Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of mescarzaga23
mescarzaga23

asked on

Exchange server harddrive keeps failing (ML 350 G5 server)

Hello,
I have a HP Proliant ML350 G5 server running Exchange 2003  sp 2 on a WIndows 2003 sp1 platform . The Array configuration as Follows:
Controller: P400
Array 0: Drive 1 and 2 which contains the OS
Array 5: Drive 3-6 contains the exchange Data
Harddrive type: SCSI 72GB
Ram: 3 GB
GHz: 2

For the last 4 months, we have had harddrive and array 5 failure. When I restart the server, I  hear the harddrive starting up and I hear it struggling then I see amber lights on drive five and sometimes on drive 2. I usually use the Smart Disk  to diagnose the problem and I see in the error report: Logical drive have failed on Array 5, all of the data have been lost. All of the harddrive have failed at one point and each time I see amber lights or dead harddrive (no lights), I have replaced the harddrive and allow it to rebuild. I have created some many tickets with HP that they send out a HP Engineer to replace the motherboard, array controller, cache module, and scsi disk backplan and yet we still have the same problem. Two days ago, HP send out another Engineer and he suggested to replace cache module to 512 mb with a battery which I did and I did update the Drivers and firmware.  Everything was working fine till today when I see drive 5 have failed again. I have run out of ideas. Thank you for your time.
Avatar of madhusk
madhusk
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

If I were in your place I would ask HP to replace the server itself.The server being critical to business, I cannot accept frequent failure of hard drives like this.
seeing as it looks like you've not replaced any of the drives yet, get them to replace the drive

if possible get them to send out enough new drives to permit you to repopulate the array completely - then replace one disk at a time, letting the array rebuild each time, until all the old disks have been removed
Avatar of mescarzaga23
mescarzaga23

ASKER

Thank you for replying quickly,
I have ask HP to replace the server but I had this server more then a year now and all they can do is replace parts. Actually, I replace all of the drive at one point when they all started to failed, I will see if I can get HP to send me 6 drive to replace. Any more advice I will really appreciate, I'm trying to do everything possible to have a permanent fix.  
The only thing you have not change was the powersupply and have you done a firmware update on the controller.

CT
Your right, I have not change power supply, and Yes, I have updated the firmware for the controller. Do you think that might cause the hard drive and the array go out due to faulty power supply?  
I just replace one this week in my SAN server this week. it had a faulty +5 Volt that was giving me touble when the drives started writing over time large amounts of data but not reading. Go figure.

CT
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of mescarzaga23
mescarzaga23

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial