Hard Drive Replacement

[Rinesh]

I am having HP ML370 G4 server. There are 2 hard drives in it with mirroring. One hard drive in the slot 0 has been failed and I need to replace it. Will it affect the data on the other drive? Is there any particular process for that?

[Trygve Henriksen]

Well, as far as I know, the process is something like this:

1. Make certain you have a good backup.
(This is a no-brainer; we always make certain to have a good backup.)

Assuming hot-plug disks:
2. Unpack the new disk.
3. Release the lock on the bad drive and pull it out.
4. Slide the new drive in and make certain it locks correctly.
5. Fire up the 'ACU' in Windows and verify that the RAID is Rebuilding.
6. Get yourself a cup of tea and a biscuit for a job well done!

Non hot-plug:
2. Shut down server.
3. Break open the case.
4. Unpack the new disk.
5. Remove the old drive.
5. If necessary, transfer any fastening screws or rails from the old to the new disk.
6. Mount the drive.
7. Bang the case back together.
(Go easy on the duct tape, you may need to open it again later)
8. Fire up the server, and watch carefully as the POST messages roll by. You should see a message about rebuilding.
9. Get yourself a cup of tea and TWO biscuits for a job well done.

[Rinesh]

First of all, thank you for the reply. I am having a very good backup for all the data. But as the drive is on SCSI 0, will it affect the system and OS? How can we make sure that it is hot swappable?

[Trygve Henriksen]

Generally, if the HDD has a built-in handle to lock it in place, and can be removed without removing any covers or panels, its hot-swappable. another clue is that you don't have to unplug any cables in the back of it. ;-)

Also, the Array-controller hides all the 'wiggly bits' for the OS, so it doesn't 'know' that there are two HDDs functioning as one. The fact that one of them is busy wobbling like a frat boy on his way home after a party or is using smoke signals to warn about Custer riding towards Little Big Horn is quite irrelevant to the OS.