Removing arrays from a storage configuration or a rank assignment

Complete this task to remove an array or a range of arrays from a storage configuration using the DS CLI.

When the array or arrays are deleted as part of deleting a storage configuration and you are using DS CLI to delete the configuration, the following sequential deletions must have already occurred:

Host access to the volumes of the configuration must have been removed. (Does not apply to a CKD configuration.)
The associated volume groups must have been removed. (Does not apply to a CKD configuration.)
The fixed block or CKD volumes that are part of the configuration must have been removed.
The LCUs (if you are removing a CKD configuration) must have been removed.
The ranks must have been removed.

There might be times when you want to remove arrays from a storage configuration or from a rank assignment. You can avoid errors when you use the DS CLI by ensuring that the arrays are ready for removal. The arrays must have a status of "unassigned" before they can be removed or be reassigned to another rank.

When you remove a rank using the DS CLI, there is an extended period of processing because the array is unassigned from the rank and the drives are formatted. During this processing, the array is still shown with a status of assigned, even though you have received a confirmation message that the rank has been removed. The status for the array does not change to "unassigned" until after the array has been formatted.

Perform the following steps to remove arrays from a storage configuration or a rank:

Issue the lsarray command to obtain a list of array IDs to be removed. Enter the lsarray command at the dscli command prompt with the following parameters and variables:
```
dscli>lsarray -dev storage_image_ID -state unassigned
```
Notes:
1. You might have to issue the lsarray command several times before you observe that the arrays are in a state that allows them to be removed or reassigned.
2. Specify the -state unassigned parameter to narrow your list to just the array IDs that are not assigned to a rank ID.
3. If you issue the lsarray command without using the -state unassigned parameter, you might see a list of arrays that have a state of unavailable. This is generally a good indication that the ranks have not been removed and that the arrays are still formatting. You must wait until the ranks have been removed and the arrays have been formatted before you can proceed.
4. Proceed to the next step (remove arrays) only after all the arrays that you want to remove or reassign are displayed with a state of unassigned.
Issue the rmarray command to delete the unassigned arrays so that the array sites can be redefined as new arrays. Enter the rmarray command at the dscli command prompt with the following parameters and variables:
```
dscli>rmarray -dev storage_image_ID array_ID
```
Notes:
1. You can remove one or many arrays as long as you designate the range of arrays using a hyphen and separate each range of arrays or a single array with a space before the next array designation. For example, A44-A48 A51 designates a range of arrays and a single array.
2. If you are removing several arrays, you might want to designate the -quiet parameter in your command. This parameter turns off the deletion confirmation message that is generated after each array is deleted.