Hardware
--
Questions
--
Followers
Top Experts
Replacing a PERC 6/I RAID controller battery
I need to replace a battery on a Dell PERC 6/1 RAID Controller.
I am very concerned that while I'm performing the above action, I will lose the RAID 10 configuration and all the data  residing on the drives. This is a single Dell server working in a live business environment.
Am I correct in believing the RAID configuration resides in the BIOS (supported by the mother board  CMOS battery), not the RAID controller itself?
What is the battery's function on the PERC 6/I RAID controller? Is it just to cache data to ensure speedy access?
Can I literally shut down the server, disconnect the hard drives, pull the card, replace the battery, reconnect all, boot the system and return to my original normal environment?
Is there anything I need to watch out for?
I am very concerned that while I'm performing the above action, I will lose the RAID 10 configuration and all the data  residing on the drives. This is a single Dell server working in a live business environment.
Am I correct in believing the RAID configuration resides in the BIOS (supported by the mother board  CMOS battery), not the RAID controller itself?
What is the battery's function on the PERC 6/I RAID controller? Is it just to cache data to ensure speedy access?
Can I literally shut down the server, disconnect the hard drives, pull the card, replace the battery, reconnect all, boot the system and return to my original normal environment?
Is there anything I need to watch out for?
Zero AI Policy
We believe in human intelligence. Our moderation policy strictly prohibits the use of LLM content in our Q&A threads.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
Log in or create a free account to see answer.
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
MY major concern, obviously , is not to lose my RAID configuration - there by losing access to my business application/data. Â I was actually told by one support person at DELL that the configuration was stored in the BIOS - hence my comment on the CMOS battery. So there is no need for any type of power to retain the RAID configuration while the server is powered down?
As questioned before, Is it ok, after shut down to disconnect all?
As questioned before, Is it ok, after shut down to disconnect all?
The configuration is NOT stored in volatile memory and is not affected by the battery at all.
All went well!
The battery is actually separated from the card, hanging on the server case wall. I shut down the machine, pulled the power plug, removed the battery from the case wall and pulled the cable directly attached to the battery. I never had to actually touch the controller or drives, in which I was originally concerned about. Â It booted right up. The Dell Open Manager states that the battery is charging - all appears to be normal.
Thank  you Power Edge  Tech
The battery is actually separated from the card, hanging on the server case wall. I shut down the machine, pulled the power plug, removed the battery from the case wall and pulled the cable directly attached to the battery. I never had to actually touch the controller or drives, in which I was originally concerned about. Â It booted right up. The Dell Open Manager states that the battery is charging - all appears to be normal.
Thank  you Power Edge  Tech
EARN REWARDS FOR ASKING, ANSWERING, AND MORE.
Earn free swag for participating on the platform.
Hardware
--
Questions
--
Followers
Top Experts
Hardware includes cell phones and other digital living devices, tablets, computers, servers, peripherals and components, printers and scanners, gaming consoles, networking hardware such as routers, hubs, switches and modems, storage devices and security equipment such as firewalls and other appliances.