---
title: "Activating and Deactivating Hardware"
slug: "activating-and-deactivating-hardware"
tags: ["5.4"]
updated: 2026-10-28T01:53:34Z
published: 2026-10-28T01:53:34Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/activating-and-deactivating-hardware"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Activating and Deactivating Hardware

Various hardware components can be activated and deactivated for operational or maintenance purposes.

## Activate or Deactivate the Cluster

There are some operational scenarios in which the cluster must be powered down. First deactivate the cluster before powering down to render the restarting process easier. Deactivation enables a graceful shutdown of the cluster. For information on powering down a cluster, see [Safely Power Down a VAST Cluster](/kb/docs/how-to-safely-power-down-a-vast-cluster).

### Deactivate the Cluster from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **Cluster**.
2. Right-click the cluster and select **Deactivate**.

### Activate the Cluster from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **Cluster**.
2. Right-click the cluster and select **Activate**.

### Deactivate the Cluster from the VAST CLI

To deactivate the cluster from the VAST CLI, use the cluster deactivate command.

To activate a cluster from the VAST CLI, use the cluster activate command.

## Activate or Deactivate a DNode

You can deactivate a DNode before you power down the DNode for any operational reason that requires a reboot of the DNode.

### Deactivate a DNode from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **DNode**.
2. Right-click the DNode and select **Deactivate**.

### Activate a DNode from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **DNode**.
2. Right-click the DNode and select **Activate**.

### Deactivate and Activate a DNode from the VAST CLI

To activate a DNode from the VAST CLI, run the [dnode activate](/docs-5-4/docs/dnode-activate) command.

To deactivate a DNode from the VAST CLI, run the [dnode deactivate](/docs-5-4/docs/dnode-deactivate) command.

## Activate or Deactivate a DTray

You can deactivate a DTray before you power down the DTray for any operational reason that requires a reboot of the DTray.

### Deactivate a DTray from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **DTrays**.
2. Right-click the DTray and select **Deactivate**.

### Activate a DTray from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **DTray**.
2. Right-click the DTray and select **Activate**.

### Deactivate and Activate a DTray from the VAST CLI

To deactivate a DTray from the VAST CLI use the [dtray deactivate](/docs-5-4/docs/dtray-deactivate) command.

To activate a DTray from the VAST CLI use the [dtray activate](/docs-5-4/docs/dtray-activate) command.

## Activate or Deactivate a CNode

**Warning**

VIP Pools are required to have a minimum of 2 CNodes active, If all CNodes in a virtual IP pool must be deactivated, contact support for guidance, or either disable or delete the pool.

**Caution**

When deactivating CNodes, make sure to maintain the following ratios to maintain cluster viability and data availability:

- For larger clusters, at least 2 fully operational CNodes must be available for every 20 operational DNodes.
- For smaller clusters, at least 1 fully operational CNode must be available.

Before deactivating a CNode, confirm that the virtual IP pools using this CNode contain at least one another CNode which is not running VMS

You can deactivate a CNode before you power down the CNode for any operational reason that requires a reboot of the CNode.

### Deactivate a CNode from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **CNode**.
2. Right-click the CNode and select **Deactivate**.

### Activate a CNode from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **CNode**.
2. Right-click the CNode and select **Activate**.

### Deactivate and Activate a CNode from the VAST CLI

To deactivate a CNode from the VAST CLI, use the [cnode deactivate](/docs-5-4/docs/cnode-deactivate) command.

To activate a CNode from the VAST CLI, use the [cnode activate](/docs-5-4/docs/cnode-activate) command.

## Activate or Deactivate an EBox

You can deactivate a EBox before you power it down.

### Deactivate an EBox from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **EBox**.
2. Right-click the EBox and select **Deactivate**.

### Activate an EBox from the VAST Web UI

1. From the menu, select **Infrastructure** > **EBox**.
2. Right-click the EBox and select **Activate**.