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Mike IBEDA

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12 Posts

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October 23rd, 2023 13:08

MD3820f Cache Backup Device Failed

We have this error on an MD3820f: "MD3820f Cache Backup Device Failed"

and in the log:

ERROR: checkBackupSpaceAvailability: checkBackupCapacity for ALT_CB_VOL failed

WARN: CCM: checkSpaceAvailability() Insufficient backup storage

What in https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/powervault/md3820f-cache-backup-device-failed/64c10602f4ccf8a8ded024bb doesn't work.

We don't want to buy a new controller for expensive money.

1 person also has this problem

DELL-Charles R

Moderator

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3.6K Posts

October 23rd, 2023 17:35

Hello Mike,

 

Is there anything in the Recovery Guru to report?

 

Take a look over these steps in the owners manual:

*Troubleshooting RAID Controller Modules page 33-34

*Controller Failure Conditions page 36-37

https://dell.to/409Xr26

 

Check the steps listed in this Knowledge Article:

Dell MD Array Cache Backup Device Failed

https://dell.to/407NtOC

 

Mike IBEDA

1 Rookie

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12 Posts

October 24th, 2023 08:03

Dear Mr. Carles R,

There are 2 error messages in the "Report Guru":

- Cache Backup Device Failed

- Insufficient Cache Backup Device Capacity

I can read the user manual myself. But nothing you linked there has helped so far.

What is meant by ALT_CB_VOL?

There are 2 M.2 SSD in the controller.

DELL-Marco B

Moderator

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3.5K Posts

24-10-2023 09:45 AM

Hello,

how many storage controller do you have?

Data is still accessible? Please be sure that you have a full backup of the storage.

If you have two storage controller i suggest to try to move all VD on the other one and try to reseat the storage controller. Then reinsert it and recheck.

It could be also a failure on one storage controller.

DELL- Marco B

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Mike IBEDA

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12 Posts

October 24th, 2023 14:00

Hello,

we habe 2 Controllers.

We have already tried what you write there but no improvement.

What is meant by ALT_CB_VOL?

There are 2 M.2 SSD in the controller.

DELL-Charles R

Moderator

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3.6K Posts

24-10-2023 15:01 PM

Hello Mike,

 

I am not finding definition for ALT_CB_VOL.

 

Let's get a report and I can review it:

 

How to gather Support Information MD3xxx https://dell.to/3SjlsSe

 

Upload here under your service tag then send me a direct message with the service tag.

How to Share Log Files, Screenshots, and Error Messages with Dell

https://dell.to/3rVnvS5

 

Direct Message

You can click on my name : MOD Dell -Charles R

Look in the Right hand column:

     Contact Me

         Send this user a direct message

Please DM me the Service tag after uploaded.

DELL-Charles R

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Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services
#IWork4Dell

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Mike IBEDA

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October 25th, 2023 06:16

Dear Mr. Charles R,

we do not have a support contract for this storage.

It's a shame that you can't say what the cause is here in the forum.

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

25-10-2023 07:02 AM

Hello, I think this ALT_CB_VOL could be name of volume that is used to store data from cache memory on the SSD. You can still send a message to Charles to check if anything else noticeable in log. 

DELL-Erman O

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Mike IBEDA

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October 25th, 2023 08:55

Hello Mr. Özkurt,

on which SSD is the volume "ALT_CB_VOL"? There are two M.2 SSDs in the controller.

How can I send an email to Charles? I don't have his email address.

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

25-10-2023 09:29 AM

Hi, It occurred to me when I saw your post that this warning message you received might be like that. I don't know the details. You can send a direct message to Charles via the forum as described.

"Look in the Right hand column:

Contact Me

Send this user a direct message"

DELL-Erman O

Social Media and Communities Professional

Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services

#IWork4Dell

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Mike IBEDA

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October 25th, 2023 09:52

The Right hand menu points only:

Dell Support Resources
Latest Solutions
Recommended
Upcoming Events
Top Contributor

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

25-10-2023 10:04 AM

sorry my mistake at first you should click on the name of Charles. 

