RAID 6 Vdisk Offline - Unable to Add Spare Disk (HP MSA 2040 SAN)

[scorpio_29]

I am experiencing an issue with the HP MSA 2040 SAN storage system. Currently, vdisk vd0001, which is configured as RAID 6, is showing a Fault status and is Offline. Below are the steps I have taken and the issues encountered:

• The vd0001 vdisk (RAID 6) is in Fault state.
• According to the system, at least one disk has failed, causing the vdisk to go Offline.
• The system recommends replacing the failed disk(s) and performing a rebuild.
• I attempted to add a spare disk using an available disk in the enclosure (Disk 1.4 - SAS 1.2TB, status OK).
• When attempting to configure the spare disk, the following error appeared:
  "Unable to modify the dedicated spare settings. The target vdisk is offline."
• It seems that the system does not allow changes to spare disk settings because the vdisk is offline.

Questions:

• Is there a way to recover this vdisk without losing data?
• Can the trust CLI command be used in this case? If so, what are the safest steps to follow?
• Are there any alternative solutions to add a spare disk or replace the failed disk to allow the RAID to rebuild?

I would appreciate any help or suggestions from the HPE community regarding this issue. Thank you!

[Moderator edit: Erased the confidential info.]

[Sahana_S]

Hello @scorpio_29 ,

Try replacing the failed drive with the identical new drive.

MSA 2040 does not permit spare disk assignments to vdisks that are already offline.

If you have configured the global spare, the rebuild process takes place automatically. If not, you can manually add a spare or replace the failed disk by assigning a new drive as a global spare or a dedicated spare to the disk group.

The trust command can be used to attempt to recover an offline vdisk by resynchronizing metadata. However, this command should be used with caution. Please refer to this guide for using the trust command.

Please refer to this guide for the troubleshooting steps.

If you feel this was helpful, please click the KUDOS thumb below. Also consider marking this as an "Accepted Solution", if the post has helped to solve your issue.
Thanks,
Sahana S

[support_s]

System recommended content:

1. HPE MSA 2040 SAN Storage - Support Guides | Answer

Please click on "Thumbs Up/Kudo" icon to give a "Kudo".

Thank you for being a HPE valuable community member.

[scorpio_29]

hi @Sahana_S thanks for replay

I have already added 1 available disk to the global spare. However, the disk automatically synced to the RAID 5 vdisk, while what I need is for it to sync to the RAID 6 vdisk that is currently in a fault state. Whenever I try to assign 2 available disk dedicated spare to RAID 6, an error message appears stating that the vdisk is offline.

Is there any solution to force the spare disk to sync with the RAID 6 vdisk?

[Moderator edit: Erased the confidential info.]

[Sahana_S]

Hello @scorpio_29 ,

Vdisk is offline, indicating that 3 disks might be failed for RAID 6.
Since the vdisk is offline, spare disk cannot be added.
Determine which disks have been failed and replace the fault disks with the same capacity disks.
Power cycle the MSA storage if necessary and check if the system detects the new disk. If RAID 6 determines the new disk, re-build should begin automatically.

Else, the trust command can be used to attempt to recover an offline vdisk by resynchronizing metadata. However, this command should be used with caution. Please refer to this guide for using the trust command.

If the issue still persists, 

1. Download MSA Log File from the MSA Storage Management Utility (SMU)
2. Upload MSA Log File in the MSA Health Check website
3. Contact HPE support.

If you feel this was helpful, please click the KUDOS thumb below. Also consider marking this as an "Accepted Solution", if the post has helped to solve your issue.

Thanks,
Sahana S

[support_s]

Hello,

Let us know if you were able to resolve the issue.

If you are satisfied with the answers then kindly click the "Accept As Solution" button for the most helpful response so that it is beneficial to all community members.

Please click on "Thumbs Up/Kudo" icon to give a "Kudo".