Cisco VSM RAID Viewer - Version 1.1.0

[Sean Merrow]

Hello Everyone,

[June 23, 2011] UPDATE:  Beginning with the VSM 6.3.2 software release, this tool is now built into the software and available as RAID Status in the VSMC for supported servers.

I want to bring to your attention the latest release of the Cisco VSM Raid Viewer.  It will assist in viewing the status of your RAID and in gathering a debug package for Cisco TAC if you run into any problems with the RAID.  Version 1.1.0 of the tool has the following changes:

• Fixed a bug that left the lsi-fwterm.log file empty in the debug package
• Formatted the disk usage to match the rest of the formatting throughout
• Added RAID controller firmware information
• Added a ‘Silence Alarm’ button to silence the audible alarm
• Reformatted the top header table (ie. button layout and table of contents)
• Changed version to 1.1.0
• Fixed formatting so that tables would be centered in Internet Explorer as they were in Firefox.

Note:  This tool will only work with servers containing the LSI MegaRAID controller.  Those servers include the CIVS-MSP-2RU/4RU and CPS servers.

The Challenge

Prior to the release of the Cisco VSM Raid Viewer, if you wanted to view the status of your RAID in a VSM MSP, you can SSH into the server and enter some rather cryptic commands to get your output, or you have to rely on audible alerts and red LEDs on the front of the server.  This leaves the server administrator to deal with RAID issues (ie. failed disk drives) in a reactive manner after a failure.

How does this tool help?

With this tool, checking the status of your RAID, including virtual and physical disks, will be as simple as pointing your web browser to a page you'll very likely bookmark.  This allows the administrator to monitor the server in a pro-active manner and replace failing disks before they actually fail.  Gathering data from the RAID for troubleshooting is also only a click away.

How to install and use the tool

1. Download the script using the link at the bottom of this post.
2. Copy the script to the /usr/BWhttpd/root/cgi-bin/ directory on each your MSPs containing an LSI MegaRAID controller.
3. Make the script executable:

• If you are in a console prompt, use the command:  chmod +x vsmRaidViewer.pl
• If you are in WinSCP, right-click the file, go to Properties, and click all the x boxes

That's it.  The Cisco VSM RAID Viewer is ready for use.  Just open your browser to the following URI:

https://<server-ip>/cgi-bin/vsmRaidViewer.pl

The tool will also work over HTTP, but since you need to enter your root password, you are better off using HTTPS so that your password will be transmitted securely.

Tip

If the tool does not work at all when you open your browser to it, then it is possible that the script got converted to DOS format during the transfer to the server.  Open a console prompt on the server, change to the /usr/BWhttpd/root/cgi-bin folder and enter the following command to convert the file back to Unix format:

dos2unix -k vsmRaidViewer.pl

Please try out the tool and let us know what you think.  We would like to hear what you like about it, don't like about it, and what suggestions you may have form improving it.  Of course, we also want to know if you run into any problems with it.  This tool is not supported by the VSM developement team, but I will try to address any reported problems in a timely manner.  Hey, I've got cases to work you know ;- )

Thank you,
Sean

Sean Merrow CCIE 25197
Physical Security CSE
Cisco Systems

[Sean Merrow]

Hi Danny,

Glad to hear you like the tool.  Beginning with VSM 6.3.2, the tool was built into the VSMC and engineering now maintains it.  The 6.3.2 docs outline what it is capable of and I've included it below.  I no longer support this tool personally, but if you have any ideas for improvement, then I recommend opening a case with TAC so they can submit an Enhancement Request to engineering:

Thanks,

Sean

RAID Status Page

The RAID Status page displays information about the RAID, if it is installed on a Cisco Multiservice Platform that includes an LSI MegaCLI compliant RAID controller. This page also lets you silence alarms that occur when a RAID failure occurs or when the RAID array is rebuilding, and generate a debug package.

To display the RAID Status page, click the Raid Status link under Overview at the left side of the Management Console.

The Raid Status page includes these areas:

•VSM RAID Viewer area—The left side of this area provides general information about the RAID that is installed on the system and shows the version of the BIOS that the system is running.

The center of this area includes these button:

–Refresh Status—Click to update the information on the page with the most current data.

–Silence Alarms—Click to silence the alarm that sounds when a RAID failure occurs or when the RAID array is rebuilding.

–Create Debug Package—Click to create zip file that contains RAID controller log files, then follow the prompts that appear to download the zip file to your PC. The Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) may request the debug package if you need assistance with troubleshooting a RAID issue.

The right side of this area provides links that you can click to quickly display other areas of the RAID Status page.

•Disk Usage area—Provides information about the RAID file systems.

•Virtual Disks Summary—Provides summary information about the virtual disks in the RAID.

•Physical Disks Summary—Provides summary information about the physical disks in the RAID.

•Virtual Disks Details—Provides detailed information about the virtual disks in the RAID.

•Physical Disks—Provides detailed information about the physical disks in the RAID.

•Disk Error Definitions—Defines various RAID error types that can occur.