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respective owners. Reference Number: 3231-WP-SC
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I perform a data-in-place upgrade on my own?
A: The upgrade process requires assistance from IDS or a certified channel partner. You may assist with many of the
pre-upgrade and post-upgrade steps.
Q: Which models of disks and disk enclosures are supported?
A: Any disk or disk enclosure that is compatible with the SC4020 array is supported with the data-in-place upgrade.
Q: How much downtime is required for the maintenance window?
A: A data-in-place upgrade requires a minimum of two hours downtime for the SC4020 array. IDS or your channel
partner will help determine how much downtime to expect. Preparation steps will help minimize downtime.
Q: If something goes wrong, what is the recovery process?
A: The evaluation process will ensure that errors or warnings that would interfere with a data-in-place upgrade are
identified and resolved beforehand. If the upgrade fails, the standard recovery process moves the disks and enclosures
back to the SC4020 array with the data and configuration intact. Recovery in place on the target system may be
possible if simple hardware issues are encountered during the upgrade.
Q: What if a service-level agreement will not permit downtime for a critical workload on the SC4020 array?
A: If there are other SC Series arrays in the environment with sufficient capacity, use SC Series volume replication or
Live Migrate to move critical workloads to other SC Series arrays before the maintenance window.
Q: Does the SC4020 array stay in service after a data-in-place upgrade?
A: The SC4020 array is retired from service after the upgrade.
Q: Can I use an existing SC5020 or SC7020 array in my environment as a target for a data-in-place upgrade?
A: A data-in-place upgrade requires purchasing a new, appropriately configured SC5020 or SC7020 array (without
disks). Existing SC Series arrays in the environment are not eligible targets for a data-in-place upgrade.
Q: Is the SC5020F or SC7020F (SC All-Flash array) supported as a target?
A: An SC4020 array with 100% flash configuration is eligible for a data-in-place upgrade, but the target must be an
SC5020 or SC7020 array.
How to get started with a data-in-place upgrade
Contact your Dell EMC sales representative to begin your upgrade. The representative will verify the age and
configuration of your SC4020 array and provide a quote for an appropriately configured SC5020 or SC7020 array, along
with support services. The representative will schedule the upgrade at a time that is best for you.
*May require software true-up costs reflecting the price difference for software features between platforms.
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