Field replaceable units

NetScaler field replaceable units (FRUs) are components that can be removed from the appliance and replaced by the user or a technician at the user’s site. The FRUs in a NetScaler SDX appliance can include DC or AC power supplies, solid-state drives (SSDs), and a direct-attach cable (DAC).

All NetScaler FRUs must be purchased from Citrix. Components not provided by NetScaler are not supported on NetScaler appliances. Contact your NetScaler sales representative to buy FRUs for your appliance.

Note

The figures in this section are illustrative. The actual product might vary depending on the model number.

This topic includes the following sections:

• Power Supply
• Solid-State Drive
• Direct Attach Cable

Power supply

For appliances containing two power supplies, the second power supply acts as a backup. Some appliances can accommodate four power supplies, and require two power supplies for proper operation. The third and fourth power supplies act as backup. All power supplies must be of the same type (AC or DC).

The SDX appliance ships with a country-specific power cord and a plug.

For power-supply specifications, see the SDX hardware platforms topic, which describes the various platforms.

Note

If you suspect that a power-supply fan is not working, check the system health through the SDX GUI or lights out management. For more information, see System Health Monitoring and Lights out management port of the NetScaler SDX appliance.

On each power supply, a bicolor LED indicator shows the condition of the power supply. Green means that the appliance receives power. Red means that the power supply has detected an error. For more information about the LED power supply indicator, see “LCD Display and LED Status Indicators” in Common hardware components.

Electrical Safety Precautions for Power Supply Replacement

• Ensure that the appliance has a direct physical connection to earth ground during normal use. When installing or repairing an appliance, always connect the ground circuit first and disconnect it last.
• NetScaler SDX appliances do not contain user serviceable components, except as noted in the (FRU) section. Do not attempt to open the chassis.
• Always unplug the power cord from the power source before removing the power supply.
• Never touch a power supply when the power cord is plugged in. As long as the power cord is plugged in, line voltages are present in the power supply even if the power switch is turned off.

For the complete list of safety precautions, see Safety, cautions, warnings, and other information.

Replace an AC or a DC power supply

If the appliance has only one power supply, you have to shut down the appliance before replacing the power supply. If the appliance has two power supplies, you can replace one power supply without shutting down the appliance, provided the other power supply is working.

To install or replace an AC or a DC power supply on a NetScaler SDX appliance

1. Align the semicircular handle perpendicular to the power supply. Loosen the thumbscrew and press the lever toward the handle and pull out the existing power supply, as shown in the following figure.

   Figure 1. Remove an Existing AC Power Supply

   

   Figure 2. Remove an Existing DC Power Supply

   

2. Carefully remove the new power supply from its box.

3. On the back of the appliance, align the power supply with the power supply slot.

4. Insert the power supply into the slot and press against the semicircular handle until you hear the power supply snap into place.

   Figure 3. Insert the Replacement AC Power Supply

   

   Figure 4. Insert the Replacement DC Power Supply

   

5. Connect the power supply to a power source. If connecting all power supplies, plug separate power cords into the power supplies and connect them to separate wall sockets.

Note

The NetScaler SDX appliance emits a high-pitched alert if the following conditions are met:

• One power supply fails.
• If you connect only one power cable to the appliance in which two power supplies are installed.

To silence the alarm, press the button labeled Alarm Disable on the back panel of the appliance. The Disable alarm button is functional only when the appliance has two power supplies.

Solid-State drives

In a NetScaler SDX appliance, the solid-state drives (SSD) store system bootup files and VDI of Management Service instances. Some support RAID and some do not.

SSDs with RAID support are hot swappable.

To replace a RAID-supported SSD**

1. From the NetScaler SDX GUI, navigate to Configuration > System > RAID > Physical Drives. Under Raid State you can identify the failed SSD.

2. Select the check box and click Locate to identify the failed SSD at the back panel. Click Stop Locate after you’ve identified the drive.

3. Next, click Prepare to Remove.

4. Click Physical Drives. The state of the drive must now appear as Not Present.

5. Locate the SSD on the back panel of the appliance. Push the safety latch of the drive cover down while pulling out on the drive handle to disengage. Pull out the faulty drive.

   Figure 5. Remove an Existing SSD

   

6. Verify that the replacement SSD is the correct size by comparing the replacement drive size with the removed drive. For example, if the removed drive is 480 GB, the replacement drive must also be 480 GB.

7. Open the drive handle fully up, and insert the new Citrix-certified SSD into the slot as far as possible. To seat the drive, close the handle flush with the rear of the appliance so that the drive locks securely into the slot.

   When inserting the drive, orient the drive handle the same way as the installed drives.

   Figure 6. Insert a Replacement SSD

   

8. In the NetScaler GUI, click the refresh icon for the list of physical drives. The state of the drive must appear as Present. After you replace one of the SSDs, the configuration on the other SSD in the mirrored SSD is copied to the replacement SSD.

To replace an SSD without RAID support

1. From the NetScaler SDX GUI, navigate to Configuration > System, and in the System pane, click Shutdown Appliance.

2. Locate the SSD on the back panel of the appliance.

3. Press the latch release button, and the handle rotates out. Pull the handle to remove the drive.

   Figure 7. Remove an Existing SSD without RAID

   

4. Verify that the replacement SSD is the correct size by comparing the replacement drive size with the removed drive. For example, if the removed drive is 480 GB, the replacement drive must be 480 GB.

5. Pick up the new SSD, open the drive handle fully to the left or up, and insert the drive into the slot as far as possible. To seat the drive, close the handle flush with the rear of the appliance so that the drive locks securely into the slot.

   When inserting the drive, orient the drive handle the same way as the installed drives.

   Figure 8. Insert a Replacement SSD without RAID

   

6. Turn on the appliance by manually pressing the power switch or by logging on to lights out management.

7. Log on to the default IP address by using a web browser, or connect to the serial console by using a console cable. Next, perform the initial configuration.

8. Upload a platform license and any optional feature licenses, including universal licenses, to the NetScaler appliance.

9. After the correct NetScaler software version is loaded, you can restore the working configuration.

Direct attach cable

A direct attach cable (DAC) assembly is a high performance integrated duplex data link for bi-directional communication. The cable is compliant with the IPF MSA (SFF-8432) for mechanical form factor and SFP+ MSA for DACs. The cable, which can be up to 5 meters long, is data-rate agnostic. Supporting speeds more than 10 Gbps, it is a cost-effective alternative to optical links (SFP+ transceivers and fiber optic cables.) The transceiver with DAC is hot-swappable. You can insert and remove the transceiver with the attached cable without shutting down the appliance. The NetScaler appliance supports only the passive DAC.

Points to note:

• DAC is supported only on 10G ports. Do not insert a DAC into a 1G port.
• Do not attempt to unplug the integrated copper cable from the transceiver and insert a fiber cable into the transceiver.

Note

Autonegotiation is not supported on an interface to which a DAC is connected.

To replace a DAC

1. To remove the DAC, pull the tab on the top of the DAC, and then pull the DAC out of the port.

   Figure 9. Remove a DAC from the 10G port

   

2. To insert the DAC, slide it into the 10G port on the appliance. You hear a click when the DAC properly fits into the port.

   Figure 10. Insert a DAC into the 10G port