Troubleshooting CE or Z:\ drive not connecting on the NovaSeq 6000

The NovaSeq 6000 includes two computer systems, the Compute Engine (CE) and the Control Computer (SBC). The CE is a Linux-based computer that is mapped to the Z:\ drive and stores .cbcl data prior to copying to the network drive. The CE is also responsible for Real Time Analysis (RTA) processes including image analysis and base calling. For the Control Computer to connect to the CE, it must be mapped to the Z:\ drive properly.

The CE (Z:) may fail to mount if the drive is mistakenly unmounted, or in rare instances, if the CE drive becomes non-functional.

Troubleshooting

To remount the CE (Z:) drive:

• Open NovaSeq Control Software (NVCS)/NovaSeq Service Software (NVSS).

  • If the drive has been disconnected, but the Z drive is still mounted, open NVCS/NVSS, and CE turns on, and this should change to green.

  
• Once it turns green, power cycle the System. For more information on power cycle, search for Knowledge Base article How to Power Cycle the NovaSeq 6000 System?

Note: If the system was powered up too quickly, (<30 seconds between toggle switch at the back and power button at the side) the boards can fail to come online in the correct order, and the system can fail to initialize control software/mount Z drive. To avoid this, perform a 'slow' reboot of the system--waiting a full 2-5 minutes between toggling the power switch at the back on and pressing the power button on the side to boot up the system.

• If the issue persists, remap the CE drive and check firewall settings.

Re-mapping the CE using Network Discovery

1. Close NovaSeq Control Software (NVCS).

2. If an internal network location is mapped to the Z:\ drive, disconnect the network location using the following steps.

   1. Open File Explorer and select 'This PC' on the left.

   2. Right-click on the network location, and select 'Disconnect'.

   3. Confirm that the network location is no longer mapped to the Z:\ drive

3. Open the Windows Control Panel and select 'Network and Sharing Center'.

4. Choose 'Change advanced sharing settings' from the top-left corner.

5. From there, select 'Guest or Public' dropdown menu and turn Network Discovery ON (Figure 1)

6. Open File Explorer, right-click on 'This PC' in the left panel, and select 'Map network drive'.

7. The 'Folder' dropdown menu should have the CE computer listed from previous connections (Figure 2)

• This will have an IPv6 address similar to "\fddc:65e5:66fa::1\ilmn"

8. Confirm that we can access the CE computer through the Z:\ drive

9. Turn Network Discovery OFF.

10. Launch NVCS.

Figure 1: Screenshot of selecting 'Guest or Public' and turning Network Discovery to ON.

Figure 2: Mapping the Z:\ drive using the IPv6 address.

Check Windows Defender Settings

Open Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Windows Firewall > Allowed Apps

All instances of Instrument Shell and Voyager.Simulator should be allowed for Domain, Private, and Public for all instances of the instrument shell.

• If the issue persists after the power cycle, checking Windows Defender settings and remounting, contact Illumina Technical Support for the next steps.

For any feedback or questions regarding this article (Illumina Knowledge Article #1858), contact Illumina Technical Support [e-mail].