Proliant 1600 SmartArray 3200 remove drives

[Bram van Dartel]

Hi,

At work I have an array that consists of 3 disks in RAID5 mode, and 3 disks in RAID1+0 mode. So I have 2 logical drives in one array that each consist of 3 disks. The first logical drive is RAID5 and the second logical drive is RAID1+0.

What I want to do is remove Logical drive 2 with the array configuration utility, but as I try that, I get the feeling that the complete array is going to be removed. Am I right? If not how can I remove logical drive 2 from the array without the loss of data on logical drive 1?

Thanks in advance

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi,

Q)
What I want to do is remove Logical drive 2 with the array configuration utility, but as I try that, I get the feeling that the complete array is going to be removed. Am I right? If not how can I remove logical drive 2 from the array without the loss of data on logical drive 1?

A)
Accourding to above details :
On second array there is 1 logal drive and you want to remove that local drive 2 from 2 array.
If on raid there is no logical driver then where will be data.

Or can you explain it again might be i am not getting it.

Regards,
Prashant S.

[Michael Williams_6]

I think I understand. Normally you put a disk into separate arrays, but you've put two disks into the same array.

As long as you use smartstart 5.xx to do this then it'll work. Boot into smartstart and enter the array configuration utility.

Highlight the disk you want to delete, and on the right you'll notice three groups of buttons, one deletes the array (don't click that!), one deletes the logical drive, this one you want to click, and the other one I can't remember!

The advantage of doing it in SmartStart is that it can visually show you what you've done *BEFORE* you save your changes. So take a note of the ID's you should have free afterwards and delete the drive. If the ID's match up to those you want free, click on Controller and save changes, if you've made a mistake or it looks wrong, quite the Array Configuration Utility and DO NOT save your changes, that way everythin will stay as it was.

I hope that helps!

Mike

[Bram van Dartel]

Michael, you understood me right! This afternoon i`m going to try to remove the 2nd logical drive from the Array with the SmartStart CD. I wanted to try that before, but I couldn't find an old version of the SmartStart CD. I`ll let you know if it worked.

Tx for your help!

[Bram van Dartel]

I've tried it and it didn't work :(.

Both logical drives will be removed when I try Michael's given solution. Any other proposals?

[Vijay_44]

Bram,

If you delete one logical drive it will not affect the second logical drive.
Highlight the logical drive (not array) that you want to delete and choose delete logical drive from the Drive menu in the menu bar (screen shot attached).

I do not understand one thing; do you have Logical Drive 1 and Logical Drive 2 in Array A or Logical Drive 1 in Array A and Logical Drive 2 in Array B. You mentioned that one of your logical drives is a RAID 1+0 with 3 drives - RAID 1+0 needs even number of drives; so i was wondering how your array in configured?

[Bram van Dartel]

Let me clear out some things first :D.

The configuration is as follows:

Array A
- Logical Drive (1) - 3x 36.4GB - RAID 5
- Logical Drive (2) - 3x 72.8GB - RAID 5 (was RAID 1+0, but i've changed that this morning to try somthing)

Anyway, if I follow your instructions like in the screenshot, then the complete Array will be destroyed. Weird, but true.

Tx for trying to help!

[Bram van Dartel]

Anyway I can remove the 2nd logical drive, but the question is how can I remove the 3 disks from that Array. When I try that, the complete Array will be destroyed.

Whew, I hope that it is clear now after all those explanations from me....sorry.

[Michael Williams_6]

If the array gets destroyed, it's because you have selected the array, make sure that the logical volume is highlighted, then the delete volume button should be available, then it should work!

[Michael Williams_6]

I see, once you've deleted the actual volume (NOT the array), you should notice that on your storage shelf that those three disks no longer have a disk light on them. They are now safe to remove physically from your array.

[Bram van Dartel]

Owkee...

The config is now like this:

Array A
- Logical disk(1) - 3x36.4 - RAID 5
- 3x72.8 - Unused Space

But the lights keep blinking.

[Michael Williams_6]

Ahh, the disks are now in the array, but are unnasigned. Firstly, have you saved your changes as this may make the light disappear.

If not, click on the "unused" space so it's highlighted and click the delete key.

It should then be removed from the array, save changes and let us know!

[Vijay_44]

Ok,
So you have deleted the logical drive and are now trying to reclaim the drives.

Bram ,
An array is a collecting or drives; when you create an array you get unused space, which comprises of all the drive in the array put together. When you create a logical drive, it spans across all drives in the array. A logical drive in the array uses all the physicals drives in an array. In your case you have 2 logical drive and both of them span across all the physical drives.
Now you have ended up with some free space and one logical drive; this free space is also spread across all physical drive.

You are right when you say that you will loose Logical Drive 1 if you try and remove three PHYSICAL drives - your RAID 5 Logical Drive 1 can handle the loss or just one PHYSICAL drive.

You cannot remove your 3 PHYSICAL drives from the array using the ACU without data loss. It is advisable to have different logical drives under different arrays so that changes to one do not affect the other.

[Bram van Dartel]

Heya...

I already had saved the configuration...

Then...

I've tried the del key on the unused space, but nothing happens then.

I also tried to modify the array and remove the physical disks, then I get the message that the complete array will be destroyed.

I've uploaded some pictures to our FTP...

ftp://bram:arraypr0bl3m@adsl.brabantalucastproducts.nl/a.bmp
ftp://bram:arraypr0bl3m@adsl.brabantalucastproducts.nl/b.bmp
ftp://bram:arraypr0bl3m@adsl.brabantalucastproducts.nl/c.bmp
ftp://bram:arraypr0bl3m@adsl.brabantalucastproducts.nl/d.bmp
ftp://bram:arraypr0bl3m@adsl.brabantalucastproducts.nl/e.bmp

[Bram van Dartel]

@Vijay

Damn, I thought that would be the problem cos the unused space wasn't 3 times 72.8 GB, so space had to be spanned.

Is there any way to free the 3 72.8 GB disks? Or do I really have to remove the array?

[Michael Williams_6 · Accepted solution]

Hi Bram, looks a little tricky doesn't it.

Could you do a Ghost of the contents of the array, delete the array and then restore the ghost??

In future, I would highly suggest you only have one disk per array!

[Vijay_44]

As far as I know you cannot reclaim your 3 physical drives from the array without reconfiguring.

[Bram van Dartel]

I`m going to do the following.

Make a ghost, then delete the Array, then create a new Array as in the old situation and put the ghost image back.

Tx for the quick help...I both gave you another 10 points.

I`ll let you know if it worked out, i`m going to start within 3 hours with the ghost.

[Bram van Dartel]

Hey, hey, perhaps I can remove the 72GB drives 1 by 1. Since it's RAID 5, the data will be put on the other disks. What do you think?

[Michael Williams_6]

I'm pretty sure that won't work, if you lose more than one disk in a RAID5 array then the array contents are pretty much lost...

[Bram van Dartel]

The solution:

First i've created an image of the server with Acronis Trueimage. Then removed the Array configuration and the disks I wanted to be removed. Then re-created a new Array configuration and restored the image...works perfect!

I used an IDE disk to create the image on.