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REPLACING DELL FAILED DRIVE
My server PowerEdge 2900 has five SATAu physical disks. Two (0 and 1) of 160GB each are configured for RAID 1(VD1) on which the Oprating System is installed. The remaining three (2,3,and 4) of 750GB each are configured for RAID 5 (VD2). Three days ago one out of the three for RAID5 failed so I degraded it to work with the remaining 2. Today a second one from the same group also failed rendering the VD2 unavailabe. I want to know if it is possible to replace the failed drives with others of smaller size (say 500GB) than the failed ones. Another thing is that I unplugged the remaining working drive of VD2. After putting it back the system sees its availability but now with foreign written against it and VD2 is no more available in the Array configuration Utility. I want to know if it can rebuild if I replace the faulty drives?
theflash1932
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April 20th, 2011 10:00
No, you cannot replace a drive in an array with a smaller one. It must be at least as large. Also, you cannot "rebuild" the array until you get it back online. To do this you would have needed to attempt to force online the last drive that failed (NOT the first that failed three days ago) - or import the foreign config if showing as foreign. Hopefully you have a backup, as you may or may not be able to get it back up and running or get the data back unless you send the drives to a professional data recovery company.
I would call Dell technical support (if in the States/Canada), as support is always free regardless of your warranty status. It is much easier to work through this over the phone than through the forum.
Unplugging the remaining drive may have just made things worse. You will need to go to the CTRL-R prompt and import the Foreign config, then force online the drive that failed TODAY.
Anonymous
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April 20th, 2011 10:00
Sorry for the drive issues, with this there is only one first step that needs to be performed before addressing replacement drives unless you have a backup ready to go, if that’s the case skip this section. Since there was a double fault on a RAID 5, you need to identify the drive that was the last to fail the array as that is the most current with the online member. You can identify this by powering up the unit and going into the BMC – CTRL+E. From here, you can view the hardware log to isolate what drive you need to resurrect back into the array. Now that we have identified the drive that was the last to go offline, from the controller if that is the failed drive, press F2, select Force Online. If it’s the drive in foreign status, then select import foreign. Once the drive is back in an online, attempt to boot.
As far as replacement drives, there is no option to go to a smaller sized drive on an array that is already created. The controller is looking to accept a drive with a specific amount of available room to rebuild from and unless the drive is 750 or larger, it wont allow a rebuild to commence. Only option is to backup that array’s data, delete the array and recreate and reload that segment.
theflash1932
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April 20th, 2011 11:00
You can do this from Windows using the OpenManage Server Adminstrator (OMSA) software if you have it installed ... or from CTRL-R.
You must first Import the Foreign configuration from the "good" drive.
Then, if your last drive is showing as Failed, you will need to Force it Online.
Then, you pray your data is accessible and not damaged.
LutherEmp
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April 20th, 2011 11:00
In the PD Mgmt of the Array config Util, the two failed drives are not available. However in the Foreign View, the working one is showing as Online(Foreign) and the failed ones as Missing with all three grayed-out. Also in th VD Mgmt the Virtual Drive two which comprises the three drives of RAID five is also unavailable. This wasn't so before I removed the working drive of the VD2. So I ask, how do I force the last failed drive on-line?
LutherEmp
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April 20th, 2011 12:00
When I try import the Foreign configuration from the good drive I get the following error:
ERROR! Foreing Config Import
1 out of 1 failed to import
ERROR Code: Unknown
All the failed drives are not showing at all under any of the Tabs. Under Foreign view they are shown as Missing and grayed-out.
Also pressing F2 on the working in PD Mgmt have all options grayed-out execpt for LED Blinking.
theflash1932
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April 20th, 2011 12:00
What is your controller firmware version (Controller MGMT - both versions)?