Generally, most part of Symmetrix array install base will be configured Dial Home. If any bad/failure disk is detected in the array or any disk status changes occur in Symmetrix array, EMC technical support will receive notification, then Symmetrix PSE (Product Support Engineer) will dial in the array and perform the follow up actions to solve the problem. But due to customer particular requirement, the Dial Home configuration may not be able to set up in customer’s data center. In order to fulfill daily storage operation, users have to realize the bad/failure disk status in Symmetrix array. This article indicates how to use Solutions Enabler SYMCLI command to detect the bad/failure disk in the Symmetrix array.

Three SYMCLI command can be used to detect bad/failure disk:

symdisk list -failed

symdisk list –hotspare

symdisk show  :

The first command symdisk list-failed is for listing the failed disks which are detected in Symmetrix array.  In the following command output, there is one failed disk detected, position is Director 2D, C4.

Symmetrix ID                 : 000190100xxx

Disks Selected               : 1

Ident  Symb Int TID Vendor     Type       Hypr   Total       Free      Actual

------ ---- --- --- ---------- ---------- ---- ---------- ---------- ----------

DF-2D  02D    C   4 SEAGATE    T400R10       0          0          0     381470

If user querying that my array is configured spare disk, is spare disk invoked successfully? Then we should use second and third command to find the information.  The original function of command symdisk list –hotspare is to list all the spare disks in Symmetrix. But we can also refer the information in command output for detecting spare disk invoking status. In the following output, there are 110 Hypr on Spare Disk Director 15C CC which indicates the spare disk is invoked.

Symmetrix ID                 : 000190100450

Disks Selected               : 20

Ident  Symb Int TID Vendor     Type       Hypr   Total       Free      Actual

------ ---- --- --- ---------- ---------- ---- ---------- ---------- ----------

DF-15C 15C    C   C SEAGATE    T400R10     110          0          0     381470

Using the third command can perform further confirmation about the bad/failure disk, enter command symdisk show 2D:C4 for checking the failure disk Director: DF-2D, Interface: C, Target ID: 4. In command output, Hotspare=False, Failed Disk=True, Mbr Status = Not Ready which indicate the Hyper status is Not Ready. Spare disk is invoked.

Director                   : DF-2D

  Interface                  : C

  Target ID                  : 4

  Disk Group Number          : 0

  Disk Group Name            : DISK_GROUP_000

  Actual Disk Capacity (MB)  : 381470

  Rated Disk Capacity (GB)   : N/A

  Hypers                     : 14

  Hot Spare                  : False

  Failed Disk                : True

Hypers (14):

{

#   Vol  Emulation        Dev  Type          Mir Mbr Status         Cap(MB)

--- ---- ---------------- ---- ------------- --- --- -------------- --------

  13  133 FBA              025C Data           2  N/A Not Ready           600

  14  134 FBA              0289 RAID-5         1   3  Not Ready           300

}

However, in some cases, command symdisk list –failed does not display any output. But command symdisk list –hotspare will display the number of spare hypers. In this case, Symmetrix array detect the potential risk of bad disk and trigger the spare invoke script. Then user may contact EMC support for engage PSE for detect if any disk need to be replaced.

Finally, using SYMCLI to check the bad/failure disk has its limitation, the information is not very complete. But user can still find some useful information through SYMCLI and help to initially detect bad/failure disk, then perform the further actions.

Solution Enabler provides other method to find the bad disk in Symmetrix, please refer KB for How to use symdev command to find bad disk. 

Author: Fenglin Li

 

          

iEMC APJ

Please click here for for all contents shared by us.