OpenManage 5.4 can't initialize new disks PowerEdge 840

Question

I miss Array Manager. I think Openmanage is a poor subsitute.

I have a new Dell PowerEdge 840 server with SAS 5i/R Array Controller and two SAS drives in a Raid-1 Mirror already (done in the hardware)

I have installed OpenManage 5.4 WITH the Storage option.

I put in two new SAS Drives that I want to initialize and create another Raid-1 Virtual Disk.

OpenManage sees the disks (Ready and OK but not Online) and gives me two options under tasks "Blink" and "Unblink".

Now when I put two drives into my 3 year old server PowerEdge 1600SC running Array Manager 3.6 MMC snapin I could create a virtual disk in the OS.

What is going on with Array Manager. Why won't it let me do that?

What is going on? Why can't I initialize the new disks and Create a Virtual Disk?

This is my primary Server. I can't take it offline for 10 hours to initialize the disks.

I have gone into Windows Disk Management and it sees the disks but I don't want a software Raid.

Thanks

Lara

at5147 · Answer

You don't need to int the physical drives to create the RAID 1. Click on the controller itself>information/configuration>available task drop down>create new virtual drive. This will walk you through the wizard so you can create the RAID 1. If I am not mistaken, a background int will automatically start, though you may need to reboot windows to format the logical drive through disk management.

at5147 · Answer

OOO SAS 5, sorry I was thinking PERC 5. OMSA is great with the proper hardware. For the SAS 5/iR, you want the SAS RAID Storage Manager. The SAS 5/iR is a driver based RAID controller and OMSA does best with hardware based RAID controllers. Make you you modify the OMSA install and remove the storage portian of it.

Dell SAS RAID Storage Manager

lforbes · Answer

Hi,

I tried that but there are no tasks available. I read the help and basically Dell Open Manage is useless for the SAS Raid Controller I have. It does nothing but blink and unblink. According to the help. I am wondering why they created software that is basically useless. Even Windows can create a RAID and format the disks.

I have to take the server offline for a few hours and do it manually. That is SO backwards. Even my poweredge 2600's could do it online.

lforbes · Answer

Wow, you rock if that is the right App. Now why wouldn't they put a link to it on my Service Tag tools and support page? I even did searches for storage and SAS and couldn't find anything.

Thanks so much for the link. I will install on Monday and give it a shot. I really hope I don't have to take the server offline for hours to add 2 extra drives and create a Raid 1.

Thanks

Lara

lforbes · Answer

Hi,

I installed it but it does nothing but give me an empty window with no servers in it? I am so confused and not sure why Dell would make it so difficult to format a drive and create a Raid-1 without having to do it while off?

According to the instructions it seems this is an "update" and I need to:

"Insert the DSA CD, which contains Dell SAS RAID Storage Manager, in the CD-ROM drive" first

I have 3 CD's that came with the server but none are the DSA CD. I have 1 with Open Manage 5.2, one with Open Manage IT Assistant(Systems Management Consoles) and one with Server Drivers(Service and Diagnostic Utilities). None contain the DSA. Do you know where I can get the original CD or an ISO of it?

Thanks

Lara

lforbes · Answer

I read the compatible servers for that software and mine isn't listed. It says the framework is incompatible.

In Open Manage it says that creating virtual disks is not an option for the SAS 5/ir but then it doesn't say HOW to do it then.

I have a PowerEdge 840. Who would have thought that Dell wouldn't provide support for their own servers?

Systems Management General

OpenManage 5.4 can't initialize new disks PowerEdge 840

Was this post helpful?