msatterlee
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SiI 3114 not recognizing full capacity of RAID 5 array
I have a SiI 3114 SATA RAID pci controller in a Dell Dim 3000. Previously it was configured as a RAID 1 with two Seagate ST31500341AS drives attached. It worked fine. In the RAID config screen, the drives were recognized as having 1397GB and that was the size of the drive.
The problem was when I wanted to add a drive to it making it a RAID 5 array. I added a third Seagate (same model number) and the drives were all correctly recognized, but when I would try to create an Array, it would limit the size to 744GB. I would have thought the capacity would be 2794 (1397 x (3-1)).
Ive tried to flash the bios of the card, but I'm not having luck with that. Anyone have any other ideas. Why it would create such a small array size.
The problem was when I wanted to add a drive to it making it a RAID 5 array. I added a third Seagate (same model number) and the drives were all correctly recognized, but when I would try to create an Array, it would limit the size to 744GB. I would have thought the capacity would be 2794 (1397 x (3-1)).
Ive tried to flash the bios of the card, but I'm not having luck with that. Anyone have any other ideas. Why it would create such a small array size.
ASKER
I was successful in getting the card's bios updated. The same problem persisted. I'm trying your Format suggestion. Will let you know.
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ASKER
First - Yes, Had to move all the data off the RAID 1 array before doing the RAID 5 setup.
You're definitely onto something, because in the configuration, trying to go above 744GB would give an error message about deleting data. It would then go to 746GB before it would cycle back to 2 GB.
2794-746=2048.
Something else I should add... the configuration I was doing up to this point was in a 'bios like' screen; not in windows. After the system bios came up, it would say "Hit F4 to enter raid controller config" (something like that).
Also, after setting up the RAID5 array, Disk management would show an unintialized drive of 744GB, but no other drives.
I got the Raid Manager Software (which runs in windows) and after playing around with that, the RAID card bios configuration allows me to setup a 2794GB Raid partition. It's currently doing a 'Restore Redundancy" operation and has yet to show up in Disk management; but I'll keep you informed.
You're definitely onto something, because in the configuration, trying to go above 744GB would give an error message about deleting data. It would then go to 746GB before it would cycle back to 2 GB.
2794-746=2048.
Something else I should add... the configuration I was doing up to this point was in a 'bios like' screen; not in windows. After the system bios came up, it would say "Hit F4 to enter raid controller config" (something like that).
Also, after setting up the RAID5 array, Disk management would show an unintialized drive of 744GB, but no other drives.
I got the Raid Manager Software (which runs in windows) and after playing around with that, the RAID card bios configuration allows me to setup a 2794GB Raid partition. It's currently doing a 'Restore Redundancy" operation and has yet to show up in Disk management; but I'll keep you informed.
ASKER
I stopped the RAID manager software last night because it seemed like it was doing nothing, but after that, I could never get a drive to show up in Disk Management. So I reinstalled the Raid Manager SW and let it run. I now see why I thought it was doing nothing. I'd originally thought the count down timer that said 49 was telling me it was going to take 49 minutes, but apparently it's 49 hours. Because this morning, after 8 hours of running, it's on 14% with 42 hours left. Hard to believe the process should take 50 hours, but I'm going to let it run. I'm going to close the question accepting the last suggestion as solution.
RAID initialization can indeed take a long time. (Rebuilds are also a very long process with such large drives). I'm confident you know what the issue is now -- it's just a matter of getting the arrays set correctly ... one 2TB and one for the rest of the space.
ASKER
Actually, it was setting up a 27xxGB array... I just got to a point where I couldn't afford my server to be down anymore. I re-setup the RAID 1 (which initializes immediately) and I'm copying my data back to it. I'll have to figure out a way to setup the RAID 5 array without so much down time. I guess I'll just need to have a couple more of those 1.5TB seagates around.
the only reason i can see for such a small raid 5 array would be because you have mismatched drives..
eg one of your drives is a 380gb drive or something and that limited the array to that maximum size.. but as you've stated all the drives are the same..
first thing I'd be doing is reformatting all 3 x drives on the controller.. using the controllers format then try recreated the array..
if it still dosent work contact the vendor to find out why your re-flashing of the card isnt working.. cause obviously there are problems that the new firmware fixes.. maybe this is one of them..