Tech Notes Promise RAID

Transcription

1 Tech Ntes Prmise RAID 03/05/ Purpse: T increase familiarity with the Prmise RAID systems in bth Windws Based and DOS based sftware, including the crrect methd fr rebuilding arrays, crrecting drive errrs, and additinal RAID 1 cncepts. Cntents 1) Prmise Windws Based Sftware 2) Prmise BIOS Based Sftware 3) Rebuilding an Array in Windws 4) Rebuilding an Array in BIOS 5) Remunting and Replacing a Physical Drive in this SuperSwap ) Status Lights n the SuperSwap ) Additinal Ntes 1

2 1) Prmise Windws Based Sftware Prmise has a number f different managers available depending n yur RAID card. They range frm netwrked multicmputer management systems t web-based management fr a single cmputer. If yu chse t use this sftware, the default lgin is admin, and the default passwrd is admin. Althugh able t manage an entire netwrk, the Remte Array Management prgram als is cmpatible with mst Prmise cards, s it is als the versin that is featured in this dcument. Fr additinal supprt with the web versin f the sftware, please cntact DR DAS. A link t a dwnladable install file is prvided in the Additinal Ntes belw. Upn installing the Remte Array Management Sftware, yu will be prmpted t first designate an IP address and setup a passwrd (see screen shws belw). The default server name is acceptable, and the IP address shuld remain as it indicates the lcal machine. This dcument is designed t reflect a lcal install, and des nt supprt netwrk installatin. The recmmended user name is drdas and the recmmended passwrd is drdas. This will enable us t supprt yur cmputer if it is necessary t send in fr maintenance. 2

3 The Remte Array Management sftware is a fully featured Array Management prgram. In it yu will find all the functins necessary t Rebuild, Delete, Define, and therwise maintain and mnitr yur array. Prir t accessing yur array, yu will be required t lgin t the sftware by right clicking n the lcal PC and selecting lgin frm the pp-up menu (see image belw). Once lgged in yu will find yur array card indicated, expanding this by click the + symbl, yu will see a screen similar t the fllwing: 3

4 This indicates that n the FASTTRAK (FTP1) there is a first channel (ch1) and a secnd channel (ch2) that each has a drive with the same mdel number (ST A). It shws that there are enclsures (Enclsure1) knwn as superswap1 and superswap2. Finally there is a RAID array managed by this card (Ary1) that is cmprised f tw drives (ch1\st a and ch2\st a). In the abve screen sht, the user has selected Ary1 by clicking nce, displaying a summary windw. Nte that the size and RAID mde (mirrring) are displayed. Als yu will see an Array Status. If there is a ntatin that this is critical, it des nt mean that a drive has failed, r that data n the drive is permanently lst. It des mean that a rebuild is required (see prcess by clicking here). There is a small chance that there is permanent damage, and that the unit will need t be shipped fr servicing. There are a number f ther infrmative screens in the Remte Array Management sftware. Each is displayed and briefly described belw. 4

5 By selecting a drive, yu will be shwn an infrmative screen nting imprtant drive and array infrmatin (abve). By selecting yur PCI RAID Cntrller (in this case FTP1), yu will find a number f ptins. Please nte that the defaults are recmmended (abve). 5

6 By selecting the enclsures, a graphic display is shwn which indicates status lights, vltage, temperature, and fan speed (nt visible in image). 2) Prmise BIOS Based Sftware Althugh there is a selectin f varius Windws sftware, the Cnsle sftware can neither be chsen frm a list nr deleted frm yur system. T access this sftware yu need t be physically present at the machine (making management via the cnsle impssible fr thse remtely cnnecting t their varius machines). T access the cnsle yu must rebt the system, and when prmpted yu will need t press Ctrl F t access this menu. The prmpt is brief and will require strict attentin t the bt prcess. Yu can enter this key cmbinatin multiple time beginning when yu see the text appearing n the mnitr. Because f the nature f the BIOS sftware, we cannt capture screen shts s we have described the screens. Please nte that the simple representatins are nt t be taken as authritative representatins f what yu will see n yur system. Als please nte that the muse will nt yet be laded, and all cmmands are keybard based, sme f these keybard cmmands may nt be cnsistent with yur intuitin, s please be certain t lk at the key guide at the bttm f each new screen. After pressing Ctrl-F yu will have the fllwing six ptins: 1. Aut Setup 2. View Drives 3. Define Array 4. Delete Array 5. Rebuild Array 6. Cntrller Yu will ntice that, where the Windws is based n the cncept f mnitring the array, the BIOS sftware is fcused n perfrming actins n the array. Aut Setup is essentially a small prgram that runs similar t a Windws Wizard and enabled yu t 6

7 set up an array. View Drives simply allws yu t see the drives cnnected t yur Prmise PCI RAID Cntrller. Define Array will present drives that are attached and available fr designatin as a cmpnent in an array, and will allw yu t add them t arrays. Yu can als set the btable array in this interface. Delete Array will allw yu t remve any ties between drives in an array, it shuld nt delete previusly saved data frm either drive. Rebuild Array permits yu t fix an array in critical status. Cntrller cntains an imprtant ptin, and several less imprtant ptins (depending n the versin). Here yu will find a cmmand named Halt n Errr that shuld be disabled. If this cmmand is enabled and an array ges int critical status, yur cmputer will nt autmatically rebt Windws and will pause until released by a keystrke perfrmed n site. Such behavir is nt desired in a 24x7 mnitring system. 3) Rebuilding an Array in Windws The fllwing is a step-by-step prcedure fr rebuilding yur array. This assumes yu system has bted t windws n ne drive f the array. Step 1: In Windws, pen the Remte Array Mnitr Utility. Step 2: Lgin t yur cmputer s array (see belw). Right Click n the cmputer name and select "Lgin" frm the pp-up menu. 7

