Warning:
Use of Phoenix to re-image or reinstall AOS with the Action titled "Install CVM" on a node that is already part of a cluster is not supported by Nutanix and can lead to data loss.
Use of Phoenix to repair the AOS software on a node with the Action titled "RepairCVM" is to be done only with the direct assistance of Nutanix Support.
Use of Phoenix to recover a node after a hypervisor boot disk failure is not necessary in most cases. Please refer to the Hardware Replacement Documentation for your platform model and AOS version to see how this recovery is automated through Prism.
What is Phoenix?
Phoenix is an ISO-based installer that you can use to perform the following installation tasks on bare-metal hardware one node at a time:
- Configuring hypervisor settings, virtual switches, and so on after you install a hypervisor on a replacement host boot disk. This option does not require you to include AOS and hypervisor installers in the Phoenix ISO image.
- Installing the Controller VM, which runs AOS. This option requires you to include the AOS installer in the Phoenix ISO image.
- Installing the hypervisor on a new or replacement node. This is an alternative to installing the hypervisor by the use of the hypervisor manufacturer's ISO and reduces the two-step procedure—that of first installing the hypervisor and then installing AOS (by the use of the Phoenix ISO image) — to a single-step procedure of installing both software, at once, by the use of only the Phoenix ISO image. However, this option requires you to include the hypervisor ISO image and the AOS installer files in the Phoenix ISO image.
- Repairing the CVM.
Phoenix ISO can be created in two ways:
- By using AOS bundle via CVM.
- By using a Foundation VM (if option 1 cannot be performed).
Please refer to KB-3523 How to create a Phoenix ISO or AHV ISO from a CVM or Foundation VM for more detailed instructions, pre-checks and commands to be executed.