Array and Hard Disk Commands for Dell RAID Servers
There are a number of commands available for user who work with Dell array disks. Please note: Use these with caution – should you require RAID assistance you can contact us here https://www.dataclinic.co.uk/raid-data-recovery/ for general RAID recovery advice, or here https://www.dataclinic.co.uk/dell-server-and-raid-data-recovery/ for Dell specific information.
- Format
- The Format command does a low-level formatting of the array disk. This command is only available for array disks that have an unknown state.To Format an Array Disk
Right-click the disk that you want to format.
Click Format. The right pane shows the status of the format. The status appears as Formatting until the operation is finished.
- The Format command does a low-level formatting of the array disk. This command is only available for array disks that have an unknown state.To Format an Array Disk
- Rebuild
- The Rebuild function is enabled only when a disk has failed. You can rebuild failed disks only in redundant arrays.To Rebuild a Failed Disk
Right-click the failed disk that you want to rebuild.
Click Rebuild. In the right pane, the status of the disk is Rebuilding and a progress bar shows the percentage of completion.
- The Rebuild function is enabled only when a disk has failed. You can rebuild failed disks only in redundant arrays.To Rebuild a Failed Disk
- Assign Global Hot Spare
- A global hot spare is an unused backup disk that is part of the array group. Hot spares remain in standby mode. When an array disk that is used in a virtual disk fails, the assigned hot spare is activated to replace the failed array disk without interrupting the system or requiring your intervention. When a hot spare is activated, it rebuilds the data for all redundant virtual disks that were using the failed array disk.You can change the hot spare disk assignment by unassigning a disk and choosing another disk to assign, as needed.
For more information on hot spares, see Understanding Hot Spares.
Note Global hot spares must be assigned and unassigned manually. They are not assigned to specific virtual disks. The global hot spare should be big enough to rebuild the largest portion of any virtual disk residing on the array. If you want to assign a hot spare to a virtual disk (it will replace any array disk that fails in the virtual disk) then use the Configure Dedicated Hot Spare command. For more information on hot spares including size requirements, see Understanding Hot Spares.
To Assign a Global Hot SpareRight-click the array disk that you wish to use as a hot spare.
Click Assign Global Hot Spare.
To confirm the successful completion of the operation, check the properties displayed in the right pane. The status of the array disk must be Ready and type must be Spare Array Disk.
- A global hot spare is an unused backup disk that is part of the array group. Hot spares remain in standby mode. When an array disk that is used in a virtual disk fails, the assigned hot spare is activated to replace the failed array disk without interrupting the system or requiring your intervention. When a hot spare is activated, it rebuilds the data for all redundant virtual disks that were using the failed array disk.You can change the hot spare disk assignment by unassigning a disk and choosing another disk to assign, as needed.
- Unassign Global Hot Spare
- Use this operation to unassign the global hot spare disk.To Unassign a Global Hot Spare
Right-click the disk that is assigned as a hot spare.
Click Unassign Global Hot Spare.
To confirm the successful completion of the operation, check the properties displayed in the right pane. The status of the array disk must be Ready and type must be Array Disk.
- Use this operation to unassign the global hot spare disk.To Unassign a Global Hot Spare
- Online Array Disk
- You can set to Online only an array disk that is part of a virtual disk that has been set to Offline.To Online an Array Disk
Right-click the disk that you want to set to Online.
Click Online. In the right pane, the status of the disk is changed from Offline to Online.
- You can set to Online only an array disk that is part of a virtual disk that has been set to Offline.To Online an Array Disk
- Offline Array Disk
- You can set to Offline only an array disk that is part of a virtual disk that has been set to Online.To Offline an Array Disk
Right-click the disk that you want to set to Offline.
Click Offline. A confirmation dialog box appears.
Click OK to continue. In the right pane, the status of the disk will be changed from Online to Failed.
- You can set to Offline only an array disk that is part of a virtual disk that has been set to Online.To Offline an Array Disk
- Prepare to Remove
- Use this procedure to prepare for removing an array disk from a PERC 2/SC, 2/DC, 3/SC, 3/DCL, 3/DC, 3/QC, 4/SC, 4/DC, and 4/Di controller.Before you remove any physical disk from an enclosure, it is recommended that you perform this operation to prevent data loss.
Note This procedure is not supported on the CERC ATA100/4ch controller. In addition, this procedure is only supported for hotswap array disks (disks that reside in a carrier).
To Prepare to Remove an Array DiskRight-click the disk that you want to remove.
Click Prepare to Remove, then click Yes to continue.
When the lights on the disk you have prepared to remove stop blinking, the disk is ready to be physically removed.
The disk that you have prepared to remove will not be displayed in the Array Manager tree view. After you have replaced this disk, it is displayed once again in the tree view.
- Use this procedure to prepare for removing an array disk from a PERC 2/SC, 2/DC, 3/SC, 3/DCL, 3/DC, 3/QC, 4/SC, 4/DC, and 4/Di controller.Before you remove any physical disk from an enclosure, it is recommended that you perform this operation to prevent data loss.
- Blink
- The Blink command allows you to find an array disk within an enclosure by blinking one of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the disk. This command automatically cancels after a short duration such as 30 or 60 seconds. You may want to use this command to locate an array disk that has failed.Note This procedure is not supported on the CERC ATA100/4ch controller. In addition, this procedure is only supported for hotswap array disks (disks that reside in a carrier).
- Unblink
- The Unblink command allows you to cancel the Blink command before the 30 or 60-second threshold has been reached.Note This procedure is not supported on the CERC ATA100/4ch controller. In addition, this procedure is only supported for hotswap array disks (disks that reside in a carrier).
- Properties
- Use this command to display the array disk properties.Note Array disks for the PERC 2/SC, 2/DC, 3/SC, 3/DCL, 3/DC, 3/QC,4/SC, 4/DC, 4/Di, and CERC ATA100/4ch controllers display Ready status if they are not part of a virtual disk and Online status if they are part of a virtual disk.