RAID Adapter Error

Have any disks been removed (even if they have been put back)?  Any other hardware changes?  Did someone open the case, etc.?  Was there a power outage?

Assuming the server is not booting the OS, you need to IMPORT the foreign configuration.  If 'f' doesn't work, you need to boot to CTRL-R, on the VD MGMT screen, highlight the controller, F2, Foreign, Import.

What OS is running?  Is OMSA installed?

raid 5

it keeps on looping to the config utility.

and i can bypass that.

yes, it shows it optimal.

its Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise SP1

it gives an error.

(ERROR! FOREIGN CONFIG IMPORT 6 OUT OF 6 FAILED TO IMPORT!)

(ERROR CODE:UNKNOWN)

So, the OS should be booting.  Even with the foreign configuration, it should boot, then you can sort out the foreign configuration on the data disk(s) using the OpenManage software in the OS.

What is the RAID configuration supposed to be on the 6 data disk(s)?

What happens when you simply try to let it boot the OS? 

Which drives are showing PD MGMT screen and what is the status of each?

mirrior

disk00 online

disk01 online

raid5

disk02 online

disk03 online

disk04 online

disk05 failed

disk06 online

disk07 failed

Ok, so there is no foreign configuration?  But there was at one point?  Since there isn't one now, the only thing you can do is force online a disk - the LAST disk to go offline (IMPORTANT).  HOWEVER, if your OS isn't booting because it is stopping at the CTRL-R screen, you have bigger problems that need to be addressed first.

If you have a backup of this data or don't worry about not being able to get it back, then proceed.  Otherwise, I would suggest looking into professional data recovery services.

You can do one of two things at this point:

Try to bring RAID 5 online by resolving RAID status:

1. Look at hardware or controller log to determine which of the two drives failed last.
2. Force online that disk that failed last.
3. I would then remove the disk that failed first.
4. Attempt to boot past controller configuration utility to the OS with the RAID 5 in a degraded status.

Try to boot the OS with only the RAID 1 drives inserted:

1. Remove RAID 5 drives (not all the way - just far enough to disengage the backplane).
2. Boot OS, accepting the configuration as found on the controller.
3. Powering down, reinserting RAID 5 drives, and seeing if it recognizes and can import a valid foreign configuration.

thank you for all your help and suggestions, i tried them all and they were just bad drives after all.

have to go the data recovery route.

thank you again, and thanks for the quick responses.

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.  Multiple drive failures are rare, but they happen.  Bummer it happened to you.  Take care.

Sorry to hear your drives went bad.  You can check with DriveSavers or OnTrack for data recovery, or if you have someone local that can provide the service as well.

Regards,