Battery Canister Nearing Expiration

What Caused the Problem?
The batteries in the battery canister are nearing their expiration date. The Recovery Guru Details area provides specific information you will need as you follow the recovery steps.

Caution
Do not perform these recovery steps if you have just turned on the Storage Subsystem or replaced a controller. During these two situations, the battery's self-test diagnostics take approximately 12 to 15 minutes to complete (depending on the controller type and whether the batteries were discharged). Until the diagnostic test is completed, you may see a Recovery Guru failure for batteries that are operational and fully charged.

Caution
Electrostatic charges can damage sensitive components. Use a grounding wrist strap or other anti-static precautions before removing or handling components.

Important Notes

Recovery Steps
1 Caution
If you remove a battery while it is in a Battery Near Expiration state and write caching is enabled on a logical drive, you risk the chance of losing cached data if power to the Storage Subsystem fails. If power fails before the Storage Subsystem can detect the removed battery and write all cached data to the disks, you will lose cached data. Typically, it takes approximately 2 minutes to write all cached data (with a maximum of 10 minutes).

You have the following options:

  • Replace the battery now and assume the risk of losing cached data as outlined in the caution.
  • Wait until the battery fails before you replace the battery canister.
  • Ensure that write cached data is preserved before replacing the battery by disabling Write Caching for all logical drives in the Storage Subsystem.

If... Then...
You wish to ensure that no write cache will be lost in the event of a power failure For each logical drive in the Storage Subsystem perform the following:

a
Highlight the logical drive.
b
Select Logical Drive>>Properties.
c
Select the Cache tab.
d Record the current status of the Enable Write Caching checkbox.
e Un-check the Enable Write Caching checkbox if it is selected.
f
Go to Step 2.

You wish to assume the risk of losing cache data Go to Step 2.

2 Caution
On some models, the battery canister can weigh up to 24 pounds (10.8 kilograms). Use both hands to remove and replace the canister.

Remove the battery canister.

3 Insert the new canister securely into place.
4 Record the installation date (today's date) and the new replacement date (according to the battery's warranty) on the battery canister label.
5 Select the Components button on the controller enclosure in the Physical View of the Subsystem Management Window; then, select Reset to set the battery age to zero.
6
If... Then...
You disabled Write Caching in Step 1 Use the information you recorded in Step1 to Enable Write Caching on all logical drives that had it previously enabled using the following steps:

a
Highlight the logical drive.
b
Select Logical Drive>>Properties.
c
Select the Cache tab.
d Select the Enable Write Caching checkbox.

Go to Step 7.

You did not disable Write Caching in Step 1 Go to Step 7.
7 Wait approximately 12 to 15 minutes for the battery to recharge; then, select Recheck to rerun the Recovery Guru to ensure that the failure has been fixed.