RAID-0 to RAID-1 with cpqacuxe

[Jose Cavieres]

While working in a heavy loaded DL380G5 server, I made a mistake and change a RAID-1 configuration to a RAID-0.

I have failed to return to the previous configuration using the cpqacuxe utility.

I am afraid to loose the partition information or OS files for using the "-reset" or the ClearConfigurationWithDataLoss options, so I haven't try them

How can I fix my mistake?

The received error is:
ACU Configuration Replication Error
ERROR: (2842) Invalid Raid
Controller: Slot 1
Array: A
Logical Drive: 1


This is the current configuration:
Date captured: Thu Jan 14 08:35:32 2010
Action= Configure
Method= Custom
; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array P400
Controller= Slot 1
ReadCache= 50
WriteCache= 50
RebuildPriority= Medium
ExpandPriority= Medium
SurfaceScanDelay= 15
; Array Specifications
Array= A
; Array Drive Type is SAS
; 2I:1:4 (72 GB),2I:1:3 (72 GB)
Drive= 2I:1:4,2I:1:3
OnlineSpare= No
; Logical Drive Specifications
LogicalDrive= 1
RAID= 0
Size= 139947
Sectors= 32
StripeSize= 128
ArrayAccelerator= Enabled

This is the configuration I tried to set up:
Action= Reconfigure
Method= Custom
; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array P400
Controller= Slot 1
ReadCache= 50
WriteCache= 50
RebuildPriority= Medium
ExpandPriority= Medium
SurfaceScanDelay= 15
; Array Specifications
Array= A
; Array Drive Type is SAS
; 2I:1:4 (72 GB),2I:1:3 (72 GB)
Drive= 2I:1:4,2I:1:3
OnlineSpare= No
; Logical Drive Specifications
LogicalDrive= 1
RAID= 1
Size= 69973
Sectors= 32
StripeSize= 128
ArrayAccelerator= Enabled

Thanks in advance for any hep

[TTr]

> I have failed to return to the previous configuration

Did the conversion from raid1 to raid0 finish? It takes very long time.

You have to wait for it to finish before you can change it back to the oriinal setting.

[Jose Cavieres]

The logical and physical drives status is OK, so I am guessing the conversion has finished.

Just in case, I just made an attempt to return to the RAID-1 configuration and it failed with the same error message.

[Jose Cavieres]

In the status of the Logical Drive it reads:
Blocks to Rebuild: 0

[TTr]

Why is the logcal drive size is now 139947? You must have done a LUN expansion as well after the raid1 to raid0 conversion. That is the reason it does not allow you to convert back. It is impossible to fit a 139947 LUn in one disk so you can do the raid1 mirroring to the other disk.

Originally LUN1 was 69973 under raid1. When you converted to raid0, the LUN1 size should still be 69973. Only then you could convert back.

Now, there is no way to reduce the LUN size, you have to save your data and recreate the LUN.

[Jose Cavieres]

Very bad news for me, but many thanks for your quick answer.

The mistake was made using the Graphic Interface. I didn't set anything but the RAID Mode and the stripe size.

If I understood you correctly, I will have to recreate the RAID-1, but loosing all the data stored in the disks if I don't save it first somewhere else.

Is there anything else we could try before using that solution?

[TTr · Accepted solution]

There are two different and separate operations here, "raid type migration" and "LUN expansion". The LUN size should have not changed (doubled) after converting from raid1 to raid0. Are you sure that you or somebody else did not do a LUN expansion?

Then either you have an old version of the ACU or there is something special about the raid0 to raid1 conversion. (I have not done any r1 to r0 but I have done many r10 to r5 conversions and the LUN sizes do not change).

Unfortunately you can not reduce the LUN size, there is no such capability because it involves the logical OS partitions that are crated on the LUN. The raid controller can not do anything with the OS partitons and can not reduce the LUN size without affecting the OS partitions.

So your only option is to save the data, recreate the r1 array, the logical drive and the OS partitions and then restore the data.

[Jose Cavieres]

Thanks a lot for your answer, it's very clear

[TTr]

ACU download
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/software-management/acumatrix/sw-drivers.html

Raid techology (nice document)
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00687518/c00687518.pdf