Is there an easy way to determine if a disk is hotswappable?

[Kirk Reindl]

Hello:

Our shop has a bunch of old T servers that run a heavy mixure of both hotswap disks and what I call "fixed" disks.

Is there an easy way to determine if a disk is hotswappable or not? (Obviously I could go into our computer room and physically look, but I'm not always on the property)

For example, is there an option in diskinfo or ioscan that would show me this.

I realize I can cross-ref the product id, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a quicker way.

Thanks

Kirk Reindl

[Pete Randall]

Kirk,

I don't think so. What I would do is take a copy of an "ioscan -kfnC disk" into the computer room and write on it which disks are and which aren't. Then you'll have a reference.

Pete

[Chris Wilshaw]

It ultimately depends on a number of factors - firmware versions, disk/enclosure models, patch levels can all have an effect on whether a disk is truly (or more to the point SAFELY) hot-swapable.

You may also need the disk to be mirrored (again depending on the array type, RAID levels etc).

[Kirk Reindl]

Thanks respondents. I thought that was the answer, but I needed someone to tell me.

I didn't realize everything was so dependent on patch and firmware level.

ALSO, and this might tie in,
The removable media field in diskinfo is not accurate. I'm thinking you techs know this otherwise you would make asked me to simply look at this field.

In other words, I have a disk that I know beyond any doubt is hot swappable. But I do a diskinfo and it tells me:
removable media: NO

Thanks again.