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Dell Poweredge T110 II - RAID 5 PERC S100/S300
Here I have a Dell Poweredge T110 II - RAID5 PERC S100/S300 with Windows Server 2008R2 Foundation 64-bit.
It has a 3-disk RAID 5 configuration of 500GB drives.
The drives appear as a 1TB drive (or nearly).
I didn't set this up and have rare opportunities to see these things.
I've dealt with a RAID 1 disk failure in the past and it was a simple matter of replacing the failed HD.
Recently, the system started running very very slowly. It's virtually unusable.
In looking at the RAID configuration, I see this:
The RAID 5 is shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,1,2
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 1 is shown as READY
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
From this, I conclude that Drive 1 is at least out of sync OR is bad to one degree or another.
In order to make progress, I added:
Drive 3, a 1TB drive
And physically disconnected:
Drive 1 (at least temporarily)
The system still boots into Windows Server but now Drive 3 is shown as "READY" and, of course, Drive 1 isn't listed.
It appears that this did no good.
The RAID 5 is still shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,2,3
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
Drive 3 is shown as READY.
In reading about this, there are mentions of OMSA fixing the problem when a new HD is introduced.
I have tried to install OMSA but there's been no success in doing that.
I believe I found the correct version:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=28KFC
I wonder if the Foundation edition is compatible?
I wonder if there isn't any other way to introduce a new hard drive into this RAID 5 array?
I can't afford to lose the operational hard drive so drastic measures aren't acceptable.
Still, I wonder if I can clone the "virtual"? drive and go to a single (1TB) hard drive on this system or maybe RAID 1?
I'll keep looking for solutions but figure someone on EE would have some quick insights and suggestions.
It has a 3-disk RAID 5 configuration of 500GB drives.
The drives appear as a 1TB drive (or nearly).
I didn't set this up and have rare opportunities to see these things.
I've dealt with a RAID 1 disk failure in the past and it was a simple matter of replacing the failed HD.
Recently, the system started running very very slowly. It's virtually unusable.
In looking at the RAID configuration, I see this:
The RAID 5 is shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,1,2
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 1 is shown as READY
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
From this, I conclude that Drive 1 is at least out of sync OR is bad to one degree or another.
In order to make progress, I added:
Drive 3, a 1TB drive
And physically disconnected:
Drive 1 (at least temporarily)
The system still boots into Windows Server but now Drive 3 is shown as "READY" and, of course, Drive 1 isn't listed.
It appears that this did no good.
The RAID 5 is still shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,2,3
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
Drive 3 is shown as READY.
In reading about this, there are mentions of OMSA fixing the problem when a new HD is introduced.
I have tried to install OMSA but there's been no success in doing that.
I believe I found the correct version:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=28KFC
I wonder if the Foundation edition is compatible?
I wonder if there isn't any other way to introduce a new hard drive into this RAID 5 array?
I can't afford to lose the operational hard drive so drastic measures aren't acceptable.
Still, I wonder if I can clone the "virtual"? drive and go to a single (1TB) hard drive on this system or maybe RAID 1?
I'll keep looking for solutions but figure someone on EE would have some quick insights and suggestions.
Not quite a full description, but there's information in the following that may help you: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28562663/How-to-rebuild-Dell-T410-Perc-S300-RAID-5-Degraded.html
ASKER
Well, it "helps" in the sense that it says that software is *required*.
How in the world is a computer initially set up then? i.e. before there is an OS?
Is there any command prompt or PowerShell approach possible?
As before:
OSMA will not install!!!
So now what?
How in the world is a computer initially set up then? i.e. before there is an OS?
Is there any command prompt or PowerShell approach possible?
As before:
OSMA will not install!!!
So now what?
I have never used the S100/S300 PERC cards before, so I cannot speak from experience. It is certainly the case that you can rebuild faulting arrays with other PERC cards by going into the the ACU at boot, and selecting Rebuild. In this case it looks as if all you can do from this ACU is create an array and delete an array and little else. I would agree that this is less than helpful if the card's manufacturer.
That said, I've just found this:
https://www.puryear-it.com/rebuilding-a-perc-s300-raid-1-set
Not RAID 5 I know, but I may help you a little.
https://www.puryear-it.com/rebuilding-a-perc-s300-raid-1-set
Not RAID 5 I know, but I may help you a little.
Hi Fred,
Did you get this solved?
I ran across this article: http://www.ahfx.net/weblog/182
They state the following steps:
Once the rebuild goes to 100% it still showed in degraded state
Clear logs
Clear alert log
Do a global rescan
Have you tried this?
