> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.verifone.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.verifone.com/petroleum-docs/petro-and-c-store/commander-central/commander-central-user-guide/onboarded-device-swap.md).

# Onboarded Device Swap

Onboarded Device Swap lets a merchant administrator or an authorized VASC technician replace the Commander unit at a site directly from Commander Central, without contacting the helpdesk. This is used for routine hardware replacement, including situations where the existing Commander is physically dead or unreachable.

### Initiating a Swap

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Locate the site**

Navigate to the site's management area in Commander Central and select Swap Device for the currently onboarded Commander.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Review current device**

Commander Central displays the current device's serial number and device type.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Confirm**

Read the confirmation prompt carefully: the existing device will be permanently deboarded, and this action cannot be undone or cancelled once confirmed.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Swap begins**

Upon confirmation, Commander Central immediately deboards the outgoing device (Delete Device) and opens the Service ID for a replacement device to onboard. This happens whether or not the outgoing device is online — a dead or unresponsive Commander is swapped the same way as a working one.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Onboarding the Replacement Device

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Replacement Commander**

Install the replacement Verifone Commander at the site and onboard it via Verifone Commander Configuration Client.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Serial Number**

The device self-reports its serial number automatically during onboarding — no manual serial number entry is required.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Validation**

Commander Central validates that the reported serial number is not already actively associated with a different Service ID, and rejects onboarding with a clear error if so.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configuration Restoration**

After onboarding succeeds, Commander Central automatically triggers reverse seeding (via the existing MQTT mechanism), restoring the site's configuration to the replacement device. All configuration datasets supported up to the device's base version are restored automatically — no manual configuration steps are needed.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Entitlement Alignment

If the replacement device's serial number does not immediately match Verifone's CRM entitlement record for the site, Commander Central raises an Entitlement Alignment Exception rather than blocking onboarding. This exception clears automatically after CRM entitlement data syncs and confirms the new serial number. (This same exception type also applies to fresh, non-swap site onboarding where a serial number mismatch occurs.)

&#x20;

#### Exception Report

The Exception Report surfaces two types of exceptions related to device swaps and onboarding, with access scoped by role:

<table><thead><tr><th width="194" valign="top">Role</th><th width="224" valign="top">Scope</th><th valign="top">View</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">Merchant Admin</td><td valign="top">Own organization's Service IDs</td><td valign="top">Hierarchical view — can scope to region, group, or individual site</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">VASC Technician</td><td valign="top">Only sites the VASC company is authorized for</td><td valign="top">Worklist of sites with an open Swap Trigger Exception, indicating a replacement device is still needed</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Helpdesk / Operations (incl. Tier 1)</td><td valign="top">Entire install base</td><td valign="top">Read-only; optional filter by merchant entity, exception type, date range, or device type</td></tr></tbody></table>

* &#x20;Swap Trigger Exception — created every time a swap is initiated; records the initiating user, timestamp, and the serial number of the deboarded device. This record is the audit trail for the swap itself.
* Entitlement Alignment Exception — created when an onboarded device's serial number does not match CRM entitlement (for both swaps and fresh onboarding); clears automatically on CRM sync.

&#x20;

#### Who Can Initiate a Swap

<table><thead><tr><th valign="top">Role</th><th valign="top">Can Initiate Swap?</th><th valign="top">Can Onboard New Device?</th><th valign="top">Exception Report Access</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">Merchant Admin</td><td valign="top">Yes</td><td valign="top">Yes</td><td valign="top">Own organization, hierarchical scope</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Authorized VASC Technician</td><td valign="top">Yes</td><td valign="top">Yes</td><td valign="top">Authorized sites only — worklist view</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Helpdesk / Operations (Tier 1 &#x26; Ops)</td><td valign="top">No</td><td valign="top">No</td><td valign="top">Full install base, read-only</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Unauthorized User</td><td valign="top">No</td><td valign="top">No</td><td valign="top">No access</td></tr></tbody></table>

&#x20;


---

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