PERC H710 Weirdness
Okay, I'm admitting right up front I'm not too into RAID stuff, have messed with it here and there but haven't had any real issues with it that have required me to deep dive into it either. I'm working with a PERC H710 in a Dell Optiplex 7040 running Windows Server 2016. The H710 has the battery on it and it's fully charge; don't think it'll matter but just wanted to point it out. I've got six SSDs inside the box, in two different Virtual Drives, VD 00 and VD 01. Two SSDs in RAID 1 and a hot spare in each VD. VD 00 is the boot drive.
The problem is rebooting. During a reboot it'll hang at the BIOS/POST stage where the 710 is loading up its configurations and error out, telling me: "The following VDs are missing: 00 If you proceed (or load the configuration utility), these VDs will be removed from your configuration. If you wish to use them at a later time, the will have to be imported. If you believe these VDs should be present, please power off your system and check your cables to ensure all disks are present. Press any key to continue, or 'C' to load the configuration utility."
However, if instead of rebooting I simply shut down from Windows and then turn it back on? No problem, boots right up telling me: "2 Virtual Drive(s) found on the host adapter.
2 Virtual Drive(s) handled by BIOS"
Everything appears to be fine in the MegaRAID Storage Manager utility (funnily enough I couldn't get the Dell OpenManage software to work correctly) so, what gives? What'd I miss and why is this happening and most importantly, how do I fix it? 🤔
The problem is rebooting. During a reboot it'll hang at the BIOS/POST stage where the 710 is loading up its configurations and error out, telling me: "The following VDs are missing: 00 If you proceed (or load the configuration utility), these VDs will be removed from your configuration. If you wish to use them at a later time, the will have to be imported. If you believe these VDs should be present, please power off your system and check your cables to ensure all disks are present. Press any key to continue, or 'C' to load the configuration utility."
However, if instead of rebooting I simply shut down from Windows and then turn it back on? No problem, boots right up telling me: "2 Virtual Drive(s) found on the host adapter.
2 Virtual Drive(s) handled by BIOS"
Everything appears to be fine in the MegaRAID Storage Manager utility (funnily enough I couldn't get the Dell OpenManage software to work correctly) so, what gives? What'd I miss and why is this happening and most importantly, how do I fix it? 🤔
What SSDs are you using?
It's interesting I've seen this sort of behaviour when using Consumer Samsung SSDs with PERC and HPE Storage Controllers!
but does not seem to be the same problem when using Intel.
and oddly I've seen it think SSD has FAILED, replace with identical working, and it will also think it's FAILED, and then it will randomly start working, rebuild the array, and then later drop off again.
but does not seem to be the same problem when using Intel.
and oddly I've seen it think SSD has FAILED, replace with identical working, and it will also think it's FAILED, and then it will randomly start working, rebuild the array, and then later drop off again.
ASKER
They are Crucial and Samsung drives. Three 2TB Crucial's for C and three 256GB Samsung's for D.
Wondering if I should just cut my losses at this point and try a different RAID controller...
Wondering if I should just cut my losses at this point and try a different RAID controller...
is this a dell server ?
ASKER
It's a Dell Optiplex 7040 that I'm using as a server....
I think you would be better with a non-vendor controller.
ASKER
Most likely, got any preference there? Something that won't break the bank?
What are you wanting to do ?
Entrerprise SSDs do not come in 2TB or 250GB capacity so you would probably be better off using the IRST fakeRAID controller on the motherboard. Since they are SSDs and you are using RAID 1 there's little advantage to using the PERC.
The H710 can be cross-flashed to LSI IT mode so it can probably be cross-flashed to LSI RAID mode too but even a generic MegaRAID doesn't like non-enterprise drives.
The H710 can be cross-flashed to LSI IT mode so it can probably be cross-flashed to LSI RAID mode too but even a generic MegaRAID doesn't like non-enterprise drives.
ASKER
I'm wanting three 2TB SSDs: two in RAID 1, the third as a hot spare and three 256 GB SSDs, two in RAID 1, one as a hot spare. I'd like for there to be a good utility to use within Server 2016's GUI and a decent enough BIOS/Configuration utility. Want great read/write speeds.
I don't see anything at all about RAID on the motherboard in the BIOS... (or did you mean from within Server 2016, Andy?)
I don't see anything at all about RAID on the motherboard in the BIOS... (or did you mean from within Server 2016, Andy?)
https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-sg/sln295158/how-to-access-the-raid-controller-setup-in-uefi-configured-systems?lang=en#How_to_Access tells how to enable and configure the onboard RAID. You might also be able to find the paret numbers for the drives in the logical disk that goes offline. There isn't a good GUI to manage a Dell PERC in a PC or OEM server since you can't install OMSA.
ASKER
Sorry gents, had a medical appointment and then had to deal with the tropical storm stuff so haven't been able to look at it again till today. Fastboot stuff is disabled and even though I turned on floppy and PXE booting (I don't have that set up here) to happen first in order to slow it down, it's like it doesn't even hit that before hitting the RAID card. I see no "Dell" anything, not even a blip of it onscreen, before it goes to the RAID stuff. At this point I'm wondering about just finding a more modern card to use. I just wanted something I can set up two RAID 1 arrays each with hot spare that has a lot of history behind it and is well supported by lots of use. Thoughts? (On either, making this work or a different RAID card)
Edit: Forgot to add I'll check out that link and possibly have a go at that too, Andy - thank ya!
Edit: Forgot to add I'll check out that link and possibly have a go at that too, Andy - thank ya!
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