Missing Virtual Drives after RAID card failure

Question

I lost all connection to the MD3000 after the RAID card produced a PCI-e error. I gracefully shut down the server and took the RAID card and the PCI-E riser card out of my DELL2950 server and cleaned and re-seated both. I reconnected the SAS cable and started the server up with no errors. Now I do not see the RAID card in Device Manager and as a result, cannot see the MD3000 enclosure. I use a Dell SAS 5e Adapter Controller. So my question is do I need a new RAID card or do I reinstall drivers? I have a second server attached to the MD3000 mapped to two other Virtual Drives. It still is connected to them but does not see the contents. When I go to Disk Manager in Windows, it says I have to Initialize the disks to see them. Will that erase them? I cannot have that. It also wants me to choose between MBR and GPT. I dont know what the original settings for that is. A little advice please. Thanks I downloaded the Support Information if needed.

RatFink66 · Answer

Hi Sam,

Yes, I do have MDSM 11.25 installed. I see that both hosts are listed but do not belong to a host group. I do not remember at the moment if they did in the beginning or not. Will have to go over my notes when I first built this array. Is belonging to a Host Group required.? But, they are both there...does that mean that I have not lost everything and that there is hope?

I have ordered a replacement RAID card and PCI-e riser card and hope device manager will see it. I completely forgot that I could put it into another server for a test. Stress will make you do that.

Will let you know my progress, thank you for replying.

Paul

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello RatFink66,

First off do you have MDSM (Modular Disk Storage Manager) installed on the second server or on any machine? If you do then you want to open MDSM and check in the host groups & see if both host names are listed. Here is the link to the Administrator guide for your MD3000 & if you look on page 47 it shows you how to add host access. http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_powervault/powervault-md3000_user%27s%20guide20_en-us.pdf

Since your SAS5/e card is not seeing in device manager then I am pretty sure that it has failed. If you happen to have another server that you can put the SAS5/e in to see if it is seen then that would confirm if your card is working or not.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

PowerVault

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