DL360 G6 P410i Addon Cache installation problem

[Karen Tatro]

We have 4 DL360 G6 servers; all with same configuration.
Each has a P410i controller with 2 drives.
We purchased cache to addon to each server.
2 servers the installation went with no problems; installed, rebooted, running fine.
The other 2 server when the cache is installed the serverers will not boot.
Under the ADU we see an "unconfigured Cache" error.

The system board have been replaced, the cache has been replaced, the bios has been updated, the firmware has been updated, the NVR has been cleared.
When two replacement drives are installed the controller comes up with no errors.

This appears to be a problem where the new config (with cache installed) is not being written to the drive; possibly a metadata problem.

Is there a way to get this installed without having to rebuild the disk?

[Terry Hutchings]

The cache your talking about is on the P410 correct? If you bring the server down and pull the drives out does the server have the same error during POST? If so, then rebuilding the array won't make any difference. I suspect this does not have anything to do with the array configuration.

[Karen Tatro]

The P410i is onboard to the system board.
When not drives are connected there is no problem because there is no conflict between the config stored in the controller and the config stored in the drive metadata.

[gregersenj]

Spooky.
Never seen this.

Just a suggestion.
Open the ACU, find the cache settings, and change it.

BR
/jag

[Karen Tatro]

The cache options do not show up when the ACU is started.
When the ADU is run we see a "unconfigured Cache error"

[Same Elay]

Did you try it with another Cache? It could be a problem with the Cache (Even if it is new).

If you are installing with a battery, please remove the battery and try it.

[gregersenj]

Another suggestion.

Power off server - remove power cords.

Remove the cache.

Power up, boot up the server.

Power it back down, remove powercords.

Reinstall the cache.

Normally, there's no rockett sience in installing the cache.
And som of the smart array controllers will startup with out the cache module.

BR
/jag

[Michael A. McKenney]

I would run a diagnostics on the server from Smartstart. It could be a bad server board.

[Karen Tatro]

You are correct.
The installation is not rocket science; been doing them for 29 years.

To clarify, yes the controller is a P400 series; in on board the system board.

The problem is not the system board; it has been changed.

On power up, with the cache installed, the system will not boot; it sees the configuration change (addon cache) but considers it wrong.

The Smart Start Diags were run, that is where we see the "Unconfigured Cache" error.

If we undo the install, all is back to normal.

[gregersenj]

As suggestet aboave, it could be a bad cache module.

BR
/jag