NetServer E 800 Disk Issue

[Jim Mallett]

Server: NetServer E 800
OS: Windows NT 4.0 Server SP6a
Disks: 2 x 18.2

Server put up an event message: "A disk that is part of a fault-tolerant volume can no longer be accessed"

So in my infinite wisdom I'm assuming a disk has gone bad. Weird thing is the disk is partitioned to a C: and D: drive, and then mirrored. One mirror is showing healthy (D:), the other is not (C:). I only have the option to split C:, and when I try it says it can't get a lock and will require a reboot. This was from "Disk Manager". My only options in Disk Manager was to split that mirror, and that said it would require a reboot because it could not get a lock.

Having never done this, I hesitate.
Are there any tools out there that will tell me the health/status of the internal disks and the mirroring? I've tried Toptools but the browser would not display anything.
Is it possible that there is nothing wrong with the mirror and I'll just need to split/reboot/establish?

Anything built in tools other than Disk Manager that I could use with this server or OS?

Thanks...points for any good ideas....
Jim

[Alicia White · Accepted solution]

That error is an NT RAID error, but, that doesn't mean that there might not be a problem with your hard drive(s).

Have you tried going into the SCSI controller's config utility to see if the drives have any errors? You should get an option to press a key combination during POST to enter the SCSI config utility (usually either CTRL-C or CTRL-A).

If there aren't any errors on the drives, then I would split/reboot/reestablish the software mirror.

Other Trouble-shooting I would try would be:
--first, check the NT event log to see if there are any errors on the drives (particularly, be on the look out for Event ID 9 and 11s on either drive or on the controller);
--then, make sure the HDD firmware is up to date; go to HP's web page: http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix65146en_US.html

I would advise downloading the CD image. It puts the utility and all possible HDD firmware files on one disk. This certainly takes all the guesswork out of which files you need to download !! ;)

Also:
----make sure the SCSI controller firmware is also up to date; and, finally,
--make sure the SCSI controller driver is the latest version.

Go to this HP.com page to get all downloads for the E800(drivers, firmware, BIOS, etc.):

http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix45939en_US.html

On that same page, you may also want to download Instant Top Tools. ITT does include a feature that can test hard drives. I don't know how much that will tell or if it offers more or less than the regular Top Tools utility does.

If Top Tools isn't working for you, you probably need to download MS's Java Virtual Machine. Top Tools requires VM to work.

Alicia

[Jim Mallett]

Alicia,

Thanks for the ideas, I'm going to try them when I get to that site this afternoon.

I was hoping you would say that about the potential for the disk to be OK. I will try the split/reboot/re-establish. There was nothing glaring in the event logs.
The firmware for everything on that system needs to be upgraded. When it became my responisibility it was in a pretty poor state, I'm going to get a good backup and do as much as I can tonight.
I'm sure you're right on the money regarding VM. I checked the Java settings and made sure they were pretty lenient but VM didn't cross my mind.

Hopefully everything works but you've given me enough information to get me going.

Thanks.....
Jim

[Jim Mallett]

There was a logical C: and D: drive, and two physical drives mirrored.
Broke the mirror, rebooted, and the mirror of C: came up as a brand new logical drive F: and didn't give me an option to re-establish. After sitting there debating why I'm in this field for about 1/2 hr I decided to delete the F: drive. After doing so, it allowed me to create a new relationship. It is now regenerating. Downloaded MS VM and Toptools is working great.
Now that I was able to get the info from Toptools I'll be able to get all the firmware I need, and have a good report for a potential disaster recovery.
Thank you VERY MUCH! I'm busy enough as it is this week in my regular, this saved me a bit of time.
Good luck w/ your N+! (ugh, subnets)

JIm

[Alicia White]

Jim,

Thanks for the points! :)

Yeah, too bad it doesn't actually say anywhere on HP's download page that MS VM is actually REQUIRED to run Top Tools/Instant Top Tools. I think it did used to say that on the old Top Tools page (now moved on to NetServer Sto-Vo-Kor), but apparently the NetServer powers that be did not think to put this information on the individual NetServer download pages... :(

Anyway, I hope your server is much happier now that you have Top Tools running and the NT RAID has been rebuilt. :-)

Thanks,

Alicia
PS--Yep, despite Mike Myer's entertaining & informative All-in-One Exam Guide, preparing for the Network+ is not as much fun as preparing for the A+... sigh.
AMW