolved by VMware and requires the
workaround described in KB 88870. The Dell VxRail: VxRail Response to VMware Proactive
Customer Advisory for June 2022 contains more information https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/EN-
US/000201082.

2. This is a link to the top trending service topics. These topics may or not be related to this activity.
This is merely a proactive attempt to make you aware of any KB articles that may be associated with
this product.

Note: There may not be any top trending service topics for this product at any given time.

VxRail Appliance Top Service Topics

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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VxRail v4.7.3x/v7.0.x/v8.0.x Component Replacement Procedure
Note: Ensure that the component you are swapping does not require a reimage of the system.

This procedure describes the steps for powering off the VxRail Dell node and replacing hardware
components, including:
• Prerequisites
• Before HW Service
• Post HW Service

Handling field and customer-replaceable units (FRUs and CRUs)

This section describes the precautions that you must take and the general procedures that you must
follow when removing and storing any field-replaceable unit (FRU) or customer-replaceable unit (CRU).
You should not remove a faulty FRU until you have a replacement available.
When you replace FRUs/CRUs, you can inadvertently damage the sensitive electronic circuits in the
equipment by simply touching them. Electrostatic charge (ESD) that has accumulated on your body
discharges through the circuits. If the air in the work area is very dry, running a humidifier in the work area
helps decrease the risk of ESD damage. Follow the procedures below to prevent damage to the
equipment.
• Provide enough room to work on the equipment. Clear the work site of any unnecessary materials or
materials that naturally build up electrostatic charge, such as foam packaging, foam cups, cellophane
wrappers, and similar items.
• Do not remove replacement FRUs/CRUs from their anti-static packaging until you are ready to install
them.
• Before you service a chassis, gather the ESD kit, and all other materials you will need. Once
servicing begins, avoid moving away from the work site; otherwise, you may build up an electrostatic
charge.
• Use the ESD kit when handling any FRU/CRU. Use an ESD wristband. To use the ESD wristband
(strap), attach the clip of the wristband to any bare (unpainted) metal on the chassis; and then put the
wristband around your wrist with the metal button against your skin. If an emergency arises and the
ESD kit is not available, follow the procedures in Emergency procedure (without an ESD kit).

Emergency procedures (without an ESD kit)

In an emergency when an ESD kit is not available, use the following procedures to reduce the possibility
of an electrostatic discharge by ensuring that your body and the subassembly are at the same
electrostatic potential.

Note: These procedures are not a substitute for the use of an ESD kit. Follow them only in the event of
an emergency.

• Before touching any unit, touch a bare (unpainted) metal surface of the cabinet/rack or enclosure.
• Before removing any unit from its anti-static bag, place one hand firmly on a bare metal surface of the
cabinet/rack or enclosure, and simultaneously pick up the unit while it is still sealed in the anti-static
bag. Once you have done this, do not move around the room or touch other furnishings, personnel, or
surfaces until you have installed the unit.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 • When you remove a unit from the anti-static bag, avoid touching any electronic components and
circuits on it.
• If you must move around the room or touch other surfaces before installing a unit, first place the unit
back in the anti-static bag. When you are ready again to install the unit, repeat these procedures.

Prerequisites for replacing a component

This procedure describes the prerequisite tasks and information that is required when replacing hardware
components.

CAUTION: If replacing the system board, CMOS Battery, other hardware components with a TPM
present, verify that the recovery encryption key is available before starting this procedure. The customer
should have this digital key stored externally.

Note: If replacing more than one component, create replacement procedures for each component and
read through them thoroughly to ensure that components are replaced in the correct order.
Note: Check Internal SD card redundancy value and ensure that the mirroring option is enabled before
replacing the single SD card.

1. [ ] This procedure requires vMotion for all guest VMs on the failed node if not already moved
because of the node failure. If there is not ample capacity on the appliance to vMotion the guest VMs,
a service window will be needed to power off the guest VMs.
2. [ ] You will need the following materials to complete this procedure:
• CAT5e network cable with RJ45 connectors
• Monitor and Keyboard or KVM to connect to the replacement node for BIOS access and
configuration purposes
3. [ ] Work with your customer to gain access to a management console that has network access to
the VxRail appliance.

Task 1: Back up ESE key before replacing the system board.

Note: Skip this task if the VxRail node is 13G.

Note: If performing the script shows error (do not have ese key, skip it !) will be no key inside.

1. [ ] Copy the backup_restore_eseKey_via_linzhi.py.zip to the target VxRail node.

a. Log in to dell.com/support and select product VxRail Appliance Series.

b. Select the Drivers & Downloads tab.
c. In the Keyword field, enter “eseKey.” Select backup_restore_esekey_via_linzhi.py.
2. [ ] Extract backup_restore_eseKey_via_linzhi.py.zip in the node.
3. [ ] Get encrypted ESE key information.
Run: python backup_restore_eseKey_via_linzhi.py --backup -u [username] -p
[password] -o [outputFile]

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 You can get the encrypted ESE key information from the [outputFile] or the stdout.
Parameter description:
• [username]: node esxi username
• [password]: node esxi password
• [outputFile]: file that will hold the encrypted ESE key information.
4. [ ] Save the encrypted ESE key information to your own server.

Task 2: Power off node before performing component replacement

CAUTION: All maintenance activity on the procedure should be done within 60 minutes to avoid
unnecessary vSAN automatic resync. If more time is required, see KB 000010564 for instructions to
extend the default timeout value.

