Regarding the controller, ensure you purchase what is called an “Upgrade Controller”, this will have the proper flash card with Firmware installed. Also, ensure you purchase the controller with the firmware that is in the same family as your current version of firmware, (i.e., if you have v4.3.8 installed, the controller should have 4.3.x firmware). Once installed, run update to get both to the same FW version (if required), you will not have to restart the array.
Regarding adding additional disks, we have a solution for this in our KB, first login to the support site at:
https://support.equallogic.com/secure/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/support/Default.aspx
Once logged in, goto the Knowledge Base at this address: https://support.equallogic.com/support/solutions.aspx?id=1444
In the search box type: populate
You should see in the results the solution titled: “ARRAY: What is the process for adding additional drives to a half-populated array?”
Someone suggested that (first) update the first controller to the latest firmware, reboot and add the second controller. The second controller will sync the firmware. Is this correct?
No, when you install the new update controller, the array will not automatically update the FW to the same version as the existing active controller. As stated earlier, ensure you purchase the update controller with the same family FW as the current version.
I would not recommend updating the array to the latest version of the firmware either. This is to reduce any variables in the hardware install process. Once you have installed all your new hardware, you should consider waiting at least a few days to ensure everything is working as expected with the new hardware before updating the firmware.
However, if you purchased the update controller with a newer version of the firmware, then you would need to update the FW first.
When you install the update controller, unless it is exactly the same firmware as the existing controller, you will need to run update in the GUI (to get them both in sync with the active firmware running on the original controller).
Joe S586
7 Technologist
•
729 Posts
0
August 30th, 2011 07:00
Regarding the controller, ensure you purchase what is called an “Upgrade Controller”, this will have the proper flash card with Firmware installed. Also, ensure you purchase the controller with the firmware that is in the same family as your current version of firmware, (i.e., if you have v4.3.8 installed, the controller should have 4.3.x firmware). Once installed, run update to get both to the same FW version (if required), you will not have to restart the array.
Regarding adding additional disks, we have a solution for this in our KB, first login to the support site at:
https://support.equallogic.com/secure/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/support/Default.aspx
Once logged in, goto the Knowledge Base at this address: https://support.equallogic.com/support/solutions.aspx?id=1444
In the search box type: populate
You should see in the results the solution titled: “ARRAY: What is the process for adding additional drives to a half-populated array?”
Regards,
Joe
CMend11
3 Posts
0
August 30th, 2011 09:00
Regards,
Collin
Joe S586
7 Technologist
•
729 Posts
0
August 30th, 2011 14:00
No, when you install the new update controller, the array will not automatically update the FW to the same version as the existing active controller. As stated earlier, ensure you purchase the update controller with the same family FW as the current version.
I would not recommend updating the array to the latest version of the firmware either. This is to reduce any variables in the hardware install process. Once you have installed all your new hardware, you should consider waiting at least a few days to ensure everything is working as expected with the new hardware before updating the firmware.
However, if you purchased the update controller with a newer version of the firmware, then you would need to update the FW first.
When you install the update controller, unless it is exactly the same firmware as the existing controller, you will need to run update in the GUI (to get them both in sync with the active firmware running on the original controller).
Joe
CMend11
3 Posts
0
August 31st, 2011 09:00
Collin