expanding on SmartArray 440ar

[Meslider]

Hello

I have proliant dl360gen9 with SmartArray 440ar(fw4.52) and RAID5 of 5 sas 6gbs 10rpm 900Gb on it. I need to expand RAID array with 2 SAS 12gbs 10rpm 900Gb. Is it possible from smart array storage in windows 2012r2?

[TTr]

> ...and RAID5 of 5 sas 6gbs 10rpm 900Gb . . . I need to expand RAID array with 2 SAS 12gbs 10rpm 900Gb.

It looks like you want to add the two new disks to the same RAID5 array. Yes it is possible with the "online array expansion" features of the 440ar. 

[Meslider]

Thank you for your reply.

I supposed that it is possible but how and where it in smart array?

I uploaded screenshot from array options - http://clip2net.com/s/3JpEu9l

And there is only Move option there but not expand.

I've already read that i should erase disks before this. It took a time but I did and... nothing changed, still have no any options to expand.

[TTr]

Do you see the new drives connected and available in the 440ar? (Need I ask if you actually inserted the drives in the cage?)

[Meslider]

Good question!!!

No! They're lying in the cupboard and raid controller near them.

Definitely, they both attached and moreover were built as RAID 1 and it worked. But now i wish expand RAID5 that is on first 5 disks. I distoyed RAID1, erased disks but can't to add them to exist array

http://clip2net.com/s/3JpXwce

[TTr]

What does it show in the "Logical Devices" screen? You need to be in that screen to expand the existing array. And why does it say "2 arrays, 2 logical devices" undet the "Logical Devices" icon?

[Meslider]

I know where I need to be to expand. It was just a screen to show that drives placed to the server. Why you interested in second logical drive?  It doesn't matter. There is a RAID0 there - http://clip2net.com/s/3JqTpsn

Below screens you want to see

http://clip2net.com/s/3JqTIs4

http://clip2net.com/s/3JqTLpa

When i click to Manage Data Drives  (Manage the physical data drives in the array. Expand the array by adding data drives, replace one or more data drives, shrink the array by removing current data drives) i see just option for moving.

And after all we go back to my main question - what was done wrong and what i should do?

And precede any questions like that were before - https://community.hpe.com/t5/ProLiant-Servers-ML-DL-SL/Expand-RAID-5-with-HP-Smart-Array-P440ar-Controller/td-p/6894611 , this is the same problem, but erasing drives disn't help.

[TTr]

My last suggestion is to check or show us the status of the battery, the status and configuration of the cache memory and the licensing options.

[Meslider]

http://clip2net.com/s/3Js9KZM  - battery, cache. Battery was changed some months ago with help of local HP tech support.

http://clip2net.com/s/3JsazAg - license.

[TTr]

Click on "View more details" on the "controller cache details". Do you have write cache configured?

[Erdogan Temur]

Hi,

If a 6G drive is attached to a 12G controller, the drive may settle to a 6 Gb/s transfer rate.
It is impossible to use at 12G speed.

If this is the hdd you are using!

HP 900GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Enterprise 3yr Warranty Hard Drive 652589-B21

[Meslider]

Hi

They will work on lower speeds.

And I can mix them in RAID.

I just want to know why I don't see option "Expand" where it should be.

[Erdogan Temur]

The expand option only appears if there is unassigned disk.

[Meslider]

OK

Now for your attention - http://clip2net.com/s/3JtolOY

Certainly! They both are unassigned!

[Erdogan Temur]

Very interesting things are happening :)
Do the steps below. 

[Meslider]

Uhhh...

With due respect, I am afraid, instead of offering a solution to the problem, you seem to be trying to stress my inattention.

Please look - http://clip2net.com/s/3JtvhEL

[TTr]

You may want to consider this:

Unassign the (OLD) hot spare that you have and see if the "expand" button shows up.

Also try to configure one of the new drives as hot spare. If you can't I would think that the two new drives can not be mixed with the old ones because of the difference in the speed. Even if we all know that the speed difference does not matter.

[Meslider]

Thank for your advice but unfortunately nothing become clear.

1. Unassigning old hot spare 

result - Now 3 unassigned hdd but no expand option(

2. Assigning 12gbs drive as hot spare in array of 6gbs hdds

result - no problem, it became hot spare

[TTr]

Do you have the CLI installed? You may want to attempt to add the new drives to your array. If it refuses *maybe* you will get a meaningful error message.

[Erdogan Temur]

@Meslider

Please call  the hpe support centre.

I think a controller card fail. 

[Meslider]

TTr thanks again

will try later by cli on Sunday

Let you know

Erdogan Temur

Don't think so

[TTr]

While in CLI, generate a diagnostics report and save it in a file. Check the report and post it here if needed.

[Meslider]

Hello

Good news

From cli it's expanding!

Let you know later about results

Thanks everybody!