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July 1st, 2005 16:00
Trying to Replace Failed SCSI Drive Perc 3Di Card PowerEdge 4400 Server
I have a PowerEdge 4400 Server with a Perc 3Di RAID controller card on a Windows 2000 Server (SP4). I am running RAID 0 for the OS and RAID 5 for the data drives. The RAID 5 array consists of 3-18GB drives and has a hot online spare drive. I am Trying to replace one of the failed SCSI drives (RAID 5 member) on a Perc 3Di Raid card. When the drive originally failed, I took the failed drive offline and removed it from the server so I could replace it. Even though I removed the drive via the Dell Array Manager in Windows, it kept trying to rebuild the array, causing the server to stop responding after a certain period of time.
I have replaced the failed drive but it still reports a missing member when I start the server when it goes through its POST. I have tried to rebuild the drive via the Array Manager in Windows but it keeps failing and pops up a "rebuild failed" message on the screen. I have tried to intialize the replacement drive but still nothing works. The server will run fine for a few days but will then stop responding. I am thinking that one option would be to completely redo the RAID 5 array and restore from backup but it would seem like there should be an easier way to replace one failed drive.
Also, when I initialize or cancel the rebuild via the Array Manager, the Array Manager console stops responding and I can't get back into it without completely restarting the server.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
John Bennett
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warwizard55
720 Posts
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July 1st, 2005 21:00
John,
I'd advise looking at your other drives. rebuilds failing at the same point indicate a media problem on one of the other drives in the array. The clue here is that you have a hot spare drive and it failed it's rebuild as well. Run diagnostics on the other drives in the array, replace or low level format (verify operation) the drive with grown defects (media errors).
Check the SCSI cable, if it's the twisted pair cable P/N 0036R, you might want to buy the ribbon cable version P/N 83KNG.
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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July 3rd, 2005 19:00
This is the way I replace drives that go south in my 4400's
Rule of raid. Replace 1 drive and you are critical. Try replacing 2 drives at the same time you are DEAD.
Get a new drive of the same size or larger than the old.
Turn off the server and remove all the good drives by pulling them out.
Take the bad drive all the way out.
Put a new drive in where the bad drive was.
Boot the CTRL A bios setting and "find" the new drive.
Initialize aka format the new drive (WITH ALL THE GOOD DRIVES REMOVED)
Shut down.
Put all the drives back in.
Start up in the CTRL A perc whammy jammy and see if the drive is rebuilding.
If it is then you allow it to get to 100 percent rebuilt then restart the server.
If you try booting while rebuilding the server is VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY slow.
A better solution is to get a new "set" of drives Preferably more than 3. such as 6 or 8.
These kits include the Hard Drive Carrier and mounting screws.
340-9303, 18GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 15K, 80pin
340-7884, 36GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 10K, 80pin
340-9302, 36GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 15K, 80pin
340-7897, 73GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 10K, 80pin
340-8481, 73GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 15K, 80pin
340-7916, 146GB, U320, SCSI, 1IN, 10K, 80pin
If you obtain the hard drives from an aftermarket vendor, the part number for the Hard Drive Carrier is 4649C. You will also need 4 screws, 1213C for each hard drive added.
FYI, this carrier fits these PowerEdge systems: 1500, 2300, 2400, 2450, 2500, 2550, 4300, 4350, 4400, 4600, 6300, 6350, 6400, 6450, 7150, 8450 and these PowerVault systems: 750N, 755N, 200s, 201s, 210s, 211s.
Dell spare parts can be reached by phone at 1-800-357-3355 for pricing and availability.