EVA3000 VDisk Creation

[Christian--]

Hi! I am trying to configure an old EVA3000. I updated the HDD firmware, the firmware VCS(4.100) and installed CommandView 901, it discovered the array and a Diskgroup was created (with all of the disks in it(52)).
After that a VDisk was created with nearly all of the space allocated and security set to VRaid1. So that was about 20 hours ago and it is still saying "(vdisk) creating in progress".
As this is not supposed to take that long, is there any way to abort it and start over again? Maybe I didnt give the VRaid enough free space in the diskgroup? Also it says that all four batteries have failed (0,95V and 1,15V), maybe they are recharging?
The EVA hasnt been on for about 4 weeks, batteries were ok back then... Thanks for your help!

[Víctor Cespón · Accepted solution]

If you don't perform a graceful shutdown of the EVA (via Command View) and leave it off for a long time, all batteries will fail.

In this situation the vdisks will not be presented so it's futile that you create a new one.

Try to replace the batteries and reboot controllers. Also check the event log for events after the creation of the vdisk.

[Christian--]

Thanks for your reply! Is there any chance that the system will accept the batteries again? Can I try to reseat them or somehow tell it just to recharge them?
I know that the Battery-modules from my MSAs work even after half a year.. I'm asking because its very hard to get those Batteries for a reasonable price nowadays...
Thanks again for your help!

[Greybeard]

Hi, if you have no data on the EVA I would suggest that you un-initialise it then re-initialise it. Quickest way to get a clean config. I have also seen the batteries clear and come online as charging after disconnecting everything from a controller then powering it up by itself before shutting down and reconnecting it. (essentialy the replace controller process but keeping the original)

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Unfortunately, if the EVA thinks the batteries are bad, then they have to be replaced. I've not found a way around this...

You can try to start up the EVA without the batteries installed, and then insert them when it's running. This might get them working, but I wouldn't guarantee it.

If an EVA is shut down for a length of time (more than a few hours) then:

1. Ensure you follow the correct power down procedure.
2. Remove the batteries.

If you don't do step 1, the batteries stay switched on, trying to maintain data in the cache, and then go into a deep discharge state.

Cheers,

Rob

[Christian--]

Hi! I'm sure the EVA was shutdown properly through Command View but the batteries were not removed after that. What I don't understand is, that the lights on the batteries are still green but the voltage is not sufficent, so shouldnt the EVA just be charging them until the voltage is ok again?
I could swear if I'd load them externaly it would work... So do I have to replace the batteries even if they are "green"? Thank you all for your help

[Mark...]

Hi,
As Rob says above, if the batteries have been marked as bad then that is it. DO NOT try to pull them out and put them in another ctrl as that will not help!
However you have stated that the actual batteries are OK?? as in NO amber LED on the batteries themselves ?? and that you appear to be in a test/play environment ?? If you have users/live data then it is up to you if you wish to try the following.

IF that is the case then I would try a complete power down of the array from CV.
Ensure that the ctrls are turned off at the back and then reapply power to the EVA. MAke sure all the disk drives/enclosures are fully powered up and then turn on both ctrls. This MAY resolve your problem. If this does not work then power down again as before, turn off the ctrls and then remove the batteries - no need to fully remove just make sure they are out by 2/3cm. Now turn on the disks/enclosures again, wait for them to be fully powered up and then turn on the ctrls. WAIT for the red/amber failed LED on the OCP (on both ctrls) for the batteries to come on and then once it has just install the batteries. This MAY resolve your problem.
If not, you probably need new batteries...
Mark...

[Christian--]

thats right, No amber LED on the batteries. All 4 Batts are green. I will try your method right away. As the EVA isn't even initialized anymore there is no need to worry about users.

[Christian--]

Actually, the controller won't boot if there is no battery installed... I attached a picture, all (fibre)cables are disconnected and the Battery-LEDs are green.. what do you think about that?

[Mark...]

Hi,
Not surprising really - those are the PSU/blower assemblies and NOT the batteries !! %*)
The batteries are BEHIND the OCP.
Please try again.
Mark...

[Christian--]

i'll retry :)

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

It's probably reasonable to assume, looking at the picture, that you haven't checked the lights on the batteries...

Cheers,

Rob

[Christian--]

Ok, I got it now. I disassembled the batteries and tried to recharge them. They consist of three Hawker Cyclon (2V,5A) which are (I dont know how to say it in english) "parallel" and not "in line" (not a good idea at all). They have (sperr)-dioden between them, so you could charge them "in line".
Now the interesting part: These Cyclon-modules seem to deep-discharge pretty easy (at approx <1,2V they get hochohmig(very big resistor :)) ) so the EVA can't charge them anymore.
But as they are lead-batteries you can get them to recharge by applying a high(er) voltage for a limited time. I used 5V from a PC with a 12V lamp "in line" to restrict the current. After about a minute my battery recharger was able to load them again. You might not want to do this outside your lab but those Cyclons cost about 12(euro) a piece, that would be 36(euro) for 3 of them. Sound better than 300(euro) for a HP Bat....
I'm gonna put the Batteries back in and report here tomorrow. Thank you all for your help!

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

I suspect there may be something else within the battery packs which stores the battery state, which the EVA controllers read.

Unless you can manage to reset that, then they'll probably still get flagged as failed.

I'd be interested if you do manage to get them working though. As you say, the HP parts are very expensive for what they are, and increasingly difficult to get hold of...

Cheers,

Rob

[Christian--]

There is nothing on that PCB that can tell the EVA whether its working or not. I think that the only thing that is checked is the voltage and if the battery can be charged. But because the batteries are "parallel" (do you really say it like that?) you could get into trouble with a deep-discharged module (V-->oo).
I actually got the idea of doing this because I called a pretty big german used-it store were they told me that they are doing the exact same thing there.
We will see tomorrow..

[Christian--]

As I suspected the EVA takes the battery without problems. I started the HSV-controller without any battery installed (^^) and inserted them as soon as they finished booting. Here is a screenshot with one of the batteries now charging. P.S.: I downgraded to CV602 due to license issues.

[Mark...]

Hi,
Sounds like a fix then!
However, you need BOTH batteries good and installed PER ctrl for this type of ctrl -HSV100/EVA3000 & HSV110/EVA5000. One battery installed/working is NO good as the ctrl will not present any units/luns from a ctrl (or pair of ctrls) if the batteries are missing or bad.
Let us know how you get on when you put the other "repaired" battery in.
Mark...

[Christian--]

I have VCS4100 running and its presenting the disks without problems with just one (charging) battery installed. Would be really bad if you loose your luns just because one battery fails...

[Mark...]

Hi,
Not able to view you screen capture but I think you may be confused again? Of course I could be wrong but I think this is what you are doing???
Just because you can see a vdisk under CV does not mean that it is presented. Try presenting the vdisk to an OS and then see if you can use it!!
Mark...

[Christian--]

You should look at the screenshot to know what I mean. I presented the disk to my management-server and I can see it without problems. If I'm confusing something please explain!?

[Mark...]

Hi,
One of the ctrls must have good of low batteries then.
Mark...

[Christian--]

Still don't know what you mean.. I'll attach more pictures...

[Christian--]

Ctrl B

two batteries installed in total, one in each controller. Both are charging.

[Uwe Zessin]

_Sounds_ like the controller is happy with at least one functional battery.

But a better test is if you really _write_ onto the virtual disks from the server. Write a signature, create a partition and filesystem and dump some files on it.

[Christian--]

Hi!

I initilized the disk and formatted it. I'll put in the other batteries as soon as they are charged and leave feedback here!