Sincerely,
Terry
Did you get this solved?
I ran across this article: http://www.ahfx.net/weblog/182
They state the following steps:
Once the rebuild goes to 100% it still showed in degraded state
Clear logs
Clear alert log
Do a global rescan
Have you tried this?
Sincerely,
Terry
ASKER
I saw that but I don't know what any of these mean:
Clear logs
Clear alert log
Do a global rescan
Clear *what* logs and how?
Clear *what *alert log* and how?
etc.
Clear logs
Clear alert log
Do a global rescan
Clear *what* logs and how?
Clear *what *alert log* and how?
etc.
You have to initialize the replacement drive and assign it as a global hot spare. If you can't get OMSA to install you can do that in BIOS during bootup.
Note that as it is a fakeraid controller it will not start rebuilding until the OS/driver is loaded.
Note that as it is a fakeraid controller it will not start rebuilding until the OS/driver is loaded.
ASKER
OK. Well I've made some progress re: OMSA at least.
I went into the file structure for installation C:\OpenManage and found:
\Windows\SYSMGMTX64\SysMgm tx64
I ran THAT one even over the warning about prerequisites.
It worked!
Now I have OMSA running.
I also was a bit more adventurous in the S100 PERC settings and was able to assign the new drive as a Global Spare.
As before, to repeat, In order to make progress, I added:
Drive 3, a 1TB drive
And physically disconnected:
Drive 1 (at least temporarily)
The system still boots into Windows Server but now Drive 3 is shown as "READY" and, of course, Drive 1 isn't listed.
The RAID 5 is still shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,2,3
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
0 and 2 are in the virtual drive.
Drive 3 is shown as READY but remains a non-RAID drive.
I tried to fix this using OMSA but so far it isn't working.
The new drive is identified as an SSD drive even though it's an HDD.
The result is that the new drive isn't compatible.
The 2 old drives are DELL 500GB.
The new drive is WD 1TB.
Just in case there was a BIOS setting identifying drive types (I don't recall seeing one),
I changed the drive order so that:
0 is still 0
2 is still 2
that keeps the virtual disk intact regarding which slots they are in.
I moved the new disk from 3 to 1.
But this has done no good and it's still listed as an SSD and not compatible.
Now what? I'm wondering.....
I went into the file structure for installation C:\OpenManage and found:
\Windows\SYSMGMTX64\SysMgm
I ran THAT one even over the warning about prerequisites.
It worked!
Now I have OMSA running.
I also was a bit more adventurous in the S100 PERC settings and was able to assign the new drive as a Global Spare.
As before, to repeat, In order to make progress, I added:
Drive 3, a 1TB drive
And physically disconnected:
Drive 1 (at least temporarily)
The system still boots into Windows Server but now Drive 3 is shown as "READY" and, of course, Drive 1 isn't listed.
The RAID 5 is still shown as "DEGRADED".
There are the 3 drives: 0,2,3
Drive 0 is shown as part of the RAID array
Drive 2 is shown as part of the RAID array.
0 and 2 are in the virtual drive.
Drive 3 is shown as READY but remains a non-RAID drive.
I tried to fix this using OMSA but so far it isn't working.
The new drive is identified as an SSD drive even though it's an HDD.
The result is that the new drive isn't compatible.
The 2 old drives are DELL 500GB.
The new drive is WD 1TB.
Just in case there was a BIOS setting identifying drive types (I don't recall seeing one),
I changed the drive order so that:
0 is still 0
2 is still 2
that keeps the virtual disk intact regarding which slots they are in.
I moved the new disk from 3 to 1.
But this has done no good and it's still listed as an SSD and not compatible.
Now what? I'm wondering.....
ASKER
I used Windows Server Backup to create a backup image of the RAID virtual disk. This includes a Recovery partition, an OS partition and a Data partition.
Then I Recovered this image onto a 1TB HDD.
I tried booting from this HDD and it didn't work.
So now I'm wondering if there isn't some preferred boot DVD that will allow a repair on this drive?
e.g. Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD??
I don't think the T110 II was delivered with a Windows Server DVD....
Then I Recovered this image onto a 1TB HDD.
I tried booting from this HDD and it didn't work.
So now I'm wondering if there isn't some preferred boot DVD that will allow a repair on this drive?
e.g. Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD??
I don't think the T110 II was delivered with a Windows Server DVD....
