Hardware Replacement — RMA and Upgrades

Replacing gateways, switches, or APs against a cloud-stored configuration; what needs Uplevel support and what you can do yourself.

Deployment Updated August 21, 2025

Why hardware swaps are easy

Every Uplevel device’s configuration — and any backed-up data — lives in the cloud. Replacing hardware is therefore the same procedure whether the unit failed or you’re moving to a newer model. The new device pulls its configuration from the cloud as soon as it comes online.

Typical timeline: 15–30 minutes on-site, depending on installation complexity. The actual hardware swap takes a few minutes; the rest is walking the site to confirm that workstations, printers, and servers are back.

Scheduling: After-hours or during lunch minimizes disruption, but any time that suits the client works.

Replacing a gateway

A gateway swap needs a short coordination step with Uplevel support — we run a backend script that transfers the subnets and shared-storage configuration onto the new box. End-to-end the operation takes about ten minutes.

Before starting:

  • Have the replacement gateway on-site and powered on.
  • Confirm you can reach every cable that needs to move.

Steps

  1. Call Uplevel support before starting the swap: 971-317-3001.
  2. Move the WAN cable from the old gateway to the new one.
  3. Power-cycle the ISP modem so it picks up the new gateway cleanly.
  4. Wait for support to run the swap script. Once the new gateway shows online, support transfers the subnets and shared-storage configuration over.
  5. Move the LAN cables across to the new gateway.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see Steps to Replace a Gateway — RMA / Upgrade.

Replacing or moving an Access Point or Switch

APs and switches don’t need Uplevel support intervention. They auto-register against the customer site in the Portal when they come online.

Steps

  1. Disconnect the device. Pull power and network cables.
  2. Remove from the old site in the Portal. Once the device shows as offline, remove it from its former site to clear the alert.
  3. Connect the device at its new location. Plug in power and Ethernet.
  4. Verify in the Portal. The device appears automatically under the new site.

Important. After moving or disconnecting an AP or switch, remove it from its former Portal location to clear the offline alert. The remove option appears once the device shows as offline.

For more detail, see Moving Switches or APs Between Sites.

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