"You can click on the name : MOD Dell -Charles R

Look in the Right hand column:

Contact Me

Send this user a direct message"

DELL-Erman O

Social Media and Communities Professional

Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services

#IWork4Dell

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Mike IBEDA

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12 Posts

October 25th, 2023 10:22

There is no "Contact Me"

see the screenshot

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

25-10-2023 11:17 AM

hmm that's interesting, thanks for your feedback. I'll be reporting this.  About the issue, I can recommend the update firmware and check this document https://dell.to/49433yR

I know you've already checked possible troubleshooting steps. This makes me think it might be controller causing the issue itself. 

DELL-Erman O

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Mike IBEDA

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12 Posts

October 25th, 2023 11:42

Firmware is the latest. And I've already tried the instructions.

So no one at DELL knows what the message is:

"ERROR: checkBackupSpaceAvailability: checkBackupCapacity for ALT_CB_VOL failed

WARN: CCM: checkSpaceAvailability() Insufficient backup storage"

means?

DELL-Marco B

Moderator

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3.5K Posts

25-10-2023 11:50 AM

Hello,

please you can upload logs using this tool 

Service Requests | Dell US

 

the associated service request is 178333586

Usually if the system is out of warranty the support is not free, but we can check anyway the logs to suggest something to do for your issue.

Thanks

DELL- Marco B

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Mike IBEDA

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12 Posts

October 26th, 2023 06:03

I have upload the Log-File from the MD3820f.
Only process the case if it costs us nothing.

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

26-10-2023 07:54 AM

Hi, thanks for the log bundle. I can see in th SR. You won't be happy with what I have to say, but as far as I can see, there are limited workaround solutions to this problem. As I can see this applies only to MD32XXX/MD36XXX controllers. For MD34XXX/38XXX controllers, a replacement is necessary.

  1. Attempt to remove the controller that is causing issues, wait for the power in the controller to completely drain, then reinsert it and check if the problem persists. 
  2. If the first step doesn’t solve the issue, try reseating the cache card before reinserting the controller.(This for MD32XXX/MD36XXX controllers and needs to be advance tech engineer skill because it is soldered to card.)
  3. Other than that you can do this to fix the error try to Power cycle the array.

Unfortunately I can't see any different workarounds other than above. 

DELL-Erman O

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Mike IBEDA

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October 26th, 2023 08:06

Dear Mr. Özkurt,

Which of the two M.2 SSD cards in the MD3820f controller is the Cache Card?

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

26-10-2023 08:31 AM

Hi, If I didn't misunderstand your question, the controllers have their own SD cards inside them. I tried to find an image but I couldn't find a diagram for that. Actually, this is not related to M.2 SSDs. Each RAID controller module contains 4GB or 8GB of mirrored cache for high availability and a battery- powered cache offload mechanism. (reference link on page 11 Dell EMC PowerVault MD3800f and MD3820f Storage Arrays Owner's Manual) 

DELL-Erman O

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Mike IBEDA

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October 26th, 2023 09:59

Hello Mr. Özkurt,

picture of the inside of the controller.

Where is the 8GB cache?

DELL-Erman O

Moderator

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2.4K Posts

26-10-2023 10:27 AM

It should be under this card and it is soldered. But I must say that this is an application performed by an expert technician on the following models MD32XXX/MD36XXX. For MD34XXX/38XXX Controller needs to be replaced. This is very risky without an expert technician so I do not recommend that you intervene outside of these conditions. 

DELL-Erman O

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Mike IBEDA

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October 26th, 2023 12:52

Dear Mr. Özkurt,

here photo from under the controller. What are the cache cards?

DELL-Charles R

Moderator

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3.6K Posts

26-10-2023 14:45 PM

Hello Mike,

 

There is not a part number in the MD3820f database that I can provide for the m.2.

I have circled it on the image.

The only user serviceable part in the controller is the battery.

The Controller module 0 needs to be replaced.

Image

 

 

DELL-Charles R

Social Media and Communities Professional
Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services
#IWork4Dell

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