Convert ONTAP HDDs to E-Series?

[ufa]

Hi,

we have recently purchased a few HDDs for E-Series from the company we have purchased the storage systems from a few years ago (Support contract ran out earlier this year, we just need to keep the systems alive for a few more weeks as the sucessor systems are delayed and only to go live in the near future). Erroneously, ONTAP-adapted devices were delivered (X377A with a FW NA01) instead of E-Series-compatible ones. Now, as the market is wiped clean we would not really want to sent these devices back if there is a chance to convert them.

Our controllers state at least the  type (X377_HLBRE10TA07 ), size (9124GB)and FW (NA01). Is it possible to convert these disks and , if so , by what steps (just apply an NExx FW? or something more?) The disk cases show that these devices are HGST drives originally (HUH721010AL5204) which agrees with the devices we run already in those E-Series boxes. 

Sincerely

Uwe Falke

[maffo]

hi Uwe,

unfortunately there's no possibility of converting drives to be used on a different platform, you will need specific drives for E-Series.

[ufa]

Hi, thanks for the information.

The drives originally come from HGST, they are not born  E-series or FAS
drives, and only then undergo some modification to become E-Series or
ONTAP drives, resp.

This is for sure not irreversible. However, I understand the LSI
controllers in the E-Series and their FW are not capable of achieving
that (Low-Level formatting?). Is there a way Netapp can convert those
devices out of order?

Uwe

--
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC)
Scientific Data Management (SDM)

Uwe Falke

Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Building 442, Room 187
D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen

Tel: +49 721 608 28024
Email: uwe.falke@kit.edu
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[maffo · Accepted solution]

Hi Uwe,

The modification you're talking about (configuring a drive for use in FAS or E-Series) is done at manufacturing level and cannot be changed/reverted in the field.