Removing the midplane

(Trained service technician only) Use these instructions to remove the midplane from the Flex System Enterprise Chassis.

Before you remove the midplane, complete the following steps:
  1. Read Safety and Installation guidelines
  2. Record the machine type model (8721-HC1 for example), the chassis serial number, and retrieve the existing universally unique identifier (UUID) information from midplane that you are removing. You will need this information to program the new rear LED card that comes with the replacement midplane. The procedure for obtaining this data might require different steps depending on the functional state of the chassis.
    1. Chassis is operating:
      1. Log onto the CMM and access the command-line interface (CLI). You can access the CMM CLI through a direct serial or Ethernet connection to the CMM, through a Telnet connection to the IP address of the CMM, or through a Secure Shell (SSH) connection to the CMM. You must authenticate with the CMM before issuing commands.
      2. Query for the machine type model, chassis serial number, and the UUID values by using the CLI info command. Record this information before you proceed.
    2. Chassis is not operating:
      1. Obtain the chassis serial number and the machine type model from one of the chassis labels. Use this information to contact Support and request the UUID.
      2. Record the chassis serial number, the machine type model, and the UUID before you proceed.
  3. Shut down the operating systems and turn off any compute nodes in the chassis. See the documentation that comes with the compute node for detailed instructions.
  4. Open the release handles on the compute nodes and the management node, if one is installed, to disengage the nodes from the midplane connectors.
  5. Disconnect the chassis from power (see Disconnecting the chassis from power).
  6. Disconnect all cables from the modules in the rear of the chassis.
  7. Remove the components from the rear of the chassis.
  8. Remove the shuttle from the chassis (see Removing the shuttle).
  9. Remove the rear LED card from the midplane (see Removing the rear LED card).

To remove the midplane, complete the following steps.


Graphic illustrating the removal of the midplane from a chassis
.

  1. Disengage the compute nodes and Flex System Manager management node in the front of the chassis.
  2. Remove the guide post with a 3/16 inch (5 mm) deep socket hex driver.
  3. Remove the six screws that secure the midplane to the chassis.
  4. Carefully grasp the midplane and slide it away from the chassis and off of the guide pins (keep it straight while you slide it off the guide pins).
    Note: Make sure that you do not grasp the connectors on the midplane. You could damage the connectors.
Parent topic: Removing and replacing FRUs