failed RAID1 array in Smart Array 6i controller

[costin gusa]

Hello,

I discovered that one of the arrays had a mixed 10k/15k rpm disks so I wanted to replace the 15k disk with a 10k disk. Because I wanted the two drives to be visually aligned (one was in one corner and one was in the opposite corner) and because I didn't read the documentation for the HPs' definition of a spare drive, I imagined that I would simply hotplug the 10k rpm disk in the next slot to the other 10k disk, declare it as spare, then hot-remove the 15k disk and that would be all. However, reality turned out to be slightly different, ending up with a raid1 array containing one good drive, one good synchronized spare and a missing good drive showing up as failed in ACU.

At this point, neither hpacucli nor cpqacuxe won't let me either remove the missing drive from the array or convert the spare to a good drive.

I've attached the output from hpacucli and hpaducli

Questions:
I)If i let the configuration in the current state, how safe is the array data if one disk fails ?
II) I don't have another 10k disk and I can't afford downtime for this server - is there any way at this point to obtain a 2- 10k disks raid1 array other than following?

1-restore the initial state: a) reinsert the 15k disk into original slot b) let it resync
c) declare the spare as unassigned
d) hotremove the spare
e) hotremove the 15k disk
f) hotplug the 10k into 15k's slot
(with the risk )

- or -
2-go straight -a) hotremove the spare
b) hotplug the spare into the 15k's original slot
(with the risk of downtime due to possible - but not too probable - crash of source sync disk)

Both 1) and 2) will go through a critical period when doing the resync, but 2) seems faster. If I choose 2), what chances are that after resync-ing the spare drive will show up as failed and I won't be able to remove it from the array, as it happens now with the missing good disk ?

[gregersenj]

1 - Hot remove the spare drive.

2 - Hot add into the slot of the drive you wanted to replace.

3 - wait for it to finish rebuilding.
Yes you will be at risk during the rebuild time.

4. add the 15K disk in the slot for the spare drive, the remove the spare in ACU.
You do have to get your original mirror, to be fully restore, before ACU will let you remove the spare.

Cheers
/jag

[costin gusa]

update: i've got an additional spare (but of a larger capacity, so i will use it only temporary for permutations)

i'm still concerned on this question:

"Questions:
I)If i let the configuration in the current state, how safe is the array data if one disk fails ?"

[gregersenj]

Just to make Sure.
The current state = 1 original disk and the spare in use?
Then You're just as safe, as with the 2 original drives.

Cheers
/jag

[costin gusa]

yes, the current state is as you said. see attached output from hpacucli and hpaducli for details.

[gregersenj]

The go ahead, and do it the way you prefer.

I always recommend, to ensure a good backup, no matter how simple and reliable it is.

Cheers
/jag