Replace disk in array 12H - Urgent.

[Robb Bailey]

I apologize if this gets posted in multiple areas.

I have the following message spooling to the console of my K200. This machine is no longer under HP hardware maintenance.

Data redundancy has been lost in disk array on /dev/dsk/C4t0d0. Disk in slot B4 has failed.

Active hot spare warning on /dev/rdsk/C4t0d0. Unallocated space is too small for active hot spare.

The rebuild is currently at 62%. The array has 7 18.2 GB disks.

Once I get the new disk from my vendor, how should I proceed to replace it? Is it really hot-swapable? Is it actually hands-off? I am new to this particular crisis, so I appreciate your responses very much.

Thank you,

[Pete Randall]

Robb,

Yes, it's really hot swappable. Pull out the failed drive in slot B4 and insert the new one. That's all there is to it.


Pete

[S.K. Chan · Accepted solution]

It looks like your 12H is probably running RAID5, hence the rebuild message once a disk failed. What you should do is wait till the rebuild is completed before replacing the disk at slot B4. And yes (if your replacement disk is new) this is a hot swap operation. If the replacement disk is "used" (ie from another 12H) then you have to use the front panel of the 12H to "include" this disk into the array. To check is the rebuilt has completed, run this command ..
# arraydsp -i
==> take note of the serial number of the array
# arraydsp -a
==> Look for the line "Overall State of Array".
Since you have time .. can you post the output of .. arraydsp -a .. this would help in verifying what status and the configuration of your array. You may want to consider activating the hot spare space. Post the output and we'll see what we can do.

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Absolutely, simply remove disk B4, pop in the new drive and walk away; however, this only applies if 'Auto Include' has been enabled which is the norm. Otherwise, you have to use the front panel menu Disk Changes -> Include Disk -> B4 to start the operation after the module has been replaced.

In most cases, it's just pop the disk in and walk away. DO NOT REPLACE ANOTHER DISK until the rebuiild is finished.

[Pete Randall]

S.K.

I don't think, from the message, that the rebuild will complete: "Unallocated space is too small for active hot spare."

I would think that the disk needs to be replace before the rebuild can continue.


Pete

[Pete Randall]

Apparently I'm misinterpreting the message. Disregard.


Pete

[Steven E. Protter]

The specifications I remember from that unit(we never bought one, just shopped it) says it has hot swapable drives.

They have a little tab on the bottom, you simply pull and the dead drive is out. Insert new drive. You get an lbolt, you are done.

The reall issue is making sure you get the RIGHT drive. Be sure.

SEP

[Robb Bailey]

Thank you very much for your quick replies.

The replacement disk will most likely be used, although I am not sure. Is there a difference in procedure whether new/used?

I have attached the results of the arraydsp -a.

Thank you,

Robb

[Pete Randall]

Robb,

From your attachment we can see that the rebuild is now 89% complete. You should wait for the rebuild to complete, then simply replace the drive. At that point, we will find out whether "auto include" is enabled or not. If it is, you're all set - if not, you'll need to include it manually via the panel.


Pete

[S.K. Chan]

The difference is, if it's a new disk you can simply plug it and the array will "do its thing automatically". Again make sure the rebuild is completed before doing this operation. Id the disk is used (for example if it came from another 12H), then you need to do this ..
Press Menu, then "+" until you see "Disk Changes" and then press Enter. Somewhere in there there should be an option that says "Include Disk", choose that one to perform the include operation of this disk into the array.
See this my reply in this thread ..
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x24199607df6ed711abdc0090277a778c,00.html

From your arraydsp -a output, the line ..
Used by non-included disks = 17366 MB
which represent the size of a single disk confirms that one of the disk is not functioning. In a normal 12H this line should say 0 MB. After you plug in the new disk, run arraydsp -a again and you should see that change plus the active hot spare space should come back (since hot spare is enabled) .. form the line ..
Active Hot Spare Desired = ENABLED
Later on you may want to followup on this thread and re-post arraydsp -a just to make sure. Just a suggestion ..