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Poweredge R620 RAID HDD replacement.
We have a PowerEdge R620 BIOS 2.9.0 and iDRAC7 Express (so without virtual console) with a RAID 5 configured on and array of #6 HDD (without spare) over the integrated PERC H710 Mini controller: a Windows 2016 OS is installed.
Yesterday, after a power OFF/ON cycle, the server did not restart and after a while I noticed that disk #5 blinked amber. The iDRAC's log reported a failure on disk #5 and all phisical disks and the whole SCSI partition was in undefined state with interrogation marks.
I successfully extracted the #5 HDD, removed the server from the rack, connected a monitor and a keyboard and re-powered, then in the BIOS settings I imported the "foreign configuration" so the machine finally rebooted: now the server report disk #5 as "Foreign" and obviously RAID5 as "degraded".
In some days will arrive some (used) disks as spare, so I can finally replace the failed drive and I would know if is possible to proceed with hot-replace the HDD and have the RAID5 array's rebuild without restart the server or it is necessary to restart it and then operate to PERC configuration.
In the second option, what operation do I have to do? I will have to reset the "foreign configuration" ?
How can I avoid the risk of losing my file system in that operation ?
ALex.
DELL-Charles R
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July 31st, 2024 18:41
Hello,
I would first note we always recommend to maintain valid backups.
Since your RAID5 is up and working in a degraded state you should make sure you have a backup and do not import the foreign drive.
Check the System Event Log (SEL) and the LifeCycle controller logs for hard drive failure, fault or predictive fail. If any of those then you would not likely want to reuse the foreign drive.
I would recommend to clear the foreign then run diagnostics to see if the drive is bad. Use these steps:
Boot to F11 on Dell Splash screen, selecting Boot Manager -> System Utilities -> Launch Dell Diagnostics. Note any messages and continue testing.
If the drive test ok then you can set the drive as a hot spare and it will start rebuilding into the array.
You would need to be outside the OS to run the diagnostics, but the other steps of clearing the foreign and setting as hot spare can be done in the controller BIOS or with OpenManage Server Administrator inside the OS.
Dell EMC OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node for Windows, v9.5.0
https://dell.to/4dafBGQ
DELL-Charles R
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August 2nd, 2024 13:28
Hello,
Yes you have that correct. You have that correct. You can replace drive and set replacement as Hot Spare and it should start rebuilding into the array all without shutting down the server
A.Bindi
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August 2nd, 2024 13:21
@DELL-Charles R thank you for prompt reply and very useful informations.
We successfully installed the OpenManage Server Administrator, that display HDD #5 as "Foreign"
If I replace the HDD (hot-swap) with a new unit should be possible to start the RAID rebuilding without switch off the server ?
ALex.
(edited)