Problem: Cannot initialize or create a Storwize V7000 Gen1 clustered system

If your attempt to create a system has failed, there are several possible solutions depending on the current state of the storage system.

The failure is reported regardless of the method that you used to create a clustered storage system:

USB flash drive
Management console
Service assistant
Service command line

The create clustered-system function protects the system from loss of volume data. If you create a clustered system on a control enclosure that was previously used, you lose all of the volumes that you previously had. To determine if there is an existing system, check the following items:

The node canister that you are attempting to create a clustered system on is in candidate state. The node canister is in candidate state if it is a new canister.
The partner node canister in the control enclosure is not in active state.
The latest system ID of the control enclosure is 0.

If the create function failed because there is an existing system, fix the existing clustered system; do not re-create a new clustered system.

You might not be able to create a cluster if the node canister (the one on which you are attempting to create the clustered system) is in service state. Check whether the node canister is in service state. If the node is in service state, fix the reported node errors. After the node error is corrected, attempt to create a clustered storage system again.