Fix PERC Battery Failure and RAID Controller Upgrade on Dell PowerEdge Servers

What This Guide Covers

This guide explains:

• How to resolve PERC battery failure on Dell PowerEdge servers.
• Steps for upgrading RAID controllers (e.g., PowerEdge R710 to PERC H710).
• Compatibility of SAS and SATA drives with PERC H700.

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Quick Fix Summary

• Replace the failed PERC battery with a Dell-certified part.
• Update RAID controller firmware and drivers after replacement.
• Verify controller and backplane compatibility before upgrading.

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Overview

Dell PowerEdge servers use PERC (PowerEdge RAID Controller) cards to manage storage. A failed RAID battery can disable write-back cache, impacting performance. Additionally, upgrading older RAID cards can improve speed and compatibility with newer drives.

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Error Indicators

• Message:
  “The PERC1 battery has failed. PERC1 ROMB Battery State Removed.”
• Cache policy changes to Write-Through mode.
• Alerts in iDRAC or system logs.

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Possible Causes

• Battery has reached end-of-life.
• Battery is disconnected or not detected.
• Firmware mismatch after hardware changes.

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Troubleshooting Steps

1. Replace the PERC Battery

1. Identify your RAID controller model (e.g., PERC H700).
2. Order the correct Dell-certified battery:
   • PERC H700: Dell part number FJ92N or equivalent.
   • PERC H740P: Dell part number 0M96Y or equivalent.
3. Power down the server and replace the battery following Dell’s hardware manual.
4. Boot the system and confirm battery status in iDRAC or OpenManage.

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2. Upgrade RAID Controller (Optional)

• R710 Original: PERC6/i or H700.
• Upgrade Option: PERC H710 (officially supported on 12th-gen servers like R720).
• Important:
  • H710 may work on R710 but is not Dell-certified.
  • Check firmware compatibility and cabling (Mini-SAS connectors).
  • Update drivers after installation.

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3. Drive Compatibility

• PERC H700: Supports SAS and SATA drives.
• Ensure drives are Dell-certified for optimal performance.
• Mixed SAS/SATA configurations are supported but may impact performance.

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Additional Notes

• Always update firmware and drivers after hardware changes.
• Use Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) for monitoring.
• For unsupported upgrades, Dell cannot guarantee stability.

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References

• The PERC1 battery has failed – PERC1 ROMB Battery State Removed 
• Dell PowerEdge R710 RAID Card Upgrade to PERC H710
• SAS and SATA Drives for PowerEdge R710 / PERC H700

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Affected Systems

• Dell PowerEdge R710, T440, and similar models.
• Operating Systems: Windows Server, Linux distributions supported by Dell.