Servers - ServeRAID II with NVRAM Battery Cache problems

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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-45CFQM

Servers - ServeRAID II with NVRAM Battery Cache problems

Applicable to: World-Wide

Source: RETAIN tip H165927

Abstract: SERVERAID II WITH NVRAM BATTERY CACHE PROBLEMS

TEXT:
There can be problems with using the 2.87 Firmware with the ServeRAID II adapter and the NVRAM Battery Backup Cache in combination.

SYMPTOMS:

System appears to hang (no activity for a period of time).

Note: This may be seen when installing Operating systems, or during file transfers, or other I/O activity.

Drives may get marked DDD after the system hang.
Errors while transferring files.

PROBLEM ISOLATION AIDS:

The system is any PC Server or Netfinity server that supports the ServeRAID II adapter.
The ServeRAID II adapter is at BIOS level 3.10.05 and Firmware level 2.87.03.
The ServeRAID II has the NVRAM Battery Backup Cache installed.

Note: The Netfinity ServerProven Compatibility web page is at the following URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/compat/

The array that is having the problem is a two (2) hard drive, RAID-1 logical drive, that is configured for Write-Back mode.

Note: This problem is not seen in RAID-5, or RAID-0, or in Write-Through Mode.

FIX:
The fix for this problem is in the IBM ServeRAID BIOS Firmware Update Diskette v3.11. The fix is to upgrade the BIOS and Firmware to this level or greater.

IBM ServeRAID BIOS Firmware Update Diskette v3.11 is to be used in conjunction with the 3.10 versions of the ServeRAID software (i.e. Device Drivers, Command Line Utilities, ServeRAID Administration Utility, etc.). If the server is not currently at the 3.10 level of ServeRAID software, IBM recommends that you update to 3.10 versions of ServeRAID software at the same time you are updating to the 3.11 ServeRAID BIOS/Firmware.

The fix, version 3.11 or later, and the other recommended ServeRAID diskettes can be downloaded from the following URL:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/searchfiles.html

SAS KEYWORDS:
PSY2, NETFINITY, PCSERVER, UNCLASSIFIED, 7000-M10, D/T8680, 720, D/T8642, 7000, D/T8651, 520, D/T8641, 5500-M10, D/T8661, 500, D/T8641, 5500, D/T8660, 330, D/T8640, 5000, D/T8659, 325, D/T8639, 3500, D/T8644, 320, D/T8640, 315, D/T8638, 704, D/T8650, 310, D/T8639, SERVERAID II, NVRAM, BATTERY, CACHE, NT, RAID-1, WRITE-BACK, 2.87.03, 3.10.05, 76H3584, 76H5401

Search Keywords

PSY2, NETFINITY, PCSERVER, UNCLASSIFIED, 7000-M10, D/T8680, 720, D/T8642, 7000, D/T8651, 520, D/T8641, 5500-M10, D/T8661, 500, D/T8641, 5500, D/T8660, 330, D/T8640, 5000, D/T8659, 325, D/T8639, 3500, D/T8644, 320, D/T8640, 315, D/T8638, 704, D/T8650, 310, D/T8639, SERVERAID II, NVRAM, BATTERY, CACHE, NT, RAID-1, WRITE-BACK, 2.87.03, 3.10.05, 76H3584, 76H5401

Document Category

RAID, Retain

Date Created

22-02-99

Last Updated

23-02-99

Revision Date

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

Netfinity 3500, Netfinity 5000, Netfinity 5500, Netfinity 5500 M10, Netfinity 7000, Netfinity 7000 M10, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704, PC Server 720

Machine Type

8644, 8659, 8660, 8661, 8651, 8680, 8639, 8638, 8640, 8641, 8650, 8642

Model

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

H165927

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

Date last altered: A99/02/17

	Search Keywords	PSY2, NETFINITY, PCSERVER, UNCLASSIFIED, 7000-M10, D/T8680, 720, D/T8642, 7000, D/T8651, 520, D/T8641, 5500-M10, D/T8661, 500, D/T8641, 5500, D/T8660, 330, D/T8640, 5000, D/T8659, 325, D/T8639, 3500, D/T8644, 320, D/T8640, 315, D/T8638, 704, D/T8650, 310, D/T8639, SERVERAID II, NVRAM, BATTERY, CACHE, NT, RAID-1, WRITE-BACK, 2.87.03, 3.10.05, 76H3584, 76H5401
	Document Category	RAID, Retain
	Date Created	22-02-99
	Last Updated	23-02-99
	Revision Date
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	Netfinity 3500, Netfinity 5000, Netfinity 5500, Netfinity 5500 M10, Netfinity 7000, Netfinity 7000 M10, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704, PC Server 720
	Machine Type	8644, 8659, 8660, 8661, 8651, 8680, 8639, 8638, 8640, 8641, 8650, 8642
	Model
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)	H165927
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes	Date last altered: A99/02/17