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PERC 5/i question
Hi,
I need to expand the size of my VHD for file server but only way to do it is by transferring it to bigger storage space as my current RAID1 setup is out of space.
Could you let me know if the below steps look correct?
Quick background:
I have Power Edge 2950 with PERC 5/i and 6x 3.5 inch slots. Two are occupied by RAID 1 with MS Hyper-v, another two by File server again in RAID 1 and final two by email server in RAID 1.
My plan of action was:
1. Shutdown the physical server.
2. Remove two HDDs making RAID 1 with Email Server
3. Insert in their place two new HDDs and configure them in PERC 5/i as RAID 1
4. Boot to Hyper-v
5. In hyper-v management console Export and import File Server to newly created volume out of new RAID 1 config.
6. Shutdown physical host.
7. Remove two HDDs creating RAID 1 which are hosting original File Server
8. Put in back RAID 1 hdds with Exchange server in place of RAID 1 with old File Server
9. During POST Import foreign config (with Exchange server) when prompt
Done?
Unless there is a simpler way? Or am I a missing something (other then of course resizing of VHD once on new RAID 1 config?
Thanks guys
DELL-Chris H
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February 5th, 2015 10:00
Sebna,
Yes, that is the correct, and also the supported procedure for increasing the array size. The only issue I see that you could run into is if you were to do something like a system state backup, which can cause issues due to the differences in disks and size. Plus as you had said, the resizing of the VHD.
Let us know how it goes, and if you need any other assistance.
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 03:00
Hi Chris,
Thank you very much for you answer.
I will be making the changes live this weekend but in the mean time a slight problem poped up and just wanted to check if it is going to be a game changer for me.
The RAID controller battery is showing that less then 24h charge is left and the display is amber. It is like this for over 24h so I assume it is not a once per while formatting event. I have already ordered the replacement but I do not think it is going to be here on time before the weekend.
Should the battery state / problem stop me from proceeding or is the operation still safe to do?
I do not mind if speed of the controller is degraded as long as it is safe to do whole operation as per steps in my first post.
Thank you.
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 05:00
Chris, one more time thank you for quick answer.
Few more questions. Is it safe to upgrade FW of RAID controller without updating BIOS and other Firmwares to newest versions? This server has not been updated to newest BIOS.
The driver from your link is for Win 2k3 while I am on 2k8 R2?
If I would have to update all other FW / BIOS what would they be? Could you list them? Does order in which they are updated matters?
The batter warning remains on for over 48h now so I assume it is not learning / battery formatting cycle as it should go away after 24h.
Finally - if I absolutely do not have to, I would prefer not to do BIOS / FW updates at one day with RAID reconfiguration and importing / exporting of VMs as there is just too many things that can go possibly wrong.
Thanks
DELL-Chris H
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February 11th, 2015 05:00
The first thing I would do is make sure the driver and firmware for the controller are up to date, and current. That is to ensure that the battery information you are seeing, isn't being generated due to the controller being out of date. So start there. The < than 24hr is a warning, but can be triggered by things like a learn cycle. It is an issue with the battery when that warning becomes persistent. I think you will be fine to get everything knocked out before replacing, but I would still get thorough backups before changing the configuration as you discussed.
DELL-Chris H
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February 11th, 2015 06:00
I personally would get the server current, before performing the tasks. I wouldn't look at it as "too many things", as much as maximizing stability of the host system before asking it to perform everything. The system shouldn't have any issues with the tasks, but being current improves the chances of that. Just a suggestion.
One thing you can also consider, is running the SUU (Server Update Utility) from the OS. It will provide you a list of devices needing updating, and will update them as well. It can update the entire system.
You can find the SUU here.
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 06:00
In this case the final question.
Will SUU work in Core environment (Windows 2008 R2 Core)?
Thanks
DELL-Chris H
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February 11th, 2015 06:00
It should work within the 2008R2 Core.
DELL-Chris H
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February 11th, 2015 07:00
If you have the iDrac Enterprise you can mount the ISO via Virtual Media in the Remote Console.
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 07:00
Chris,
Do you know a software that you could recommend to use as safe and stable solution on 2k8 core for ISO mounting?
Thank you
theflash1932
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February 11th, 2015 08:00
The 2950 doesn't have an "iDRAC". There is only one type of DRAC for the 2950, which DOES support virtual media.
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 09:00
Will have to check if this server has it.
In the mean time I just mounted it on my workstation and copied the content to a folder on the server. Did not have a chance to try it yet as I had to leave.
Will it work (file copied out of CD)?
Cheers
sebna
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February 11th, 2015 23:00
Ok. It seems that SUU will work from HDD no problem but it is not compatible with Core environment...
Good news is that I have replaced the battery and the error has cleared instantaneously.
Seems that I will continue with my plan without updating the platform.
Once all done and working as expected I will look at migrating to 2012 this server as I soon enough it will come handy to be able to use VHD bigger then 2TB and also I like the way 2012 handles VMs in regards to importing and exporting which is massively flawed in 2008 IMHO. And with 2012 I will be able to use Core for normal running and convert it to full GUI to do SUU and then come back to Core once done.
Is there anything else on the list of Firmwares to be updated other then BIOS, Raid controller and LAN cards?
Thanks
DELL-Chris H
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February 13th, 2015 05:00
The essential updates, in my opinion, would be the BIOS, then Lifecycle Controller, Drac, Raid Controller, Hard drives, and then the LAN cards.
sebna
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February 17th, 2015 01:00
Everything worked like a charm other then the fact that the PERC 5/i does not accept 3tb hdds... luckily I had 2tb ones handy.
I also wanted to do all Bios / FW updates but I encountered problems. First of all on the Dell website there is only one FW update available and it is for RAID controller. There is no updates for LAN or Life Cycle controller. There is of course new BIOS.
I did both RAID and BIOS updates from Windows level. They went fine according to Dell messages but after restart during POST there is no change to version of either BIOS or Raid controller FW.
Is it a know problem / situation? Or is it again some complications with Core edition from which I was doing updates?
Thanks for all your help so far. Very valuable.
DELL-Chris H
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February 17th, 2015 05:00
Sebna,
Sorry about that, I keep falling back to more recent servers. The 2950 doesn't have a Lifecycle Controller, that was released with servers shortly thereafter.
The Broadcom NIC only has an updated driver, not a firmware update like the Intels.
Verify that the BIOS and the Drac are now current. If the Drac is still out of date then that is likely why you don't see a change on reboot. The Drac is responsible for HW reporting, so that is why it might be showing incorrectly.
Running the update from the Core environment shouldn't cause any issue. Most of the updates are actually pushed through on the reboot, not within the environment.