Invalid pdperarray option for raid10 with perccli2

Question

Hello,

With older generations of PERC controllers we have been passing "pdperarray" option to "perccli" command and it works (for example, with "PERC H730 Mini" controller) with 10, 50 and 60 raid levels. For raid10 we always passing "pdperarray=2" of course.

But with newer controllers and "perccli2" utility this approach raises an error while we trying to create raid10 array with the same options. But i can see a strange example in the latest version of perc12-cli.pdf downloaded recently that looks like creating raid10 should support "pdperarray" option:

perccli2 /c0 add vd type=raid10 size=2gib,3gib,4gib names=tmp1,tmp2,tmp3 drives=252:2-3,5,7pdperarray=2

Could you please tell me, are this an intended new behavior or not?

Example output from our scripts while trying to create raid10 with pdperarray:

/usr/bin/perccli2 /c0 add vd r10 drives=284:0,1,2,3,4,5 PDperArray=2 J[2025-05-27 08:26:14] {"Controllers":[{"Command Status" : {"CLI Version" : "008.0004.0000.0022 Apr 28, 2023","Operating system" : "Linux6.1.0-28-amd64","Controller" : "0","Status" : "Failure","Description" : "Invalid pdperarray option for this raid level"}}]}

Thank you.

DELL-Charles R · Answer

We see you are using a newer controller (PERC12/PERC13 series) + perccli2.

The Dell documentation for PERC12 states:

“Some features may not be supported on every generation of PERC….”

This means: Not everything that worked on older PERC (H730/H740) will work on PERC12/PERC13.

In PERC12 CLI, PDperArray is listed as an allowable parameter,

…but Dell does NOT guarantee it is valid for all RAID levels.

In the official PERC12 CLI PDF, pdperarray is shown only as an optional parameter in the generic syntax table, not as required for RAID10.

The documentation never states that RAID10 requires or supports PDperarray on PERC12/PERC13.

RAID10 span layout on PERC12 is automatically inferred

The PERC12 CLI uses the drive list to create the spans. Example from the documentation:

perccli2 /c0 add vd type=raid10 ... drives=e:s-...,e:s-... pdperarray=2

This appears in the PDF, but it is only an example, not a guarantee of controller support.

Dell does not state that this is valid syntax for all PERC12 controllers — only that it’s an available option in the generic command set.

Your controller rejects PDperArray for RAID10

Your error:

Invalid pdperarray option for this raid level

This matches Dell’s documented warning that features vary by generation and not all options apply.

This means:

PERC12/PERC13 does not support PDperArray with RAID10, even though older PERC generations did.

You are fully updated — so this is NOT a firmware bug

Your DSU output verifies all firmware (including PERC H965i 8.11.x) is current.

That eliminates firmware or driver mismatch as a cause.

This is intended new behavior.

PDperArray is not supported for RAID10 on newer PERC12/PERC13 controllers using perccli2, even though:

Older controllers (H730/H740, perccli) supported it
Documentation examples still show it in generic syntax
StorCLI historically allowed it

The newer firmware and command parser do not.

Correct, Supported Syntax for RAID10 on PERC12/P13

Do not use PDperArray.

Instead, define explicit spans using comma‑separated pairs:

Supported RAID10 creation

perccli2 /c0 add vd r10 drives=284:0-1,2-3,4-5

This is valid because PERC12 automatically constructs spans from the pairings.

Dell PERC13, PERC12, and HBA465 Series Controller Card Command-Line Interface Reference Guide

https://dell-my.sharepoint.com/personal/c_ray_dell_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/perc12-cli.pdf

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Vills,

Due to the servers, and the tools, recent release I will need to research the issue and do some testing. Would you do me a favor and ensure that the server is up to date on BIOS, iDrac, perc, as well as the drives.

Also, if you want me to look at sending the issue up, would you reply to the private message I sent with the svc tag, as well as the company name or customer number associated to the server?

vills · Answer

Sure. I think i have latest firmware installed. Updated everything yesterday.