Hi Fred,
I also ran across this Spiceworks article (2014). (Page 2)
https://community.spicewor ks.com/top ic/613156- poweredge- t110-perc- s300-faile d-drive?pa ge=2
As I understand it from above, You were able to restore your recovered Raid image to the new single 1TB hard drive. Then you made this drive the (Non-Raid) boot drive in your Bios. Is this correct so far?
Then you tried to boot from this single non-raid 1 TB hard drive and you stated that it did not boot.
Did it display an error code? No boot drive found or do you get a Windows 2008 screen with an error listed? If so, is there an option in the lower left hand corner of the screen for repair?
If you can get to the command prompt then change directory into the recovery folder and run the StartRep.exe file to do a basic repair to the OS. This is from the following website blog:
https://social.technet.mic rosoft.com /Forums/wi ndowsserve r/en-US/cd 3d665f-3d9 5-4617-946 d-55d8c034 48fe/windo ws-server- 2008-repai r-install? forum=wins erversetup
Also, have you tried holding down the F10 key at bootup? (to install OS)
Sincerely,
Terry
For Reference:
https://community.spicewor ks.com/top ic/387007- rebuild-a- degraded-r aid-1-arra y-dell-per c-s300?pos =0&referre r=613156&s ource=rela ted_topic
PERC website: http://www.dell.com/learn/ us/en/04/c ampaigns/d ell-raid-c ontrollers
Dell PowerEdge T110-II Tech Manual: http://i.dell.com/sites/co ntent/shar ed-content /data-shee ts/en/Docu ments/Powe rEdge-T110 -II-Techni cal-Guide. pdf#35
PERC S300 degraded Raid: https://community.spicewor ks.com/top ic/405896- perc-s300- degraded-r aid
Dell Server Community Website: Perc 300 degraded: http://en.community.dell.c om/support -forums/se rvers/f/90 6/t/195965 29
If no boot: (from previous blog): http://social.technet.micr osoft.com/ wiki/conte nts/articl es/4162.wi ndows-serv er-2008-re pair-steps -for-no-bo ot-issues. aspx
Always show advanced Boot Mode: https://social.technet.mic rosoft.com /Forums/wi ndowsserve r/en-US/a3 2711fd-7cc 6-4fff-bb9 5-150edd5d c862/how-t o-always-s how-advanc ed-boot-op tions-in-w indows-ser ver-2008-o n-startup? forum=wind owsserver2 008r2gener al
Windows 2008 Bootmanager: https://social.technet.mic rosoft.com /Forums/wi ndowsserve r/en-US/d8 76e113-abd e-49dd-be7 f-8e4119bf a644/windo ws-server- 2008-r2-bo otmgr?foru m=winserve rfiles
Is your Bootmanager missing: https://social.technet.mic rosoft.com /Forums/wi ndowsserve r/en-US/0e 6a7b6a-70d e-41af-b2c 8-5f8f3c86 cef7/bootm gr-is-miss ing-in-win dows-serve r-2008-r2? forum=wins ervergen
Windows 2008 Repair Install: https://social.technet.mic rosoft.com /Forums/wi ndowsserve r/en-US/cd 3d665f-3d9 5-4617-946 d-55d8c034 48fe/windo ws-server- 2008-repai r-install? forum=wins erversetup
Use Bootrec.exe: https://support.microsoft. com/en-us/ kb/927392
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation & Dell T110 Recovery Notes: http://www.mojocode.com/co ntent/wind ows-server -2008-r2-f oundation- dell-t110- recovery-n otes
Server Driver software downloads: http://www.dell.com/suppor t/home/us/ en/19/Driv ers/Driver sDetails?d riverId=1N 1KH
Dell Support for PowerEdge T110 II: http://www.dell.com/suppor t/home/us/ en/19/prod uct-suppor t/product/ poweredge- t110-2/res earch
Windows Server: How to Repair the Boot Files in Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 if the Server Won't Boot:
http://www.dell.com/suppor t/article/ us/en/19/S LN167714/e n
How to Install an Operating System on Dell PowerEdge Servers: http://www.dell.com/suppor t/article/ us/en/19/S LN129177
Setting Up Your Dell PowerEdge Server Using Dell Lifecycle Controller:
http://www.dell.com/suppor t/article/ us/en/19/S LN167714/e n
Server & Storage Operating System Support: http://www.dell.com/suppor t/contents /us/en/04/ article/Pr oduct-Supp ort/Self-s upport-Kno wledgebase /enterpris e-resource -center/se rver-opera ting-syste m-support
Support for Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2: http://www.dell.com/suppor t/home/us/ en/19/prod uct-suppor t/product/ ms-win-srv r-2008-r2/ manuals
I also ran across this Spiceworks article (2014). (Page 2)
https://community.spicewor
As I understand it from above, You were able to restore your recovered Raid image to the new single 1TB hard drive. Then you made this drive the (Non-Raid) boot drive in your Bios. Is this correct so far?
