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Systems & Data Center · Foundational

Hot-Swappable

A component that can be removed and replaced while the system is running without powering it down.

Definition

Common hot-swap server components include drives, power supplies and fans. Hot-plug often implies OS support for the change, such as PCIe NVMe hot-plug.

Example

A failed SAS drive in a RAID 6 array is replaced without shutting down the server.

Exam tip

Confirm the component is hot-swappable before removal; CPUs and most DIMMs are not.

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