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PowerEdge R730xd doesn't see more than 8 disks on front backplane
Hello,
I've gotten a second-hand R730xd that doesn't recognize more than the first 8 disks (numbered 0-7) installed in front on the front backplane. Two disks installed on the rear backplane are detected fine as Disk 24 and Disk 25.
When I install additional disks, I don't even get a power light. Nothing gets detected in idrac either.
The system is cabled as the "Option 1" setup according to the manual. I have also tried 2 different mini PERC controllers, so the controller is not the issue. All BIOS is at the latest versions available.
Here are pictures of my cabling:
Here's a screen shot of my idrac backplane slot summary, even though I have disks (and I have tried many) installed in slot 8 and 9...
and here is the backplane info from hardware inventory.
Any ideas on what is going wrong? Thanks for any assistance.
Praveen.Singh
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March 11th, 2023 01:00
As simple and Quick:-
1. Controller slot.
2. SAS cable.
3. backplane, noting else can cause the issue.
DELL-Young E
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March 5th, 2023 17:00
Hello thanks for choosing Dell. Is there any new parts/ devices you recently added?
PBrown76
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March 5th, 2023 20:00
Hey there Young,
No, nothing has changed since I bought the server besides swapping a PERC 730 for a 330, and as I said above I've tested both and same results. Should I assume I need a new backplane? Or what else would I test first?
DELL-Young E
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March 5th, 2023 23:00
Hello could you please check this first? https://dell.to/41OyYQf
PBrown76
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March 6th, 2023 10:00
Young,
This document you referenced is all about external cabling...that isn't the problem here?
DELL-Charles R
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March 6th, 2023 12:00
Hello PBrown76,
When drive do not get any power and LED's do not lite I think of the drive in the wrong screw holes on the carrier or that the drives cannot reach the backplane connector.
If you happen to have a universal drive carrier, make sure it is in the correct screw holes
Will the drives get recognized in any of the higher number drive slots (10,11…)?
Do those drives get detected in one of the working slots?
You may make sure the backplane is physically installed correctly in case it is not and the drives cannot reach the backplane connector.
Check and make sure you are not in split mode:
https://dell.to/3SU6iBd
PBrown76
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March 6th, 2023 16:00
Charles:
The drives I have been trying in slots 8-23 do light up/get powered in slots 0-7. And vice versa; drives currently in 0-7 do not get powered/work in 8-23. Drives all appear to reach/connect to the backplane. Here is a closeup of the backplane:
As you can see, the backplane board is properly aligned with the drive carrier.
Backplane enclosure is not in split mode:
Thanks,
Preston
DELL-Young E
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March 6th, 2023 17:00
Hello,
This may help:
https://dell.to/3Ji9mE2
how to change to split mode:
https://dell.to/3Jindud
PBrown76
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March 6th, 2023 18:00
Young,
I DO NOT WANT split mode. I want to be able to see all 24 disks on the front enclosure at the same time.
The enclosure is not currently configured for split mode anyway. So that isn't the problem.
DELL-Young E
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March 6th, 2023 21:00
Hello at this point we would like to know what controller you plugged in and how the procedure was. Could we see a picture where the controller is?
DELL-Charles R
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March 7th, 2023 06:00
Hello PBrown76,
You mention it is a second hand purchase. Can you give any history on the system?
Was it working before switching controllers?
Have you reseat all cables on the backplane?
Can you check the LifeCycle log for any errors related to backplane/controller/hard drives?
Check if the expander and the H330 mini are at current firmware:
Dell 13G PowerEdge Server Backplane Expander Firmware Version 3.35
https://dell.to/3ZQy9Vv
Dell PERC H330 Mini/Adapter RAID Controllers firmware version 25.5.9.0001
https://dell.to/3IUfOA0
PBrown76
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March 7th, 2023 06:00
I am using a H330 mini. Previously the system shipped with a H730P mini. Neither see more than the first 8 drives in the enclosure.
As noted in the first post, the controller is cabled as per "Option 1" in the R730xd manual: