A systems administrator receives an alert from the server's management system about a critical fan failure. At the rack, the administrator observes a solid amber LED on one of the fan modules, while the others show green. The server is equipped with redundant, hot-swappable fans and must remain online. What is the appropriate next step for the administrator to take?
Update the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) firmware, as a single fan alert is likely a false positive.
Use the server's management interface to issue a 'prepare for removal' command on the fan slot before swapping the hardware.
Without powering down the server, remove the access panel, replace the fan module with the amber LED, and verify the new module's indicator is green.
Schedule a maintenance window to power down the server before opening the chassis and replacing the fan module.
The correct procedure is to replace the failed fan module while the server remains powered on. Hot-swappable components are designed to be replaced without system downtime. A solid amber LED is a standard indicator for a faulty component that requires service. The administrator should identify the failed fan, remove it, insert the replacement, and verify that the status light turns green, indicating normal operation. Powering down the server is unnecessary and would violate the requirement to keep the system online. Issuing a software command is typically not required for fans, unlike some storage or power components. Updating firmware is a troubleshooting step for intermittent or unclear issues, not for a clear hardware failure indicated by a solid fault light.