# Replacing disks in running nodes, cleanup and what is the correct process?

**URL:** <https://forum.scylladb.com/t/replacing-disks-in-running-nodes-cleanup-and-what-is-the-correct-process/4540>\
**Category:** ScyllaDB\
**Tags:** administration, nodetool\
**Created:** [February 27, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://forum.scylladb.com/t/replacing-disks-in-running-nodes-cleanup-and-what-is-the-correct-process/4540 "2025-02-27T07:43:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Guy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.scylladb.com/guy/32/9_2.png) [@Guy](https://forum.scylladb.com/u/Guy)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://forum.scylladb.com/t/replacing-disks-in-running-nodes-cleanup-and-what-is-the-correct-process/4540/1 "2025-02-27T07:43:24Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> [**Originally from the User Slack**](https://scylladb-users.slack.com/)
> 
> ![Hans](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/scylladb/original/2X/1/1321de3d4564097b9f0e13af4f71c38fb81726df.png) **@Hans:** Hey, I have a question about `nodetool cleanup`.  
> We have 3 nodes in each of DC1, DC2, and we need to replace a disk on every nodes in DC1,  
> my understanding is that we have to  
> • Decommission the node, replace the disk, recreate the scylla dir, and join it as a new node.  
> • Once the new node is added to the cluster, run nodetool cleanup on all existing nodes.  
> My question is:  
> Since `cleanup` just removes outdated data from SSTables, is it sufficient to run it once on each node after all rolling replacements are completed?  
> Or do we need to run `cleanup` on existing nodes after each individual node replacement?
> 
> Would appreciate any insights! Thanks 😄
> 
> ![stewart](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/scylladb/original/2X/e/e64036a4b6fd74b10be043ee5fb24b1cd0c18a99.png) **@stewart:** Replacing a disk and doing a nodetool cleanup are different operations. Which one are you trying to do?
> 
> ![Samuel_Hameau](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/scylladb/original/2X/2/24962c5bdebed055488e5ad2083a34bb612d6ee1.png) **@Samuel\_Hameau:** you may just stop scylla on your node ; copy the disk content to your new disks ; replace disks ; restart scylla with the new disks
> 
> ![Hans](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/scylladb/original/2X/1/1321de3d4564097b9f0e13af4f71c38fb81726df.png) **@Hans:** Thanks, everyone!  
> Stewart gave me the similiar advice as Samuel said.
> 
> Just drain → turn off scylladb server → replace disk → turn the scylla server back on.
> 
> This approach is much better than decommissioning and rejoining the server to the cluster.