topic Re: Raid configuration in Disk Enclosures

Raid configuration

Nagamani_1 — Mon, 21 Apr 2003 07:30:51 GMT

Hi all,

We have rp2470 servers with Raid 4si card and HP2100 storageworks disk system with 4x18.2 GB disks. The external disks are configured for RAID 5. While configuring RAID we noticed the following and need to know if the RAID 4si card behaves this way.

* Using irm utility the disks were configured for RAID 5. The volume group & logical volumes were created . We powered up the system (after a proper shutdown -h option) with the external disk system power switched off. (accidently). Noticed the mistake and did a proper boot with all the external devices powered up before the server. The Raid configuration was disturbed. We could not see the Raid disk even with ioscan -FnCdisk. Running irm utility -> view configuration ->
two menus were displayed "view disk configuration and view NVRAM configuration". The NVRAM configuration showed the disks as Failed. The disks were made online and the server rebooted. The RAID disk was available now.

* Similar situation was noticed when address switch (postion abc on 2100) was changed (again accidently)

* When the disks are configured with RAID 5 but volume groups & logical volumes are not created similar mistakes did not effect the Raid disk . ioscan listed the raid disk.

Does the Raid card behave this way.?
Are there any commands to make the volumes available after making the disks online, without
rebooting the system when such mistakes happen.?

regds
Nagamani

Re: Raid configuration

Michael Steele_2 — Mon, 21 Apr 2003 14:39:51 GMT

Regarding: "...Are there any commands to make the volumes available after making the disks online, without
rebooting the system when such mistakes happen.?..."

ioscan -f

-or-

insf -e

Can be used.

Also, I'm having trouble sorting out what you want. Can you specify exact questions.

Re: Raid configuration

Nagamani_1 — Tue, 22 Apr 2003 06:06:31 GMT

Hi,

Should we update NVRAM on RAID controller everytime there is a change in the configuration (either the address on the disk system is changed or in case of a improper sequence of powering the external storage as mentioned in the previous message).

What is the procedure for updating NVRAM.?

Why does this failure not occur in the third case when the disks are made ready for RAID but volume group & volumes are not created yet.?

thanks in advance
Nagamani

Re: Raid configuration

Nagamani_1 — Tue, 22 Apr 2003 06:41:45 GMT

Hi,

irdiag output on this server shows maximum target per channel as 0 instead of 16. Why is it so..?

irdiag -i output is enclosed
Adapter Hardware Path: 0/4/0/1

Device File: /dev/iop0

Product ID: 467

Firmware Version: U.01.06

Number of Logical Drives Configured: 1

Maximum Concurrent Commands Supported: 254

Maximum Targets Supported per Channel: 0

Number of Channels: 4

Flush Interval: 4

Rebuild Rate: 30

Dram Size (Mb): 128

Battery Pack: Connected

Battery Status: Charging Completed

Battery Temperature: Good

Battery Voltage: Good

regds
Nagamani