Koldov Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 (edited) Hi All, I have a Dell T420 tower server and it's only about a year old, but I took the front 'security' bezel off yesterday to use the front USB ports and noticed that one of the drives is blinking amber for half a second, then green, then repeats. I've researched this and it may indicate a drive failure is imminent... I didn't build it, it came pre-built from Dell, but with no OS (I installed that myself). There are 2 x 300GB SAS 6Gbps, 3.5-in, 15K RPM Hard Drives (Hot Plug) - DELL PERC H310 RAID CONTROLLER - RAID 1 (I think). This is where the OS is installed. Are there any Dell utilities (specific to my server) that I need to download and install to perform some diagnostics or provide evidence to Dell? As you can tell I have never had to replace a drive on a production server before so I am REALLY nervous! Edited February 10, 2017 by Koldov
newpersn Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Should have the Dell Open Manage software installed. (if Windows OS) Is there not a LCD screen on the server? That would give you a message to say whats is going on? 1
PotNoodleTech Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Make sure you double check the set up of the RAID array with a fine tooth comb first using either something like Openmanage, or by actually rebooting the server at a quiet period (may not be possible) and going into the raid controller bios setup. Last thing you want to do is pull a drive and replace because you though it was a raid1 array, only to then find it was actually a raid 0 array and you've just lost all your data. Also, backups - make sure you get solid backups and preferably test a restore onto another device just to make sure.
SHimmer45 Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 +1 on installing openmanage to look at the RAID setup, its a VERY good tool for keeping an eye on your Dell kit. i believe idrac allows some you to view options about how the raid is setup. 1
Koldov Posted February 10, 2017 Author Posted February 10, 2017 Should have the Dell Open Manage software installed. (if Windows OS) Is there not a LCD screen on the server? That would give you a message to say whats is going on? Yes, there is a small LCD screen - it just has its usual number (not lit up or flashing or anything). Make sure you double check the set up of the RAID array with a fine tooth comb first using either something like Openmanage, or by actually rebooting the server at a quiet period (may not be possible) and going into the raid controller bios setup. Last thing you want to do is pull a drive and replace because you though it was a raid1 array, only to then find it was actually a raid 0 array and you've just lost all your data. Also, backups - make sure you get solid backups and preferably test a restore onto another device just to make sure. I'm really, really hoping they wouldn't have ordered a server set up with a RAID 0 array, but I will double check. Can't reboot until next week, but I was hoping to start the ball rolling with Dell, just so I can be sure the replacement arrives and I can get it installed and tested during half-term. Unfortunately I have no way to test the back-ups and sadly the last couple have failed! http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-server-2012/180163-windows-server-backup-errors.html Never rains.....
Joanne Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Give them a call, they will send you out a new drive pretty quickly. I've had loads off them for the same reason.
southhamster Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 From memory I think there is also RAID card software for svr2012r2 which may give more info. We have a perc h700 card on our r420. As mentioned idrac is pretty good but you may need the enterprise version for bells and whistles. If you can, set it to email errors. As mentioned -backups before anything else! Veeam free may be you friend. 1
Joanne Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 If you want to see what RAID array it is on Open Manage you go to system - storage - PERC adaptor - Connector - Virtual Disks
Koldov Posted February 10, 2017 Author Posted February 10, 2017 I don't have Open Manage on the server. I've just looked here and it's pretty daunting... http://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukbsdt1/product-support/product/poweredge-t420/drivers Does anyone know the specific file I'd need to download to get started?
SHimmer45 Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 id agree on the above for the most up to date versions they have a openmanage download section which is alot less cluttered Dell OpenManage Server Administrator | Dell IRELAND avoid the essentials stuff if you come across it as its a different package which manages OMSA clients. Install for openmanage / OMSA is pretty straight forward and no restarts required 1
Koldov Posted February 10, 2017 Author Posted February 10, 2017 Can't even install it.... Prerequisite checker cannot run .vbs files - There is no script engine for file extension ".vbs". An error occurred while attempting to execute a Visual Basic Script. Please confirm that Visual Basic files are installed correctly. In the help files it says: Maybe WSH is the wrong version, corrupted, or not installed. Download WSH from msdn.microsoft.com. I am giving up! Maybe I will be a bit more willing Monday morning.........
ITGURU Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 I inherited a Dell R515 server which at one point was experiencing multiple drives with predictive failures, seems to have settled down now and luckily had 1 drive set as a hot spare. The one thing that annoys me is when Dell (or HP for our other servers) say have you ran the diagnostics tool etc etc in case it's a backplane issue, Well if it says the drive has failed, its failed. Dell told me as I had 3 fairly close drive failures they wanted to come out and replace the backplane. I told them no need, they are drive failures. Year and a half one it' all been fine with no failures. 1
Koldov Posted February 14, 2017 Author Posted February 14, 2017 Well, the very nice man at Dell looked through the logs and decided he would send me 3 new drives.... 3 NEW DRIVES!!!!! I'm hoping it's just a case of powering down, swapping the drive and letting it rebuild itself? The only problem is, he's decided I need to replace BOTH system drives and one from the DATA array due to an error it had last May, (that's RAID 10, so should be just the same procedure hopefully). The server hasn't even finished its one time emergency full back-up and the delivery man is coming back tomorrow to pick up the faulty drives... Oh yes he is... Work in a school they said, think of all the holidays they said - busiest, most stressful time of my year (can't wait for them to come back so I can resume concentrating on changing toner cartridges and turning things off and on again)!
PotNoodleTech Posted February 15, 2017 Posted February 15, 2017 Take it easy man do the drives one at a time, just tell them it will take 24 hours to install and check each drive and so you won't be able to have the faulty ones collected until next Wednesday. Remember, these guys work for you, not the other way round! 1
PotNoodleTech Posted February 15, 2017 Posted February 15, 2017 Lol sorry today is a no nonsense day (just like all the other days)
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