Converting a FAS2240-2 to a disk shelf

[MKELLYSCSC]

Hi,

We have a FAS2240-2 with 24 x 900GB SAS drives running ONTAP 8.1.1P4 7-Mode.

We would like to convert it to a DS2246 disk shelf and connect it to a FAS2552 with 24 x 900GB SAS drives running CDOT 8.3.2 (no external disk shelves).

I've been reading the documentation on converting a 2240 to a disk shelf and the process seems overly complex.

Is it not possible to:

1. Boot the 2240 into maintenance mode and zero the disks.
2. Power off the 2240 and replace the controllers with IOM6 modules.
3. Power on the (old) 2240 and change the shelf id.
4. Connect it to the FAS2552 filer?

We did something similar recently when we (non-disruptively) moved 3 x 4243 disk shelves from a FAS3210 running 8.1.1P1 7-Mode to a FAS8020 with 4 existing 4243 disk shelves running CDOT 8.3.1P1.

All we had to do was zero the disks on the 3210 before cabling the shelves to the new system.

Thanks.