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IBM ServeRAID-8 Series

IBM ServeRAID-8 Series
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ServeRAID-8 Series
Best Practices and Maintenance
Information
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Table of Contents

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IBM ServeRAID-8 Series Specifications

General IconGeneral
Controller TypeRAID
Battery Backup UnitOptional
RAID Levels0, 1, 5, 10
Maximum Drives Supported8
InterfacePCI-X
Data Transfer Rate3Gbps SAS/SATA
Supported DrivesSATA
Max Devices Supported8
Operating System SupportWindows, Linux

Summary

ServeRAID-8 Series Best Practices and Maintenance

Notices and statements in this document

General notices and warnings provided throughout the document for user guidance.

Obtaining ServeRAID updates

Instructions on how to download and install the latest ServeRAID software and firmware.

Initializing previously used good hard disk drives

Procedure to initialize used drives before adding them to a new RAID configuration.

Synchronizing logical drives after firmware upgrade

Importance of synchronizing drives after firmware updates to correct errors.

Upgrading to ServeRAID Manager 9.0

Details on upgrading ServeRAID Manager and its impact on device drivers.

Physical drive write-cache policies

How to manage drive write-cache policies for performance and data safety.

Defunct hard drives return to normal operation

Explains why defunct drives might reappear after a system restart.

Automatic Failover feature and replaced drives

How the Automatic Failover feature handles drive replacements.

Replacing and rebuilding a drive in PFA state

Steps for replacing drives that have Predictive Failure Analysis alerts.

Periodic ServeRAID maintenance updates and evaluation

Recommendations for regular maintenance to keep the system optimal.

ServeRAID-8 k8 k-I RAID enabler modules low failure rate

Information on the low failure rate of RAID enabler modules and troubleshooting steps.

Correct battery mounting for ServeRAID-8 k

Proper mounting of the ServeRAID-8k battery to prevent damage and data loss.

Physical drives online, logical drive offline

Troubleshooting steps when physical drives are online but the logical drive is offline.

Valid RAID 5 EE state transitions after disk failure

Describes state changes in RAID 5EE arrays when a disk fails.

Evaluating hard disk drive problems

Methods and tools for diagnosing hard disk drive issues.

Logical drive states and descriptions

Definitions and explanations of various logical drive states.

Using the force online feature

How to force an array into an Online or Critical state as a recovery method.

Recover Data option

Procedure to create an array to recover potentially good data from drives.

Zero-Mode Flash Procedures

Zero-mode flash update overview

Recovery procedure for ServeRAID controllers with corrupted firmware.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 i

Step-by-step guide for performing a zero-mode flash on ServeRAID-8i controllers.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 s

Step-by-step guide for performing a zero-mode flash on ServeRAID-8s controllers.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 k8 k-I (BladeCenter)

Procedure for zero-mode flashing ServeRAID-8k/8k-I in BladeCenter Storage Expansion Units.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 k8 k-I (System x3650)

Procedure for zero-mode flashing ServeRAID-8k/8k-I on System x3650 servers.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 k8 k-I (System x3550)

Procedure for zero-mode flashing ServeRAID-8k/8k-I on System x3550 servers.

Zero-mode flash for ServeRAID-8 k8 k-I (System x3500)

Procedure for zero-mode flashing ServeRAID-8k/8k-I on System x3500 servers.

Advanced Operations and Troubleshooting

Force-online operation

Detailed steps for forcing an array online using BIOS, SRM GUI, or Arcconf.

Displaying an Offline array

How to view offline arrays in the Adaptec BIOS Utility.

Invalid process errors

Explains what causes "Invalid Process" errors and how they are displayed.

Displaying an Offline array in POST

How offline array status is shown during the server's Power-On Self-Test.

Revived array operations

Operations that can be performed on revived logical drives.

Offline array operations

Operations that can be performed on offline logical drives.

Getting Help and Support

Before you call for support

Steps to take before contacting IBM support for assistance.

Using the documentation

How to access and utilize system and software documentation.

Getting help from the World Wide Web

IBM website resources for technical information and support.

Software service and support

Information on obtaining telephone assistance for software issues.

Hardware service and support

Information on how to receive hardware service and locate resellers.

Appendix: Notices and Documentation

Trademarks

Lists IBM and third-party trademarks mentioned in the document.

Important notes

General notes and clarifications regarding system performance and IBM products.

Documentation format

Information on the format of the publications and how to request alternatives.

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