DXi4800 Capacity Upgrade

Overview

WARNING: Read these instructions completely before installing any hardware components in the DXi4800. Failure to correctly follow the instructions may cause the capacity upgrade to fail.

This document provides instructions for upgrading the storage capacity of a Quantum DXi4800 disk backup system. There are two methods for upgrading storage capacity:

Adding a Storage Capacity License

Upgrade the usable capacity of the system by adding license keys to enable increased hardware capacity. For example, you can upgrade the usable capacity of a 8 TB system to 11 TB simply by adding a storage capacity license key. See below for the licensed usable capacities that are available for each hardware configuration.

Also see License Keys and Video: Install the Capacity License.

Adding Additional Hardware Capacity

Upgrade the usable capacity of the system by installing additional hardware capacity along with a storage capacity license key. See below for supported configurations.

  • Upgrade the base Node with 6 additional hard drives for a total of 12 hard drives.
  • Add up to four Expansion modules (JBODs) to the system. Each Expansion module contains 12 hard drives (8 TB each).

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • In order to support drive expansion in the node, you MUST upgrade to DXi software version 4.9.1 or later before expanding the Node storage! Version 4.9.1 includes added support for 16 TB Node capacity expansion.

  • Your capacity expansion kit (and/or drive replacements ) provided for 4 TB Node drives and 8 TB drives includes 16 TB drives. These will function with the 4 or 8 TB drives. No update to the existing licensed Node capacity is offered with the 16 TB Node drives.

  • You must upgrade the Node to a total of 12 hard drives before adding Expansion modules to the system.

Prepare for the Capacity Upgrade

Before you begin the DXi4800 storage capacity upgrade, make the following preparations:

Capacity Upgrade Overview

To upgrade the usable capacity of the DXi4800 by enabling hardware capacity that is already installed in the system, simply enter the storage capacity license keys (3 TB, 8 TB, and 18 TB increments). Skip directly to Step 7 - Install the Storage Capacity License.

To upgrade the usable storage capacity of the DXi4800 by installing additional hardware, you need to install one or more components. The components you need to install depend on the initial usable capacity and the total usable capacity after the upgrade:

Note: A second 480 GB SSD must be installed to run DXi4800 systems using 3 or 4 JBODs. See 2 - Install Second 480 GB SSD for 3rd JBOD. Systems purchased with a 3rd or 3rd and 4th JBOD arrive with the second SSD preinstalled.

Step 1 - Unpack the Upgrade Components

Depending on the hardware capacity upgrade you are performing, the necessary components ship in one or more boxes. Each box includes a label that notes the number of the box and the total number of boxes in the shipment (for example, box 1 of 3). MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL BOXES IN THE SHIPMENT BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE UPGRADE.

Note: Make sure to retain all packing materials, as well as the documentation and other items included in the shipping box. The packaging materials must be used if the system is relocated.

Step 2 - Shut Down the System

Important - Generate and Download System Logs

Generate and download the latest version of the following system logs before shutting down the system. this will provide a record of the system prior to any hardware configuration changes.

To shut down the system:

Caution: Before shutting down the DXi4800, make sure that all backup and replication jobs are finished, and that space reclamation activity is complete.

  1. In the remote management console, navigate to the Utilities > Reboot & Shutdown page.

    For information about accessing the remote management console, see the DXi4800 User’s Guide.

  2. Select Shutdown and click Apply.

  3. Close the browser window.

  4. After the Node shuts down, turn off both power switches on the back of all installed Expansion modules (JBODs).

    Gen1 Power Switches

    Gen2 Power Switches

Step 3 - Install Components in the Node

Depending on the upgrade, you may need to install additional components in the DXi4800 Node. To install the additional Node components, see the following sections:

Step 4 - Install Expansion Modules

Depending on the upgrade, you may need to install 1 - 4 Expansion modules (JBODs) in the rack.

Step 5 - Cable the System

Step 6 - Turn On the System

Turn on the DXi4800 system components in the following order:

  1. Turn on both power switches on the back of each Expansion module. Wait 30 seconds for the Expansion modules to initialize. Verify on the front panel that the modules have power and there were no hard drive failures (Drive status indicator on hard drive blinks amber four times per second).
  2. Press the power button on the front of the Node. Wait for the system to boot before continuing with the procedure. (This can take up to 30 minutes.)

    Note: The system may reboot one or more times depending on the components that were installed. If all components are properly installed and cabled, the LEDs on all hard drives in the Node and the Expansion modules will be lit. (The top LED will be solid and the bottom LED will blink.)

  3. Open a supported web browser and enter the Management IP of the DXi into the browser address field. You may need to wait a few minutes before you see the login screen. Log in with the proper credentials. After approximately 30 minutes, the DXi may report “Diagnostic Mode” in the GUI. View the GUI Home page and click on Admin in the banner. Click on any Admin Alerts and look for text such as, "Failed to set the profile on the expansion RAID controller: a1. Please wait until all background operations on the expansion RAID controller: a1, have completed. Then reboot the system to set the controller profile."
  4. If the text is seen, delete all Admin Alerts and reboot the DXi. Navigate to Utilities > Reboot & Shutdown, and then click on Recover from Diagnostic State. Click Apply and continue until the GUI reports that the DXi is rebooting.
  5. If the Admin Alert text is not seen, shutdown the DXi. Navigate in GUI to Utilities > Reboot & Shutdown, and then click Shutdown and Apply and wait for power on the node to turn off.

Step 7 - Install the Storage Capacity License

Before the newly installed hardware capacity can be used to store data, you must add a license key to enable the new usable capacity of the system. The 3 TB, 8 TB, and 18 TB licenses each need to be installed separately.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter problems while installing or configuring the DXi4800, see the table below for troubleshooting steps.

DXi4800 Installation Troubleshooting

Problem Corrective Action
The system does not power on. Make sure all power cords are connected to a grounded electrical outlet and the power switches located on the back of the power supplies are on.
The following message displays when you log on to the remote management console: There are service tickets that require attention. Click OK to display the Service Tickets page, or navigate to the Alerts > Service Tickets page. Click a ticket number to view details about the service ticket. Perform any suggested steps listed in the ticket details.
The Home page does not display the expected total Disk Capacity. Make sure the storage capacity license is installed.
The storage capacity license is correctly installed, but the Home page still does not display the expected total Disk Capacity.
  1. Navigate to the Alerts > Service Tickets page. Click a ticket number to view details about the service ticket. Perform any suggested steps listed in the ticket details.
  2. Shut down the system.
  3. Make sure all hard drives are inserted completely and all hard drive latches are closed.
  4. Make sure all memory modules are fully inserted in the memory slots.
  5. If present, make sure the RAID controller is securely seated in the PCIe slot.
  6. Make sure all SAS and power cables are securely connected to the correct ports.
  7. Turn on the system. Wait at least 30 minutes before logging on.