Also, i checked the same with the latest perccli2 available and the results are the same. (unfortunately, i don't have the exact perccli2 version with me right now :-( )

[2025-06-03 13:51:07] Starting DSU container...
DELL System Update 2.1.1.0
Copyright (C) 2014 -- 2024 DELL Proprietary.
Verifying catalog installation ...
Installing catalog from repository ...
Fetching dsucatalog ...
Reading the catalog ...
Fetching invcol_LN64_4J9X7_25_03_00_314_A00 ...
Verifying inventory collector installation
Getting System Inventory ...

1. BIOS, BIOS  ( Version : 2.6.3 )
2. APAC, DSU  ( Version : 2.1.1.0 )
3. FRMW, Power Supply  ( Version : 00.43.B4 )
4. FRMW, Power Supply  ( Version : 00.43.B4 )
5. FRMW, SEP Firmware, BayID: 1  ( Version : 7.10 )
6. FRMW, SEP Firmware, BayID: 2  ( Version : 7.10 )
7. FRMW, Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100 GbE QSFP56 Adapter  ( Version : 22.44.10.36 )
8. FRMW, Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100 GbE QSFP56 Adapter  ( Version : 22.44.10.36 )
9. APAC, Dell iDRAC Service Module Embedded Package v5.4.0.0, A00  ( Version : 5.4.0.0 )
10. FRMW, PERC H965i Adapter  ( Version : 8.11.0.0.18-25 )
11. FRMW, Backplane 3  ( Version : 1.61 )
12. APAC, Dell Connectivity Client  ( Version : 100.0.0-A00 )
13. APAC, Dell OS Driver Pack  ( Version : 25.02.08 )
14. FRMW, Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller  ( Version : 7.20.30.00 )
15. APAC, Dell 64 Bit uEFI Diagnostics  ( Version : 4303A35 )
16. FRMW, System CPLD  ( Version : 1.1.2 )
17. APAC, Lifecycle Controller  ( Version : 7.20.30.00 )
18. FRMW, Dell BOSS-N1  ( Version : 2.1.13.2033 )
19. FRMW, Dell EC NVMe ISE 7450 RI M.2 80 480GB  ( Version : 1.1.0 )
20. FRMW, Dell EC NVMe ISE 7450 RI M.2 80 480GB  ( Version : 1.1.0 )
21. FRMW, Intel(R) Ethernet 10G 2P X710-T2L-t Adapter  ( Version : 23.0.8 )
22. FRMW, Intel(R) Ethernet Network Adapter X710-TL  ( Version : 23.0.8 )
23. FRMW, Intel(R) Ethernet 10G 2P X710-T2L-t Adapter  ( Version : 23.0.8 )
24. FRMW, Intel(R) Ethernet Network Adapter X710-TL  ( Version : 23.0.8 )


Progress report is available at:/usr/libexec/dell_dup/DSU_STATUS.json
Exiting DSU!
DELL System Update 2.1.1.0
Copyright (C) 2014 -- 2024 DELL Proprietary.
Verifying catalog installation ...
Installing catalog from repository ...
Fetching dsucatalog ...
Reading the catalog ...
Verifying inventory collector installation
Getting System Inventory ...
Determining Applicable Updates ...
No Applicable Update(s) Available
Progress report is available at:/usr/libexec/dell_dup/DSU_STATUS.json
Exiting DSU!
[2025-06-03 13:57:33] No Applicable Update(s) Available

Also sent you the server info in DM.

vills · Answer

Hello! Any news about the question above? Thanks.

Dell-Martin S · Answer

Which question exactly because it looks like @vills should DM Chris to arrange a replacement repair.

vills · Answer

@Dell-Martin S​ sorry for the late response. i missed your message. My question is in the first message in the thread. No part was broken, so no replacement needed :-). Can you ask your tech team about this new behaviour? Thanks.

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello,  I'll need a bit of time to look into this and follow up with you.

PowerEdge HDD/SCSI/RAID

Invalid pdperarray option for raid10 with perccli2

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