RAID 5 over controller Port 1 & Port 2

[Accuman]

Hello it's hard to find proper information @ HPE or ask them a question those days:

so I use an HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10 controller and a bunch of afordable 4TB sata disks in an Dl360 G10

first I use only one bay with 4 drives, but can't expand it with more drives on port2 of bay2.

So finally I empty the whole server an delete and recreate the array.

i get a view warnings but it works fine.

However I dont want to ignore the warnings, 

The raid controller don't like it when you create an disk array over two ports (2 bays with 4 drive slots eatch).

But on a certent moment you need more space and want to expand with more drives.

The question:

How can I do this the proper way, 

do I need a better controller?

what is an affoirdable way to fix this?

best regards,

Victor

[support_s]

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[Accuman]

Reading the recommended content din’t help me.



Met vriendelijke groet,
Victor Esselman.

Een Support Case nodig mail a.u.b. dan naar: helpdesk@directnetworkservices.nl


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[thutchings]

Hello,

Just going across a separate port to the same controller should not throw an error, unless for instance, the backplanes being used are potentially different or slower technologies.

It looks like you may have tried to copy something in the post, but it does not seem to be coming across correctly. Can you type in the error that you are seeing?

Regards

[Accuman]

@thutchings 

Hello,

Beneath my configuration a DL360 Gen 10.

I has to build in disk cases each can contain  4 drives connected to HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10, with two cables port 1 and 2.

First I use only the first 4 drives on port1

Than I added an extra sat disk in one of the port2 drives and try to expand the existing disk array what was not possible while backup battery was in place.

So I was confused, wtf is this.

I empty the whole disk array, delete it an recreated it, but get a 2 warnings in yellow  I dint write is down but it says something about that it I want to create an array over port1 and 2. And something about the hot spare.

Strange is did this for 20 years with the old SAS disk spindles without any problems or corruptions

So what is the problem, probably the cheap non HPE enterprise disks……

But the bios offers sata, so what.

Funny is that everything is green so do I need to be worried about the warnings.

Thanks in advance.

[Vinky_99]

Hey Victor,

Good day! 

RAID configurations can sometimes be tricky, and compatibility issues can arise. Let's address your questions:

Expanding Array Over Multiple Ports>> It's generally possible to create a RAID array over multiple ports (bays) as long as the controller supports it and the drives are connected properly. However, in your case, it seems that the controller is causing warnings when you create an array over two ports. This might be due to a limitation of the controller's firmware or configuration.

Proper Way to Expand>> If you're looking to expand your RAID array with more drives, here are some steps to consider:

1. First, review the documentation for your HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10 controller. This should provide details on the supported configurations, including the number of drives per port or bay, and whether expanding across ports is supported.

2. Ensure that your RAID controller's firmware is up to date. Sometimes, firmware updates can address compatibility issues and expand the supported configurations.

3. Before making any changes to your RAID configuration, especially when adding or removing drives, it's crucial to back up your data.

Controller Upgrade>> If your current controller doesn't support the configuration you need, you might consider upgrading to a controller that does. However, this can be an expensive solution. Before doing that, exhaust all possibilities of working with your existing controller through firmware updates and support consultations.

>> If upgrading the controller is not an option due to budget constraints, you might need to work within the limitations of your current hardware. This could mean setting up a RAID configuration that's supported by your current controller, even if it means using fewer drives per port or bay.

Hope this helps! Let me know..