Proliant DL 385 G5p array problem

[jalbrecht-ts]

The server in questions has a Smart Array P400 controller with 2 250GB SATA drives running a mirrored configuration.  There was a power outage that took out of the drives and now the slot the drive was is is no longer working.  The drive was replaced and put into a different slot, but there does not appear to be any way to rebuild the mirror with the drive in a different slot using the Array Configuration Utility.  Any insight on how to fix this issue would be appreciated.

[ernst limbrunner]

hi

a failed drive will be rebuilt ONLY in its original position.

if the slot does not work anymore there is no way to initialize a rebuild.

this is why you should never physically move an array with a failed drive.

sorry

best regards

ernesto (germany)

[ernst limbrunner]

hi

as you have only 2 drives you might try the following trick.

switch both sas cables

this will turn position 5 into 1, 6 into 2, 7 into 3 and 8 into 4.

now put the surviving disk in its new corresponding position.

put the new drive into its corresponding position (but only after the OS has completely booted !!)

in a raid 1 configuration never put a replacement drive into the cage when the server is powered off.

always wait until the oS is up and running.

best regards

ernesto (germany)

[ernst limbrunner]

hi

one more important thing

before doing anything else.

start the server once WITHOUT disks.

this will reset the smart controller and the controller will read the config from the disks.

this little trick has helped many many times, when a controller or a disk was moved or replaced

and the array controller reported 0 logical drives.

best regards

ernesto

[jalbrecht-ts]

Thanks for the response.  We will give this a try. The other thing to do I found out is replace the Backplane if the slot has gone bad.  Cost is about $150 online.

[Hazem Bahgat]

Greetings,

i titally agree with Ernsto,

before doing anything else, start the server once WITHOUT disks, this will reset the cached info.

then use the ACU utility on the Smart Start 8.7 to repair the relation of the RAID .

sometimes i change the whole smart array, all you need to do is repair, and this is the great advantage of the HW RAID rather than the SW RAID