ML370 with SmartArray 5300 not booting

[Dr Mark D Spiteri]

We restarted this server after applying the latest Windows Update and it would not come back up.

It has 5 18Gb drives fitted, two on Raid 1 (the system drive) and three on Raid 5 (data drive).

It does the memory check, then displays the processors' details, then says 'no SCSI devices detected' and 'No System Disk'.

What could be at fault? Has the SmartArray card died? If it's replaced, is there anything we can do to avoid losing the raid configuration and more importantly the data on the drives?

Thanks
Mark

[Leon Rosier · Accepted solution]

You did a windows update. before restarting the system you should have run the software support pack.
In your info I don't see anything about the smart array controller selftest during power on selftest. You should see the smart array controller selftest. Do you see this?
Don't worry about your data, if the smartarray controller died, a new one will recognize your drives and logical drives.
So, first of all:

- Do you see the smart array selftest?
- If so, does it find any logical drives?
- if so, your boot controller order might be wrong. You can adjust thisby running the system configuration utility from the F10 partition

Leon

[Dr Mark D Spiteri]

Leon,

thanks for replying.

In response to your questions

- Do you see the smart array selftest?
- If so, does it find any logical drives?
- if so, your boot controller order might be wrong. You can adjust thisby running the system configuration utility from the F10 partition

No, no selftest information appears at all. Does this mean that the SmartArray controller is dead?

Mark

[Leon Rosier]

Could be...
Try to start the server from smartstart and run the system configuration utility from it.
Check if it detects the 5300 controller.
You also can try a different pci slot.

Leon

[Dr Mark D Spiteri]

We have a hardware maintenance contract on these servers, so I logged a call this morning.

An engineer has just come along and replaced the SmartArray controller (retaining the small daughterboard).

The system then came back up as normal.

Thank you for your advice.

Mark