HPE PRIMERA C600 - redistribute HDD`s even by cage`s in production state

[Nikolay Savov]

Hello guys.

I have a functional question:
Suppose I have a C630 Primera with 16 x HDD
When adding disk enclosure box 1 , 2 , etc. and more HDD`s 
in order to distribute the disks evenly across the cages and provide HA by cage is it possible to physically move the disks from cage 1 to cage 2, 3 ....
What would be the procedure if the system is productive 27/7 and there is no possibility of Off-line activities?

Thanks.

[Cali · Accepted solution]

Hi,

yes, you can do it and also Online.

But it is a complex and time-consuming process.

HPE can do this for you if you order these services: HPE 3PAR, HPE Primera, and HPE Alletra 9000 Rebalance Service

You will need an additional 2 Cages minimum for HA and have only Raid 6 4+2 with a lot of Overhead, or 3 additional Cages and Raid 6 6+2.

And some free Space, I see no benefit for this, I manage over 100 3PAR/Primera and never have a Shelf failure.

Cali

[Mahesh202]

Hi Niksavoy

It is possible to physically move the disks from one cage to another in order to distribute them evenly across the cages and provide high availability (HA) by the cage. However, this procedure must be done carefully to avoid data loss or downtime.

You may consider the below steps to move disks from one cage to another in a productive system with no possibility of offline activities:

1. Ensure that the system is fully redundant and that there is no single point of failure. This means that all critical components, such as power supplies, fans, and controllers, should be redundant.

2. Verify that the new disk enclosure box is compatible with the existing system and that it is properly configured.

3. Prepare the new disk enclosure box by installing the necessary hardware components and configuring the RAID arrays.

4. Identify the disks that need to be moved from one cage to another. 

5. Safely remove the disks from the original cage by following the manual instructions. Make sure to label the disks to keep track of their original location.

6. Install the disks in the new cage, making sure to follow the manual instructions for proper installation.

7. Once all disks have been moved to the new cage, verify that the system recognizes them and that they are properly configured.

8. Monitor the system closely for any issues, such as disk failures or performance degradation.

9. Repeat the process for any additional disk enclosure boxes.

It is important to note that moving disks from one cage to another can be a risky procedure, especially in a productive system that cannot be taken offline. Therefore, it is recommended that you contact HPE Tech Support for assistance before attempting this procedure.

Regards
Mahesh

[Nikolay Savov]

I see that this is why i have hard time to find tech. procedure for moving disk - there is a service we can use from tech team.

So Thank You guys for the advice and the link !

Regards:  Nik