How to do a low-level format to an APC Network Management Card 3?

Issue: This document discusses different ways of formatting the NMC3 to defaults for troubleshooting

Product:

• Network Management Card 3 (NMC3) - AP9640, AP9641, AP9643, AP9544
• Devices with an embedded Network Management Card 3 includes (but are not limited to): Metered/Switched Rack PDUs (AP84XX, AP86XX, AP88XX, AP89XX, APDU9), Rack Automatic Transfer Switches (AP44XXA), Smart-UPS Online (SRT).

Environment:

• All serial numbers
• All firmware revisions

Solution:

A low-level format of the NMC3 is necessary if the card's firmware version is earlier than v2.3.1.1 to avoid flash memory corruption that can lead to:

• NMC3 reboots every 10 to 14 minutes; with network access.
• NMC3 is rebooting with no network access.
• NMC3 is stuck at bootmon prompt.

This includes the NMC3s that were already updated but has not been formatted after a firmware update

There are three possible ways to do a low-level format to erase the card's flash memory.

1. Issue the format -f command through Terminal Emulation or SSH. This is done via the usual apc> prompt.
   1. Please note: format -f will reset network settings. To retain network settings, please use format -f -p
2. Bootmon prompt format – Connect to the NMC3 via the Console Port. Restart the NMC3. Within 4-5 seconds of restart, press the <enter> key to interrupt the boot loader. From the BM> prompt, type "format". Once the format is complete, type "reset", and the NMC3 should restart and boot normally.
3. Reset button - Press and hold the reset button located at the front of the NMC3, for more than 20 seconds, or until the Status LED begins to blink orange. Allow the NMC3 to restart.

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