Windows Server failure RAID
We had a power outage last nigh and I came to work with the following message on the server:
The following VDs have missing disk: 00
If you proceed (or load the configuration utitlity), these VDs will be marked OFFLINE and will be inaccessible. Please check your cables and ensure all disk are present. Press any key to continue, or 'C' to load the configuration utility
The server is setup as a RAID 5 with 4 disks. It appears that 2 of the 4 disk are flashing amber. What are the chances that 2 disk go down at exactly the same time. Any suggestions here. Please HELP!!!!
The following VDs have missing disk: 00
If you proceed (or load the configuration utitlity), these VDs will be marked OFFLINE and will be inaccessible. Please check your cables and ensure all disk are present. Press any key to continue, or 'C' to load the configuration utility
The server is setup as a RAID 5 with 4 disks. It appears that 2 of the 4 disk are flashing amber. What are the chances that 2 disk go down at exactly the same time. Any suggestions here. Please HELP!!!!
Dell server?
You may need to just force the disks online in the RAID controller.
BUT, two drives CAN fail simultaneously. There's a reason people haven't recommended RAID 5 for years and instead recommend RAID 6.
No UPS? GET ONE! And configure it to shutdown the server GRACEFULLY in the event of a power failure.
REALLY hope you have good backups!
You may need to just force the disks online in the RAID controller.
BUT, two drives CAN fail simultaneously. There's a reason people haven't recommended RAID 5 for years and instead recommend RAID 6.
No UPS? GET ONE! And configure it to shutdown the server GRACEFULLY in the event of a power failure.
REALLY hope you have good backups!
Systems Administrator
Yes it's a Dell Server. We do have a UPS, but something must of failed on it. I do backup the server every night. So you thing I should just go into the configuration Utility and try to force the disk online? I haven't done anything as of yet, as its still in the state that it has been since I got here.
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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Have seen hp raid 5 also been destroyed after outage.
I am with Lee hoping for solid backups.....
I am with Lee hoping for solid backups.....
Systems Administrator
I haven't tried just re-power the server yet. I wonder I should try that before I get into the RAID Utility?
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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You can try cold starting the server, in this link is described force disks online in perc raid bios.
Cheers
Cheers
Boot to the controller BIOS utility (CTRL-R probably), highlight the controller on the first page (VD MGMT), and hit F2 ... if you have Foreign configuration options, attempt to IMPORT the foreign configuration.
You don't want to force a drive online if you know which one is the most current, AND you won't have the option to force it online if it is flagged as foreign.
What server and controller model are we talking about?
You don't want to force a drive online if you know which one is the most current, AND you won't have the option to force it online if it is flagged as foreign.
What server and controller model are we talking about?
Systems Administrator
Dell PowerEdge T310 PERC
Controller: 6/i SAS Internal RAID
Hard Drive Configuration RAID 5 Add-in PERC6i/H700
I
Controller: 6/i SAS Internal RAID
Hard Drive Configuration RAID 5 Add-in PERC6i/H700
I
Systems Administrator
I can't even boot to the RAID controller now. The option is not even available anymore????
Systems Administrator
I can get back into the RAID Configuration. It says RAID Offline and shows 2 of the Physical Disks as missing
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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You have the raid selected, look under physical. PD
Select one offline disk and hit f2.
Select one offline disk and hit f2.
Systems Administrator
Now I am back to not being able to get into the RAID utility again. Trying a complete power off again
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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It will not expand the Physical Disks?
Did you goto PD mgmt?
Systems Administrator
when I do a complete power off and power on I can back into the RAID Utility. But still can't expand the Physical Disk section. Hitting F2 has no effect on the PhysicAL DISK SECTION AT THE MAIN
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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It is not seeing the disks at all... what happens if you pull one faulthy drive and put it back in, any response?
The freezing up gives me the feeling you controller or backplane is defective. Do you have active Dell support?
The freezing up gives me the feeling you controller or backplane is defective. Do you have active Dell support?
Systems Administrator
OK i am just to the point where I want to start completely over. I just wan to rebuild the RAID and clear all hard drives. I deleted the VD, but still can olny see 2 of the 4 hard drives. Is there a way to completely clear everything!!
Systems Administrator
Ok so I was able to clear all configurations. I cleared the foriegn status, now I can see all hard drives. I created a new RAID 5, with a the hard drives. Looks like I am starting over and restoring from backup tape
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" I created a new RAID 5, with a the hard drives. Looks like I am starting over and restoring from backup tape"
Nooooooo!! Please upgrade to RAID-6 or RAID10
Nooooooo!! Please upgrade to RAID-6 or RAID10
Datacenter platform engineer Lindows
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Or raid5 plus spare, is a lot quicker.... all depends requirements.
lets hope everything is up and running by now and the little panic has gone.
lets hope everything is up and running by now and the little panic has gone.
Systems Administrator
Ok, I wanted to give an update. I have completely rebuilt the server. I have restores my data files back from backup. I did take eveyones advice by not using a RAID 5. However I had to do something a little different because of timing and hardware. I had to replace 2 of the 4 drives from the raid. So when I went to rebuild I only had 2 drives to start. So I setup a RAID 1 with the 2 drives and installed the O/S. I just got 2 new drives which I just setup also as a RAID 1 for my DATA. I we be reinstalling our accounting software and management software. Thanks god I do full backup's everynight. The load on this server is really minimal because this is a very small office with only about 5 people.