Poweredge 2900

Boot to CTRL-R, highlight the controller, hit F2, Foreign Configuration, Import, then try to boot.

Dear theflash1932 !!

Thank u for ur Response But I want to ask u before starting the action :  "Did this Operation will recover all my Data on all the Hard Drive?"

Regards

Dagnachew

Hey By the way whe u are late i tried just as u told me but it says " 1 out of 1 failed to import '"

what will be the solution

regards

Dagnachew

I wasn't "late" ... I am a volunteer and have a real job; I come here when I can.

Do you have a PERC 5/i?  What are the firmware versions (CTRL-R, CTRL MGMT screen)?

Yea,  y whe u  late, having a real job and volunteering is no excuse   ....

I just know you live and breathe for appreciation from someone who likely created his own mess, and demands someone else help clean it up.....Is that not the meaning of diaper service. Thanks Dagnachew for the chuckle.

A raid 5 can afford to lose 1 drive. If your raid 5 lost 2 drives, you can try to figure out which was the last one that failed, reseat it, and then try the import foreign config like previously mentioned.

If that doesn't work, it's time to get your tapes and restore from your most recent backup, or look into a data recovery company to try and get your data back (will likely be quite expensive though).

Thank U for The Reply !!

The PERC Version is:

Package: 5.0.1-0030; FW Version: 1.00.01-0088; BIOS Version: MT23; CtrlR Version: 1.02.007

And Other information on RAID configuration screen is:

VD mgnt  screen shows that only two Hard drive is MISSING but i can see only 7 of my 8 Harddrive. And PD mgnt screen shows 3 Hard drive are FOREIGN and I can see all eight drives.

Other information I have now is this happen due to one IT man  hot remove/plug two hard drives during the system was booting. This information i got late today.

Regards

Dagnachew

OK !!

1st. I can't find the file from "

2nd. Can u attach to me with mail:

3rd. So that u mean  I can't recover my file and system from this server?

regards

Dagnachew

"one IT man  hot remove/plug two hard drives during the system was booting"

Means onsite personnel need training on what to do with servers (even if it is "leave it the blank alone!").

You need to update your firmware to a minimum of version 5.0.1.0040 to have a better chance of importing the config from the drives:
http://en.community.dell.com/members/theflash1932/files/perc5.jpg.aspx (need to change extention from jpg to iso - other instructions are in the ISO)

There is a chance that updating your firmware to a level that can better handle foreign configs will allow the controller to import it.  

If after updating your firmware you are still unable to import the config, you need to evaluate your position:  If you don't have a backup and MUST have the data on the array, then you will need to contact a data recovery professional before doing anything else.

If you have a backup and simply want to try and bring this back up, you can try a "retag" of the array.  If the retag doesn't work, then you are looking at rebuilding/restoring from backup, having lost the data on the existing array.

DEAR theflash1932 !!

thank u for the support. Now My data recovered !! This community is a solution community !! This is the second time I have big problem and have solutions for both of them.

Well the other batch of questions are:

1. The 8th drive (from 8 drives) was not flashing when it is importing while seven of them are flashing, why is that?

2. One of the drive is not on the list of Physical drives, why is that?

3.And on the different screen, there are all 8 drives but one of them says it still is FOREIGN, WHY IS THAT?

4. One of the the drive upper led shows orange light, is that a problem?

5. Even though it imports, but it says "1 out of 1 Failed to import", why is that?

Remember my RAID level is RAID5.

I know I will get more than enough solutions for all these questions..

Regards

Dagnachew

I'm glad it worked for you.

1. When you import the configuration, only one disk - the disk with the most recent data - is brought back online; the remaining disk then needs to be rebuilt to match the other drives; this prevents the controller from attempting to use corrupt data from that disk in the rest of the array.  At this point, assign that disk as a hot spare to begin the rebuild.

2. Only PARTICIPATING disks will be listed on the VD MGMT screen, so if you are missing one, it is the one that has yet to be rebuilt.

3. Because of number 1.  You must clear the foreign config now, then assign it as a hot spare to rebuild it.

4. "Is that a problem?"  Yes.  Which one?  Is it the same as indicated above (disk 8)?

5. DON'T import the config on an array that is working.  You only import the config if more than one disk in a RAID 5 is foreign.  If a single disk is foreign AND it is working, you need to clear it.

Dear theflash1932 ! I am sorry I am late to reply; the office was closed since it was Sunday .

1.  The Hard Drive that blinking orange is not the 8th (Foreign) Drive but it is the 7th drive that is working. And When I see the property at Ctrl-R, its S.M.A.R.T. status : ERROR, the other seven drives are NO ERROR.  I have another free Hardrive with 73GB, Can I replace it. The Hard Drive with orange Blink is 146GB. If I can, can You tell me the Procedure. Orlet me know If I can maintain or correct the error.

2. There is only one FOREIGN drive and it is working. But How do I Clear and assign as Hot spare. When I tried to do by doing Ctrl-R, at PD mgnt : the commands are not active. Can u tell me other Procedures.

Regards

Dagnachew

Please Respond !!

Regards

Dagnachew

Dude, I didn't see your last post ... chill out.

In CTRL-R, can you send me a screenshot?  I'm not exactly sure what it is you are seeing.  Do you have OMSA installed?  If not, install it:

www.dell.com/.../DriverFileFormats

Download and run to extract files, then run C:\Openmanage\windows\setup.exe, choose Custom and make sure Storage Management is installed.

You cannot replace a 146GB drive with a 73GB drive in a RAID array.