Servers - SSA Adapter hangs with 9.1 GB drives using 32 block stripe size

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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-3RMPM7

Servers - SSA Adapter hangs with 9.1 GB drives using 32 block stripe size

Applicable to: World-Wide

SYMPTOM
1- The Network Operating System hangs when creating a RAID 5 Array on a SSA disk subsystem.

2- The SSA Disk Subsystem no longer responds to the SSA Configuration Utility when creating a RAID 5 Array on a SSA Disk Subsystem.

PROBLEM ISOLATION AIDS
All of the following must be true for this tip to apply:

- The System is any PC Server/Netfinity server that supports and is configured with a SSA Disk Subsystem.

- An attempt is made to create a RAID 5 Array using 9.1GB hard drives configured with a SSA RAID Adapter using a 32 block stripe size resulting in the above symptom(s).

- The drives are located in a 7133 or a 3527 enclosure.

- The SSA RAID Configuration Utility/Drivers diskette(s) is Version 1.01 or lower.

- The server is running any of the supported Network Operating Systems that the SSA drivers support: relative to symptom
#1 and #2.

---------- OR ---------

The Network Operating System has not been installed yet: relative to symptom #2.

- The SSA enclosure(s) are connected to the SSA adapter in a open or closed loop configuration.

- The Utility INDICATES that the entire SSA loop is open and the drive ready LED (Second LED on the drive) is flashing on the first and last drive of the DASD loop.

- The SSA Adapter Firmware, DASD Firmware, and drivers are at the levels provided in the SSA RAID Configuration Utility/Drivers diskette that was used to configure the SSA Disk Subsystem.

Note:
Refer to the "IBM SSA RAID Adapter for PC Servers" Hardware Maintenance Manual Supplement or the "IBM SSA RAID Adapter for PC Servers Installation and User's Guide" p/n32H3816 which shipped with the SSA Adapter for instructions on running the SSA Configuration Utility.

FIX
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 (composed of 9.1GB drives) 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.

Note:
Use the SSA RAID Configuration Utility version that the SSA Adapter was last configured with for steps 3 through 5 (Hint: the SSA Adapter Firmware/ROS level 1800 is for use with the SSA RAID Configuration Utility ver 1.01)

2. Reboot the server.

3. Once the Network 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. If a Network Operating System is not installed, then start this step by cold booting the SSA RAID Configuration Utility/Drivers diskette for DOS.

* 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 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.

6. If the SSA Adapter Firmware, DASD Firmware, and drivers used were installed from the SSA RAID Configuration Utility ver 1.01, then update the SSA Adapter Firmware, DASD Firmware, and SSA drivers (in this order) using the SSA RAID Configuration Utility ver 1.05 or higher.

The latest version SSA diskettes are located at the following URL:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/files

-Select "Search"
-Type "SSA RAID" in the Keywords box
-Select the diskette image(s) to download

The diskette images are self-extracting executable files that will prompt for a formatted diskette.

Note: Refer to the "IBM SSA RAID Adapter for PC Servers" Hardware Maintenance Manual Supplement or the "IBM SSA RAID Adapter for PC Servers Installation and User's Guide" p/n32H3816 which shipped with the SSA Adapter for
instructions on running the SSA Configuration Utility.

7. Create the RAID 5 Array using the default 128 block stripe size.

DETAIL
Although the ONLY supported Raid 5 Array stripe size is 128 blocks (default), the IBM SSA Raid Adapter for PC Servers Configuration Utility Ver 1.01 will allow the user to modify the stripe size from 32 - 128 blocks. When configuring a RAID 5 array using 9.1 GB drives and a stripe 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.

This problem has been resolved in Ver 1.05 and higher of the SSA Configuration Utility which will not allow the user to modify the stripe size from the default 128 blocks. (Both the Drivers and Configuration Utilities reside on the Driver diskette of the associated Network Operating System platform utilized).

SAS KEYWORDS:
PSY2, PSY2DASD, PSY2ADAPTER, DASD, SSA, D/T8638, D/T8639, D/T8640, D/T8641, D/T8650, D/T8651, PSY2HANG, HANG, RAID, UNCLASSIFIED, 9.1GB, HEALTH, 1.05, D/T3527, D/T7133, NT, NETWARE, OS/2, BLOCKS

Search Keywords

PSY2, PSY2DASD, PSY2ADAPTER, DASD, SSA, D/T8638, D/T8639, D/T8640, D/T8641, D/T8650, D/T8651, PSY2HANG, HANG, RAID, UNCLASSIFIED, 9.1GB, HEALTH, 1.05, D/T3527, D/T7133, NT, NETWARE, OS/2, BLOCKS

Hint Category

Lock-up/Hang, Retain, SSA

Date Created

12-02-98

Last Updated

25-05-98

Revision Date

22-05-99

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

PC Server 300, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704

Machine Type

8640, 8639, 8638, 8641, 8650

Model

Various

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

H162681

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A, Owning B.U.: USA , Date last altered: A98/01/28

	Search Keywords	PSY2, PSY2DASD, PSY2ADAPTER, DASD, SSA, D/T8638, D/T8639, D/T8640, D/T8641, D/T8650, D/T8651, PSY2HANG, HANG, RAID, UNCLASSIFIED, 9.1GB, HEALTH, 1.05, D/T3527, D/T7133, NT, NETWARE, OS/2, BLOCKS
	Hint Category	Lock-up/Hang, Retain, SSA
	Date Created	12-02-98
	Last Updated	25-05-98
	Revision Date	22-05-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 300, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704
	Machine Type	8640, 8639, 8638, 8641, 8650
	Model	Various
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)	H162681
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes	USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A, Owning B.U.: USA , Date last altered: A98/01/28