DL380 G5 with Smart Array P400 - Failing on RAID build

[Slatey3]

Hi -

I have a DL380 G5 server with a PCI-E P400 Smart Array Controller. Firmware on the server is P56 and the controller firmware is 7.08.

Whenever I try to build a RAID array in the Smart Start Array Configuration tool - or the Embedded BIOS tool - the drives all fail one after the other during the "Saving Configuration".

These are brand new drives.

They are all 146 GB 6G Dual Port SAS drives.

MODEL: EG0146FAWHU
HP PN: 507119-003

The boxes they shipped in are saying they are 507125-B21.

I don't have another RAID controller to swap out and try with. Any ideas?

[gregersenj]

I haven't chekked, what's latest and greates FW.

Ensure you're all on latest FW.

If you still have the problem.
It could be a bad Array controller, as you mention or a bad Drive.
It could also be the system i/o board.

Try one drive at the time.
Try to use the embedded controller.

BR
/jag

[Slatey3]

I'm pretty certain that it's the controller card.

1) I swapped the PCI-E ports.

2) I pulled the cache and battery off - booted with it all off - and then put it back on.

3) I upgraded from 6.86 firmware to the 7.08 firmware.

4) Downgraded back to 6.86.

5) Downgraded back to 4.12.

#2 is the only step that actually got the hard drives working for a moment.

Oddly enough. This is a hand me down server that came with 2 15kRPM SAS drives and 4 SATA 5.4kRPM drives. The SATA drives have always worked. The SAS drives never worked.

And the 8 new SAS drives I have for the server don't work.

Next step is warranty replacing the controller card - unless I can find another one to test with - but still pretty sure I'll be warranty repairing the controller card.

[gregersenj]

The G5, Does it have 2 low profile slots, between the PSU's and the PCI Cage, for the Smart Array?
If so are you using those slots?
Then try to put the SA in the PCI cage.

I have seen a faulty System I/O board, behave strangely, when the SA was installed in those slots.
Work fine in the PCI cage.
After replacing system I/O board, it worked fine.

I think it was a G5

BR
/jag

[gregersenj]

Just chekked, it was on a G5
Try to put the SA P400 in the PCI cage.
You'll need to remove the bracket.

BR
/jag

[Slatey3]

By default it was in the PCI Cage.

Swapping it to the other PCI-E Slots outside of the cage, directly on the motherboard, doesn't work either.

[gregersenj]

You still could try to test the SAS drives in pairs.
It could be that 1 of the SAS drives got problem.
I have seen that also.

And of caurse as you mention your self.

Have a nice weekend.

BR
/jag

[Slatey3]

Nope. I've tried that. One SAS drive. 2 SAS drives.

SAS AND SATA drives.

I managed to come across a DL380 G4 and tossed the SAS drives in that and they all worked.

So - time to replace the card. :\

[gregersenj]

Agree

/jag