topic Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200 in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:22:26 GMT

We are facing a problem with a 3.5 year old ML350G5 server`s E200 integrated array controller.

There is a POST message, that the Accelerator Battery cannot be charged and must be replaced.
After replacing the battery with another one, we still get the same message.

Warranty is expired, so we cannot contact HP. So we hope here at the forums someone could give good advise.

We applied the latest firmware updates also, but the problem is still there.

The server is hosting ESXi 4.1, so we cannot check the battery status while the system is online (have to use SmartStart). I can check the leds on the memory of the controller. At this moment both green and amber (yellow) lights are burning.
Checked to doc of this controller (https://www11.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en&docId=emr_na-c00688683) but it is not clear what are the leds indicating now.

If anyone has any tips or ideas, we greatly appreciate it, as now we operate without write-cache => disaster...

Kind regards,
Tamas Csabina

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

kazim_1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:05:04 GMT

Hi,
check the E200i battery & reset the switch 6
through serivce manual
kazim

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

kazim_1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:54:56 GMT

Hi, Try to upgrade firmware also
kazim

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:57:23 GMT

Hi Kazim,

Thanks for the replies.

We have applied firmware updates 3 weeks ago.

About Switch 6:
is it a switch located on the raid controller or on the server itself? Sorry, but I don`t have experience with this.

Regards,
Tamas

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:28:58 GMT

Hi again.

I`ve found the service manual, so it is the System Maintenance Switch on the motherboard.

Regarding the manual, it will clear the CMOS.
Just to be on the safe side. This wont do anything with our raid array, right? Only clears (resets) the BIOS settings to factory defaults, right?

Regards,
Tamas

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

gregersenj — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:19:17 GMT

Don't clear the CMOS.

There's no need to do so. Beside clearing CMOS, also clear the IML.
The IML is the HW error log / history. Wich tell you what is wrong.

And clearing the CMOS do not solve your problem.

So you are at FW 1.86 for the E200.
How much did you replace?
1 of the following 3 parts may be defective.
1. The battery
2. The cache module
3. The controller.

Since the battery can't be charged, the SA will disable the write cache, wich decrease the write performance.
This does not put your data at risk!

What RAID level are you running?
You only need the BBWC for RAID 5.

BR
/jag

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

PZel — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:36:30 GMT

The best thing to do is order SPN 413486-001 It is the battery and the 128MB cache (DIMM).
The same combination in the DL380G4 (6i)is
giving the same kind of problems: when you only replace the battery, then after 1-2 days the battery is failed again. Replacing cache DIMM and battery will solve your problem with the failed battery message.

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:43:35 GMT

Thanks for the replies.

We have ordered a new battery with the memory (DIMM) module. So the memory was replaced as well with the battery.

But, it is a refurbished one. The date on the top of the`new` battery is older then the original one (if the numbers are indicating dates on the top of the battery at all).

But do I have to still clear the CMOS? Or it is not goin to help, as this new battery (and dimm module) also not operating well?

Another thing: We measured the voltage in the batteries, and the old one had more potential then the new one. So the old on was charged, I guess.

Thank again for the replies.

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:49:22 GMT

gregersenj, forget to say:
-the raid card integrated, we cannot replace
-this is a raid 5 array

thanks again.

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

Tamas Csabina — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:53:16 GMT

By the way, how can I read out IML?

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

PZel — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:05:13 GMT

Are you sure that the new cache DIMM has SPN 413486-001 on the label and not 351518-001 (faulty). Also on the battery (SPN 307132-001) on the side must be stamped for instance 10/09 REV B (=approx. januari 2010). The voltage itself is approx. 3.6V, but a new one will always gives you "Temporarely Disabled" but never "Failed" When a new one gives the message "Failed" then it never recovers !!
(so then you must buy another battery)

Re: Array Accelerator Battery cannot be charged on E200

PZel — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:23:33 GMT

Read out Integrated Management Log:
When it's a Windows server then via the Systems Managment Home Page (https://:2381) and then Logs (on-line)
When it's a Linux system then boot from SmartStartCD/Mantain a Server/Diagnostics
(off-line)(or maybe also possible on-line ??)