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| Servers - Strip size setting for SSA
RAID |
| Service Hints &
Tips |
Problem Summary;
IBM SSA RAID Adapter for PC
Servers - When configuring a RAID 5 Array, ONLY a 128 block
Strip size is supported. The Adapter will hang if a Strip size
of 32 blocks is used with 9.1 GB drives.
Problem Description:
Although the ONLY
supported RAID 5 Array Strip size is 128 blocks, the IBM SSA
RAID Adapter for PC Servers Configuration Utility will
improperly allow the user to modify the Strip size from 32 -
128 blocks. When configuring a RAID 5 array using 9.1 GB
drives and a Strip size of 32 blocks, the Adapter will no
longer respond and in most cases the Operating System will
hang and require a re-boot. The problem occurs on all 3
supported platforms - OS2 Warp Server, Windows NT 3.51 / 4.0,
and Novell Netware 4.1 using 1800 level firmware /
Configuration Utility.
Additional physical indications
are that the entire SSA Loop will appear to be open - The
second drive LED (Drive Ready LED) will flash on both the
first and last drive of the installed configuration.
Drive Enclosure
Recovery Method:
1. Power
off the SSA enclosure (3527 / 7133) which contains the drives
selected when attempting to build the RAID 5 Array.
Note:
This procedure assumes that all of the
members of the associated RAID 5 array are located adjacent to
each other. If the associated RAID 5 array members (disk
drives) are not located adjacent to each other, physically
re-arrange them now.
2. Reboot the Server
3.
Once the Operating system is up and running, unlatch the
drives selected when the RAID 5 Array build was attempted,
then power on the associated drive enclosure. Allow
approximately 2 minutes for any remaining drives (not
disconnected) to sequence up and come on-line.
*
IMPORTANT:
The
following step will need to be repeated once for each drive of
the RAID 5 array. For example, if a 4+1 Array build was
attempted, the following step would be repeated 5 times.
4. Reconnect 1 of the drives unlatched during the
prior step and allow approximately 1 minute for the drive to
sequence up and come on-line.
5. Bring up the SSA RAID
Adapter Configuration Utility
- Select SSA ADAPTER LIST -
press enter twice
- Select RAID 5 ARRAYS - press enter
-
If the name of the failed RAID 5 Array build attempt appears,
DELETE the Array. However, NO RESOURCES or prior successful
arrays may be indicated. ONLY DELETE THE FAILED RAID 5
ARRAY.
- ESC to the prior menu
- Repeat steps 4 and 5
for each drive of the RAID 5 array which failed during the
build attempt.
The attached SSA drive enclosure should
no longer indicate an open loop condition and be operational.
The resolution for this problem will require a
modification to the SSA Configuration Utility which will no
longer allow the user to modify the Strip size when building a
RAID 5 array and will be available in a future Driver release
(Both the Drivers and Configuration Utilities reside on the
Driver diskette of the associated platform utilized).
Work Around Solution:
When building a RAID 5 Array, DO
NOT alter the Strip size field and use the default which is
128 blocks.
|
| Document
ID: MCGN-3GVPAW |
| Last
Modified: 2000-07-10 |
| Copyright © 2000
IBM Corporation | | |
