SATA drive shows as SSD on S100 controller / T310 server

Question

Hi, We have recently encountered a failure of one of the Hard Disks in a RAID 1 set. Having identified the disk serial number, I extracted the disk and ordered the identical one online. Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX. I connected the new drive to the server. The BIOS RAID utility and Dell Server Administrator, both show the disk as SSD and not SATA. Windows can thankfully still be booted from the degraded RAID. I have deleted the new disk as a virtual disk (Non-RAID). I can add the disk as a global Hot Spare, but I cannot use the disk to rebuild the RAID 1 configuration. The Dell Server Administrator says the disk is too small or of an incorrect type. I have scoured the forums for possible solutions. I can find no evidence that WD provide any firmware update for the drive (and there are none on Dell's downloads either). I would prefer avoiding an upgrade to BIOS on server as I have had bad experiences with this in other locations. Do you have any advice on this? I am baffled as the replacement drive should be identical to the failed one. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

theflash1932 · Answer

Are you sure it is IDENTICAL in every way? Exactly the model WD1003FZEX and the same firmware? WD Black should not be used in RAID arrays or in servers, but since you did that anyway, know that not all WD Blacks are the same.

My guess? Your WD1003FZEX is a 4k/AdvFormat drive and thus incompatible with the other drive in your array, which is likely a previous WD Black model (like a WD1002FAEX), which does NOT support 4k formatting. You cannot mix drive types (512/4k) in RAID arrays.

AWebber76 · Answer

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The existing and new drive models are absolutely identical. I used Dell Server Administrator to get the precise model number and ordered another drive based on those details. I do understand the advanced format issue - I have encountered that before. Could a drive with the same model number purchased years ago be non-advanced, whereas the new one is 'Advanced format'?? Why would it's 'Advanced format' status cause one to show as an SSD and the other as an HDD?? Many thanks.

PowerEdge Hardware General

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