8 Step 3: Expand (by clicking the + symbls) the tree cmpletely, and right click n the array. In the menu that appears yu will see an ptin t "Rebuild". If the drive is critical, this ptin will be black. The array cannt be rebuilt if the status is Functinal (see belw fr an array that cannt be rebuilt). Step 4: Allw yur array t rebuild (see belw). When cmplete, yur array shuld reprt as functinal. 8

9 4) Rebuilding an Array in BIOS Fllwing is a step-by-step prcedure fr rebuilding yur array. Step 1: When yur cmputer rebts be prepared and enter Ctrl-F when prmpted (hld dwn the Ctrl key and press F at the same time.) Step 2: Select Rebuild Array frm the BIOS menu (usually number 5). Step 3: Select the array t rebuild (it will mst likely be the nly array). The prcess can take 30 minutes r mre. Step 4: Allw the array t cmplete the rebuild prcess and rebt the cmputer. Yu shuld n lnger receive a critical errr ntatin. 5) Remunting and Replacing a Drive in the SuperSwap 1000 If yu have persistent difficulties with a drive, yu may need t replace the physical drive. This requires nly a small level f technical experience, a Philips (Crsshead) screwdriver, and a replacement drive. There are tw types f drives available n the market, the SuperSwap 1000 nrmally accepts an IDE drive (rear view shwn belw), hwever, there are sme editins knwn t have SATA interfaces. Yur drive must have the same cnnectrs. It is generally cnsidered best t have an identical drive, but any drive equal in size r larger shuld wrk. If yu use a drive that already has data, there is a ptential fr cmplete data lss n yur EnvidasFW system, nly use a brand new, unused drive (in mst cases, it is nt recmmended t insert a drive frm anther machine using SuperSwap 1000, as nted this culd result in a severe lss f data). Nte: Yu may als use these instructins t re-secure a drive that yu suspect has a lse cnnectin. DR DAS highly recmmends verifying the cnnectin with this methd prir t installing a new drive. Using canned air, yu may als 9

10 blw cmpnents with gentle bursts t disldge dust buildup that may be preventing a firm cnnectin. Step 1: Unlck the chassis, and remve the enclsure carefully. DR DAS LTD Step 2: Yu will find a thumb tab n the tp right side f the enclsure near the face f the unit, press this and slide the tp away frm the face t expse the drive. Step 3: Yu will need t remve fur Philips screws that hld the drive in place, tw n each side. Step 4: Remve the drive frm the enclsure gently. Nw yu will be able t identify the type f drive by lking at its cnnectrs. IDE Drive SATA Drive Step 5: When yu have lcated a replacement drive, insert int the enclsure and fix in place with screws. Step 6: Replace tp, make sure that the hle in the tp lines up with the latch n the enclsure and lcks int place. Step 7: Gently insert enclsure until firmly in place and lck the drive. Step 8: If using the identical mdel number, yu must rebuild the array in the BIOS as nted abve. If yu have a different drive, yu must enter the BIOS, define an array cnsisting f the tw drives nw installed, and allw it t build itself. 6) Status Lights n the SuperSwap 1000 The SuperSwap 1000 has tw lights n the frnt f its enclsure. The light n the left indicates bth pwer and array status, and 10

11 is the light that yu will be mst cncerned abut. The light n the right indicates drive activity. The table belw explains the key interpretatins f the lights. Visual Indicatrs Light Behavir Descriptin Neither light is n. There is n pwer t the drive. Pwer LED is Red, Activity LED is ff. The array has detected a bad drive. Pwer LED is range, Activity LED is blinking green. The array cntrller has detected incnsistent data and is rebuilding yur array. Pwer LED is green, Activity LED is blinking. This is the nrmal status indicatin. The tw drives need nt be blinking in unisn, hwever they shuld be relatively active (bth calmly blinking, r feverishly blinking). 11

12 7) Additinal Ntes The installatin f the Windws management sftware is n the FTP site ftp:// in the Prmise RAID Sftware flder. This dcument is als lcated there. If yu need lgin infrmatin, please cntact DR DAS, LTD. T install the Windws sftware, extract the dwnladed zip t a flder. Once cmplete, there will be a flder titled Disk 1. Duble click r Open PAMSetup.exe frm within this flder t begin the installatin. The Windws sftware als prvides a synchrnizatin utility. It is available as an icn in the tlbar after yu select an array. Please remember that a drive will mst likely nt be bad if it the array becmes critical, rather it was interrupted during data entry (by a pwer utage, pwer surge, r any number f ther acts that wuld interrupt the data writing prcess). In a case like this, a fair majrity f cases, a rebuild is all that is necessary t get the array back n track. If, after a rebuild is attempted, the array still reprts a critical status, please cntact DR DAS fr further supprt. If there is an instance where Windws is damaged alng with the array, a reinstallatin f all sftware may be necessary. The reinstallatin f windws requires tw 3.5 bt disks (images f which is als available n the FTP site). After yu insert the Windws setup CD and as yu begin the setup prcess, yu will need t pay clse attentin fr Windws Setup t ask yu t indicate that yu have additinal RAID drivers by pressing F6. This nte will appear at the bttm f the screen. Windws will prmpt yu t insert the disk, and the rest f the prcess s shuld g as nrmal. 12