Schedule Consistency Check

Question

How do I go about scheduling a consistency check using OM Server Administrator or some other CLI?

I've read that I can use amcli.exe, but it doesn't get installed with Server Administrator. If I extract the files I get an error saying that the VxSvc service needs to be running. Where is this service to install it? I tried starting the Virtual Disk Service, but that didn't help.

I'm using Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Version 4.5.0 on a PE2850 with a split backplane.

Thanks in advance,

Jamie Jensen

pcmeiners · Answer

Jamie   The service info.... Seems it is the Disk Management Service 'C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\Array Manager\VxSvc.exe'     Once you get the problem fixed, if you have the fairly standard, raid 1 and raid 5 setup... command line in the schedule task, to run CC on the C: partition on the raid 1 'C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\Array Manager\amcli.exe'  /c1/e0/v   On the raid 5  D: 'C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\Array Manager\amcli.exe'  /c2/E/v   If possible run the CC weekly....with larger the arrays, both in the number of disks or blocks, the greater the chance of problems occurring. Dell recommends monthly CCs, which would be acceptable for arrays with a small number of blocks (raids of yesteryear), not for modern arrays. Blocks in which the read ability is becoming weaker, are not necessarily marked 'bad', they have a tendency to build up, and become a problem once one drive is failed. The weekly CC will mark these 'iffy' blocks, place them out of use, before they have a chance to be marked as 'bad' in multiples, as in an array failure due bad blocks over multiple drives, being picked up by the array controller in a short period of time.     Message Edited by pcmeiners on 11-11-2005 12:38 PM

jensenjl · Answer

Actually to get the cli I had to install the Array Aanager which does not get installed with the OM Server Administrator.   I had presumed that the Server Administrator had a copy of amcli.exe somewhere in it's folder structure.  It has the ability to do the consistency check via the web interface, but I was unable to determine how exactly it does it.   Once I installed the Array Manager from the CD, I found amcli.exe and am able to use it from the command line.   Thanks for the help,   Jamie Jensen

DPYeilding · Answer

After uninstalling Array Manager and installing Storage Management you will no longer be able to schedule consistency checks using the article found here

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/documentdocid=DBFA11C643BEE26CE030A68F27284A07&c=us&l=en&s=biz

You can manually run a consistency check in Storage Management using these instructions

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/OMSS10UG/vdmgmt.html#323112

or if you save the CLI commands below to a batch file than use Windows Task Scheduler they can be run during off peak hours, which is more beneficial.

Instructions on how to run the CLI Commands using Task Scheduler

Go to a command line and run the following command to display the virtual disks and controllers. You do this because in the batch file you will have to specify the controller and virtual disk you would like to scan.

omreport storage controller
to display the controller IDs
omreport storage vdisk controller=ID
to display the IDs for the virtual disks attached to the controller.

Once you have the information above you will next open notepad and save the file to the root of C as cons_check.bat or a similar name. You will need to create one for each virtual disk you would like to check.

Inside the file you will add the necessary commands to check the consistency on the selected virtual disk and controller.

Example Syntax

For example, to run a check consistency on virtual disk 4 on controller 1, you would enter the text below into the cons_check.bat file and save it.

omconfig storage vdisk action=checkconsistency controller=1 vdisk=4

Once that is complete you will use the Windows Task Scheduler Wizard to run the batch file during off peak hours.

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Add Scheduled Task.

The Scheduled Task Wizard appears.

2. Click next and follow the onscreen directions. Click Browse and locate the batch file you created above

NOTE: The minimum recommendation for this task is to be run at least once a month

Thank You,

PowerVault

Schedule Consistency Check

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