Then you tried to boot from this single non-raid 1 TB hard drive and you stated that it did not boot.
Did it display an error code? No boot drive found or do you get a Windows 2008 screen with an error listed? If so, is there an option in the lower left hand corner of the screen for repair?
If you can get to the command prompt then change directory into the recovery folder and run the StartRep.exe file to do a basic repair to the OS. This is from the following website blog:
https://social.technet.mic
Also, have you tried holding down the F10 key at bootup? (to install OS)
Sincerely,
Terry
For Reference:
https://community.spicewor
PERC website: http://www.dell.com/learn/
Dell PowerEdge T110-II Tech Manual: http://i.dell.com/sites/co
PERC S300 degraded Raid: https://community.spicewor
Dell Server Community Website: Perc 300 degraded: http://en.community.dell.c
If no boot: (from previous blog): http://social.technet.micr
Always show advanced Boot Mode: https://social.technet.mic
Windows 2008 Bootmanager: https://social.technet.mic
Is your Bootmanager missing: https://social.technet.mic
Windows 2008 Repair Install: https://social.technet.mic
Use Bootrec.exe: https://support.microsoft.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation & Dell T110 Recovery Notes: http://www.mojocode.com/co
Server Driver software downloads: http://www.dell.com/suppor
Dell Support for PowerEdge T110 II: http://www.dell.com/suppor
Windows Server: How to Repair the Boot Files in Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 if the Server Won't Boot:
http://www.dell.com/suppor
How to Install an Operating System on Dell PowerEdge Servers: http://www.dell.com/suppor
Setting Up Your Dell PowerEdge Server Using Dell Lifecycle Controller:
http://www.dell.com/suppor
Server & Storage Operating System Support: http://www.dell.com/suppor
Support for Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2: http://www.dell.com/suppor
ASKER
Terry Meisen: Thanks for all the references!
I was trying to get the single drive to boot to the Windows Server 2008 R2 OS INTACT. i.e. with all the app's, etc. Not just to start over.
There was no opportunity to get to a command prompt.
I believe it said "OS not found" ... something like that.
I don't believe the BIOS gives much opportunity to identify the boot drive.
I was trying to get the single drive to boot to the Windows Server 2008 R2 OS INTACT. i.e. with all the app's, etc. Not just to start over.
There was no opportunity to get to a command prompt.
I believe it said "OS not found" ... something like that.
I don't believe the BIOS gives much opportunity to identify the boot drive.
ASKER
Now I have couple of these T110 II systems and would like to send emails re: the RAID status or at least when there's a RAID issue.
I'm not having much luck.
I *was* able to use Intel RST for emailing reports on a couple of newer Dell machines with RAID.
But these T110 II systems don't seem to provide for Intel RST email.
OMSA maybe? The email interface there seems strange and I'm not sure what it's going to do once working.
No *test* emails?
I'm not having much luck.
I *was* able to use Intel RST for emailing reports on a couple of newer Dell machines with RAID.
But these T110 II systems don't seem to provide for Intel RST email.
OMSA maybe? The email interface there seems strange and I'm not sure what it's going to do once working.
No *test* emails?
ASKER
As above, the new hard drive was a 1TB drive whereas the originals are 500GB. This isn't supposed to matter.
The new HDD was identified as an SSD and as "it is the wrong kind" can't be integrated into the array.
So, then I tried a new 500GB HDD. Same result: it comes up as an SSD. Still not compatible.
I may still try to boot to the single drive with the image on it but first:
In view of the slot ID, the simple-minded BIOS, etc. this can't be a BIOS issue.
Somewhere I read about this being a driver issue but I can't find the reference.
No matter what, I need to preserve this system as it's in production.
I can work on it over the weekend but can't afford to "lose" its functionality.
So, if it's a driver issue then I have to be convinced that whatever is recommended won't blow away the array which is still working in DEGRADED mode.
Any thoughts or references on this HDD as an SSD issue?
The new HDD was identified as an SSD and as "it is the wrong kind" can't be integrated into the array.
So, then I tried a new 500GB HDD. Same result: it comes up as an SSD. Still not compatible.
