Swap RAID controllers

Hi,

I have a hardware RAID controller in a server and I strongly suspect it's faulty and causing the server to become un-responsive. I'd like to swap the controller to see if the problems goes away. I suspect that means I will loose the disk configuration. I don't expect a definite answer but does anyone know if I can simply swap the card (same manufacture, possibly different model) and it pick up the disk configuration?

Fingers crossed,
Dermot.
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Re: Swap RAID controllers

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Hi

On Sunday 10 July 2011 20:32:43 Dermot Paikkos wrote:
> I have a hardware RAID controller in a server and I strongly suspect it's
> faulty and causing the server to become un-responsive. I'd like to swap
> the controller to see if the problems goes away. I suspect that means I
> will loose the disk configuration. I don't expect a definite answer but
> does anyone know if I can simply swap the card (same manufacture, possibly
> different model) and it pick up the disk configuration?
>=20

It all depends - mainly on the hardware. *Usually* it should pick up the=20
disks.

If you have a spare part and a spare system you can test this, e.g. set-u p=
a=20
RAID and after shutting down the system swap the drives and see if it still=
=20
works.

What controller is it?

Cheers

Carsten

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Re: Swap RAID controllers

Usually control data are saved on disks, but still that depends on your raid control manufacture, expensive controllers like DDN and Netap save the data one three different disks, that allows you to easily replace the controller.

Backup your data before making any changes.

Good luck
Hussein

On Jul 10, 2011, at 8:51 PM, "Dermot Paikkos" > wrote:

Hi,

I have a hardware RAID controller in a server and I strongly suspect it's faulty and causing the server to become un-responsive. I'd like to swap the controller to see if the problems goes away. I suspect that means I will loose the disk configuration. I don't expect a definite answer but does anyone know if I can simply swap the card (same manufacture, possibly different model) and it pick up the disk configuration?

Fingers crossed,
Dermot.
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Re: Swap RAID controllers

On 10/07/11 19:32, Dermot Paikkos wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a hardware RAID controller in a server and I strongly suspect it's faulty and causing the server to become un-responsive. I'd like to swap the controller to see if the problems goes away. I suspect that means I will loose the disk configuration. I don't expect a definite answer but does anyone know if I can simply swap the card (same manufacture, possibly different model) and it pick up the disk configuration?
>
> Fingers crossed,
> Dermot.
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> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-admin" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
>
That all depends on the make, model, and system in use, doesn't it?

--
Kyle Gordon - 2M1DIQ
Web: http://lodge.glasgownet.com
Jabber/Email/SIP: kyle@lodge.glasgownet.com

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RE: Swap RAID controllers

----- Original Message -----

>
That all depends on the make, model, and system in use, doesn't it?

Does it? My first thought was that the array configuration was stored on the EPROM on the controller. Take the card out and you loose the config.

For what it's worth, the card manufacturer is HP. The existing model is a P212 external SAS controller. The server is a HP Proliant DL165 G7. The host of is CentOS with a 2.6.18-194.17.4.el5xen kernel. I haven't seen anything in their documents that would suggests swapping controllers is possible or not. It simply not a question that the docs address.
Dp.


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RE: Swap RAID controllers

.... ciao:

: on "7-10-2011" "Dermot Paikkos" writ:
:
: "Does it? My first thought was that the array configuration was stored
: on the EPROM on the controller. Take the card out and you loose the
: config."

i don't think so. "eprom", is going to retain its data across power
cycles. SO, removing the card would not be problematic in that sense. i
would suggest trying to backup the 'config' data to trusted media while
its available ...


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