R930 backplane split mode not available

Can you remove second PERC controller and try to set split mode. As per user guide "Ensure that you enable this mode prior to installing the second controller.". Refer below link for details

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/poweredge-r930/idrac8_2.70.70.70_ug/configuring-backplane-mode?guid=guid-e6a2c637-cd00-41dd-a81b-a76cfb58e80e&lang=en-us 

Hi Shine

After remove the 2nd H730p adapter, the setup button  disappeared in Enclosure page. And the property page still shows split mode is not applicable. Please see the attach screenshots.

Thanks

Larry

Hi Shine

One more question that at what situation should use the second SAS daughter board (P6DGF) or SAS expander board (8Y39X) under 24x SAS backplane? I have read manual but it is very unclear.

Also, it is likely 24xSAS backplane has two types. One is 24xSAS backplane and another is 2x12 SAS backplane. Am I right?

Second daughter card is required when we split the backplane and connect two storage controller which is your use case. R930 only support one single 24 drive backplane. there is no two X12 backplane supported for R930. 

Can you ensure whether you have connected the server as per "Figure 7. Cabling— x24 backplane with dual PERC and dual SAS expander cards" of below link

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-in/poweredge-r930/r930om/removing-the-hard-drive-backplane?guid=guid-4f684a50-780d-4bf7-a09a-ea7a87a70832&lang=en-us 

Looking at the description expander board (8Y39X) is required for split mode but I am not sure on that.

Hi Shine

Facing my server, left is 8Y39X and right is P6DGF. 8Y39X connects to add on H730P and P6DGF connects to internal H730P. Cabling is exactly the same as DELL official video shows as below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3e5YZuZMls

In addition, the Figure 7 in the given manual is not correct. P6DGF has 4 ports. A and B connect to H730P A and B port. A1 and B1 are needed to connect to BB, otherwise error message shows up when server booting. In Figure 7, the port A1 and B1 on P6DGF are not connected.

Everything look fine except that the issue is still there, Enclosure Split Mode Capability is Not Capable. Therefore split mode cannot be turned on.

Thanks

Larry

Yes, You are right. expander card on the right need to connect to main backplane also. When you removed 2nd H730P and tried to configure split backplane did you also removed daughter card on the left (8Y39X). If not can you try that? Let's have only backplane, expander card (P6DGF) and one PERC card and see whether you able to configure split backplane.

Hi Shine

I have tried:

case 1: removed H730P only and boot error shows up indicating cabling issue of 8Y39X. This make sense.
case 2: removed both H730P and 8Y39X. No boot error but the same, Enclosure Split Mode Capability is Not Capable. Therefore split mode cannot be turned on.
I also tried to downgrade the IDRAC a old versions and also no luck.

I confirm that:
1. I have server rights by using root user to do setting.
2. I have valid enterprise license of IDRAC. It has no expiration date.
3. No job is running when try to do split setting.
4. IDRAC has been reset.
5. Server has been power off and power on again.

6. No any server error show up.

I also tried using racadm to change split mode. It is same error.

I have tried all the possible combinations. But the Enclosure Split Mode Capability is still Not Capable. Therefore split mode cannot be turned on. Currently the internal H730P is mapped to 0-23 drives and the 2nd H730P is mapped to 11-23 drives.

Any further things I can do?

Thanks

Larry

Can you share the part# of the backplane. Is it "JXR3K" or "V3665"?

Hi Shine

Confirm the backplane part number is V3665 - PWA,BKPLN,X24,SPLIT,R920,V2

Thanks

Larry

Hi, thanks for choosing Dell. If I may, with my knowledge, it only supports Dual perc mode, not Split mode.

Hi MOD

How does Dual perc mode working under 24x2.5 BB? The R930 manual doesn't provide any information about Dual PERC model. It has clearly documents how Split Mode working in R930 and there are many success cases there.

Appreciate if you code provide more information about the claimed DUAL PERC MODE.

Thanks

Larry

Hi Larry 
I went through documents and I am getting back to you to stand corrected. My sincere apologies for the confusion. (when I said dual mode, I was thinking dual PERC).
There IS a Split Mode configuration on 13G servers. Please have a look at this:
https://dell.to/2Vgnxnc
questions:
-Are you mixing SAS and SATA disk? 
-If the expander has the capability to support the configuration. You must ensure to enable this mode prior to installing the second controller. iDRAC performs a check for expander capability prior to allowing this mode to be configured and does not check whether the second PERC controller is present. To modify the setting, you must have Server Control privilege.

Then you can change the configuration 2 ways: GUI:
GUI and RACADM
https://dell.to/2VdXgWF
https://dell.to/3A8gYBF

Hi MOD

In my test environment, I put 1 DELL SAS SSD in slot 0 and another DELL SAS SSD in slot 12. The server shows 3 disks because not in split mode. This is because that the internal H730p is mapped to 0-23 slots and the 2nd H730p is mapped to 12-23. I know the R930 issue about using SATA disks.

Yes, I have tried 1 H730P + 1 SAS daughterboard and still the same issue, the BB shows Split mode capability = not available, and therefore unable to turn it to split mode.

I have read almost all DELL doc about split mode and try many combination but no luck.

On the other hand, Shine reminds me that R930 BB has two parts, "JXR3K" and "V3665". My sever comes with V3665. I suspect that V3665 does not support Split mode. Only JXR3K supports. However, I am unable to find the detail differences about the two BB parts. Could you guide where I can find it?

Thanks

Larry

The system allows the split mode setting if the expander has the capability to support the configuration. Also, you need to ensure that you enable this mode prior to installing the second controller.

The iDrac performs a check for expander capability prior to allowing this mode to be configured and does not check whether the second Perc controller is present.

Also, to modify the setting, you must have Server Control privilege.

If any other RAID operations are in pending state or any RAID job is scheduled, you cannot change the backplane mode. Similarly, if this setting is pending, you cannot schedule other RAID jobs.

Hi MOD

The current problem is that "Enclosure Split Mode Capability ............. Not Capable." My R930 has 24x2.5 BB. This should support split mode. But I am unable to get it fixed!

Any help is highly appreciated!

Thanks

Larry