1. [ ] Powering off the node: Clusters running with an Enterprise license will automatically have VMs
migrated off the affected node. Clusters running with a Standard license will need to have VMs
manually migrated off the node before powering it off.

a. If the system is running with an Enterprise of higher license, skip to Step c.

b. If the customer is running on Standard License, it is the responsibility of the customer to manually
migrate the VMs to another host. Work with the customer to ensure the VMs are migrated off the
affected host before powering off the node.

Note: After completing the procedure, the VMs will need to be manually migrated back.

i. Using vSphere HTML5 Client, click on a vCenter, and then Hosts and Clusters. Expand the
vCenter Server, the VxRail Datacenter, and the VxRail vSAN Cluster.

Figure 1 Expand to VxRail vSAN cluster.

ii. Locate the ESXi host running on the faulted node.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 iii. To verify if there are virtual machines running on the ESXi host, click the faulted host in the left
pane as shown in the following figure.
iv. In the right pane of vSphere Web Client, click the VMs tab and then the Virtual Machines tab.

Figure 2 Faulted host.

v. Right-click the VM that is running.

vi. Click the Migrate… option.

Figure 3 Migrate option.

vii. Choose both compute resource and storage and click NEXT.

Figure 4 Change both compute resource and storage.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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viii. Choose a target host and click NEXT.

Figure 5 Select a compute resource.

ix. Choose the destination storage and click NEXT.

Figure 6 Destination storage

x. Choose a destination network and click NEXT.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 Figure 7 Select networks.

xi. Choose a vMotion priority and click NEXT.

Figure 8 Select vMotion priority.

xii. Click FINISH. Ensure all VMs have been migrated before moving to Step c.

Figure 9 Ready to complete.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 c. Shut down faulted node from within vSphere vCenter.
i. Go to Home > Hosts and Clusters > VxRail-Cluster.
ii. Select Monitor > VxRail > Appliances tab.
iii. Select the faulted node from the physical view, click ACTIONS.

Note: Screenshots may differ based on your VxRail model type.

Figure 10 Monitor > VxRail > Appliances

iv. Click Shutdown Host to power off the node (confirm per the menu).

Figure 11 Shutdown host.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 v. Choose VM Migration and click NEXT.

Figure 12 VM Migration.

vi. Confirm that the validation was successful and click NEXT.

Figure 13 Validate.

vii. Confirm shutdown and click NEXT.

Figure 14 Confirm shutdown.

viii. Monitor the shutdown process.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 Figure 15 Shutdown process.

ix. Once host shutdown has completed, click FINISH.

Figure 16 Successful host shutdown.

2. [ ] If the cluster’s health monitoring was set to enable before powering off, perform the following
step to enable it again.

a. Select Configure > VxRail > Health Monitoring If the Cluster Health Monitoring is disabled, select
the slide button to Enable.

Replacing the System Memory

Task 3: Removing System Cover
3. [ ] Turn the latch release lock to the unlock position.
4. [ ] Lift the cover release latch and remove the system cover.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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 Figure 17 Remove system cover

1. latch release lock

2. system cover
3. latch

Task 4: Replacing System Memory

5. [ ] Locate the appropriate memory module socket.

Note: CAUTION: Handle each memory module only by the card edges, making sure not to touch the
middle of the memory module or metallic contacts.
Note: Additional components may need to be removed prior to removing the memory modules. Please
reference the PowerEdge manuals to verify.

6. [ ] To release the memory module from the socket, simultaneously press the ejectors on both ends
of the memory module socket.

Figure 18 Removing and installing a memory module

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 1. memory module
2. memory module socket
3. memory module socket ejector (2)

7. [ ] Align the edge connector of the new memory module with the alignment key of the memory
module socket, and insert the memory module in the socket.

Note: Do not apply pressure at the center of the memory module; apply pressure at both ends of the
memory module evenly.

8. [ ] Press the memory module with your thumbs until the socket levers firmly click into place.

Figure 19 Installing the memory module

1. memory module
2. memory module socket
3. memory module socket ejector (2)

When the memory module is properly seated in the socket, the levers on the memory module socket align
with the levers on the other sockets that have memory modules installed.

Task 5: Installing System Cover

9. [ ] Align the slots on the system cover with the tabs on the chassis.
10. [ ] Press the cover release latch, and push the cover toward the front of the chassis until the latch
locks into place.
11. [ ] Turn the latch release lock clockwise to the locked position.
12. [ ] Install the optional bezel.
13. [ ] Reconnect all of the cables and power up the node.

Dell Technologies Confidential Information version: 5.3.3.2

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Task 6: Checking System Memory setting
14. [ ] Press F2 to enter System Setup, and check the System Memory setting. The system should
have already changed the value to reflect the installed memory.
15. [ ] If the value is incorrect, one or more of the memory modules may not be installed properly.
Repeat Task 4: step 1 through step 4 of this procedure and check to ensure that the memory
modules are firmly seated in their sockets.
16. [ ] Reconnect all of the cables and power up the node.

Post Replacement Procedure

Task 7: Post Replacement
1. [ ] Log in to vCenter Server using HTLM5 Client with administrative privileges.
2. [ ] Go to Home > Hosts and Clusters > VxRail Cluster.
3. [ ] Right-click on the individual node that was previously powered down.
4. [ ] If node is in Maintenance mode, select Maintenance Mode and then select Exit Maintenance
Mode.

Figure 20 Exiting Maintenance Mode

5. [ ] Select Configure > VxRail > Health Monitoring. Ensure that the Cluster Health Monitoring is
enabled.

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