I may still try to boot to the single drive with the image on it but first:
In view of the slot ID, the simple-minded BIOS, etc. this can't be a BIOS issue.
Somewhere I read about this being a driver issue but I can't find the reference.
No matter what, I need to preserve this system as it's in production.
I can work on it over the weekend but can't afford to "lose" its functionality.
So, if it's a driver issue then I have to be convinced that whatever is recommended won't blow away the array which is still working in DEGRADED mode.
Any thoughts or references on this HDD as an SSD issue?
You are right to think that usually a larger drive of the same type will be useable in such situations, but some RAID cards can be difficult when it comes to this. What type of drives are in the Array ( manufacturer and model ) and what are the details of the drives you tried to use?
ASKER
The original drives are Dell / Western Digital 500MB and the new drive is Western Digital 500MB.
The exact model numbers are different.
The original that I removed is WD5003ABYX
The new one that I installed is WD5000AZLX
The exact model numbers are different.
The original that I removed is WD5003ABYX
The new one that I installed is WD5000AZLX
SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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ASKER
Terry: Once more very helpful! I see where it mentions "a bootable device has not been detected" which is exactly what I recall seeing when I put the new 1TB disk in all by itself (having put an image onto it first).
According to the Western Digital info: The new hard drive is recognized "most of the time" but not always.
It looks like a jumper on the new 500GB drive on pins 5 an 6 could make the difference so it will be a 3GB/s drive instead of 6GB/s. I'll try that.
According to the Western Digital info: The new hard drive is recognized "most of the time" but not always.
It looks like a jumper on the new 500GB drive on pins 5 an 6 could make the difference so it will be a 3GB/s drive instead of 6GB/s. I'll try that.
ASKER
Well, I tried that and still not doing what's needed.
The Windows environment doesn't see the disk at all.
The PERC BIOS sees it OK and identifies it still as an SSD.
The Windows environment doesn't see the disk at all.
The PERC BIOS sees it OK and identifies it still as an SSD.
I wonder if the array failed because of a. controller controller, rather than a disk failure?
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ASKER
I have ordered a WD5003ABYX. Same thing as was taken out.
Hi Fred,
Sorry. I think that is a good choice. For some reason, I thought you were trying to just get it to boot on a single drive that you had on hand.
Thank you Rindi.
The WD Blue drive (WD5000AZLX) is only recommended in a Raid 0 or 1 in a consumer Raid application. For instance, Raid 1 (Mirror) for the C drive.
The following is from the WD5000AZLX specification:
https://www.wdc.com/conten t/dam/wdc/ website/do wnloadable _assets/en g/spec_dat a_sheet/28 79-771436. pdf
2879-771436.pdf
• Desktop / Consumer RAID Environments - WD Blue PC Hard Drives are tested and recommended for use in consumer-type RAID applications (RAID 0 and RAID 1).*
* Business Critical RAID Environments – WD Blue PC Hard Drives are not recommended for and are not warranted for use in RAID environments utilizing Enterprise HBAs and/or expanders and in multi-bay chassis, as they are not designed for, nor tested in, these specific types of RAID applications. For all Business Critical RAID applications, please consider WD’s Enterprise Hard Drives that are specifically designed with RAID-specific, time-limited error recovery (TLER), are tested extensively in 24x7 RAID applications, and include features like enhanced RAFF technology and thermal extended burn-in testing.
Sincerely,
Terry
Sorry. I think that is a good choice. For some reason, I thought you were trying to just get it to boot on a single drive that you had on hand.
Thank you Rindi.
The WD Blue drive (WD5000AZLX) is only recommended in a Raid 0 or 1 in a consumer Raid application. For instance, Raid 1 (Mirror) for the C drive.
The following is from the WD5000AZLX specification:
https://www.wdc.com/conten
2879-771436.pdf
• Desktop / Consumer RAID Environments - WD Blue PC Hard Drives are tested and recommended for use in consumer-type RAID applications (RAID 0 and RAID 1).*
* Business Critical RAID Environments – WD Blue PC Hard Drives are not recommended for and are not warranted for use in RAID environments utilizing Enterprise HBAs and/or expanders and in multi-bay chassis, as they are not designed for, nor tested in, these specific types of RAID applications. For all Business Critical RAID applications, please consider WD’s Enterprise Hard Drives that are specifically designed with RAID-specific, time-limited error recovery (TLER), are tested extensively in 24x7 RAID applications, and include features like enhanced RAFF technology and thermal extended burn-in testing.
Sincerely,
Terry
ASKER
Thank you all!!