Poweredge 2850 RAID Controller Issues

Question

I recently was given an older Dell Poweredge 2850 server. I already have another that is working fine. However, this one seems to be having RAID issues.

On first boot, it would get to the place where you can hit CTRL-M to setup RAID, and it would just sit there for like 15-20 minutes. Eventually it would go on past that. I could eventually get it to go into setup so I could change things in the BIOS, and I could change it from RAID to SCSI, and it would not get hung there any longer (since I wasn't using RAID now).

I upgraded the BIOS to A07 and that went fine. I wanted to upgrade the RAID BIOS, and downloaded and created the bootable floppy disc for it (which I did also for the A07 BIOS which worked fine). However, after the long wait after CTRL-M, it starts to boot from that floppy. The update creates a virtual drive, and then extracts from the floppy to the virtual drive, then runs. However, it just hangs at "Extracting flash from virtual drive."

If I go into the BIOS, and change it from RAID to SCSI, that floppy will boot up just fine, and run, but it then says "Cannot find RAID controller" and asks to reboot.

I'm guessing there's a problem with the RAID controller. I am not getting the "Memory / Battery" error. Could this be a bad RAID key? It does have the key.

I've tried disconnecting and re-inserting the riser board, the RAID memory, the RAID battery, and the RAID key. Nothing helped. Suggestions? Thanks ahead of time!

-Az

asbrand · Answer

I've tried it both with multiple hard drives in it, one hard drive in it, and NO hard drives in it. No change whatsoever. I've even tried moving the SCSI cable from controller A to B on the riser card. Still no change. Currently no OS installed at all...haven't gotten that far.

RAID bios is H430 (Build Feb 25, 2005).

asbrand · Answer

I have another PowerEdge 2850 which works just fine.   Its BIOS is A07, and RAID BIOS is H430.   I can pull parts from it and swap them one at a time to see which part fails, if need be. -Az

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Az, What is the firmware version at for the controller? If the controller is out of date it cause communication and stability issues with the drives. Is there an OS installed, is it accessible?

asbrand · Answer

As I said, I downloaded and created the floppy for the latest RAID BIOS update. It just hangs when it tries to start. Stops at the "Extracting flash from virtual drive." and just sits there indefinitely.

-Az

theflash1932 · Answer

'I have another PowerEdge 2850 which works just fine.   Its BIOS is A07, and RAID BIOS is H430.   I can pull parts from it and swap them one at a time to see which part fails, if need be.' I would do this - it is the only way you will be able to determine for sure what the bad piece of hardware is.

theflash1932 · Answer

I have never met a bad RAID key. I'm not saying it isn't possible, just that it is extremely unlikely.

Reseating the RAID components (memory, key, battery - including the riser, which houses the RAID processor) are the primary troubleshooting steps to resolve (short of replacing hardware). This could also be a bad hard drive. If you remove the drives, does it also hang? If so, then I would first suspect your riser card (again, not saying it is impossible the problem is the key - just much less likely, and, unfortunately, the riser card can be expensive). If not, then eliminate the bad drive from your config.

Also, check the backplane cable (reseat at both ends).

asbrand · Answer

I'll give it a shot...   The BIOS key and memory stick are easiest.  :)   Try those first (one at a time) and see. -Az

asbrand · Answer

Well, I figured out what it is. Apparently a bad memory stick for the RAID (the one that goes on the riser card). Tried the RAID key first, made no difference. Put in the memory module from the working 2850 and it booted right up. Guess I'll go shopping for a new memory module.

Thanks for the suggestions!

-Az

PowerEdge HDD/SCSI/RAID

Poweredge 2850 RAID Controller Issues

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