UCS C200 M2 failed to boot

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi All,

My Cisco UCS C200 failed to boot. after checked i found that the problem is the raid controller, the card may not functioning correctly.

the raid controller type that used is LSI MegaRAID 9260-4i

can i replace that controller card with different type such as LSI MegaRAID 9260-8i

If can, what should i do? are there any concern?

Thanks for your kindness

[Robert Burns · Accepted solution]

That should be fine.  Consult the LSI documentation on the exact process for swapping the controller, but since they're similar generation, just different internal port counts (4 vs 8) and all the RAID information is stored on the drives themselves, you should have no issues swapping the controllers and import the array on the new controller.  Once you swap the controllers, boot the host, break into the LSI Option ROM and verify if the array is waiting to be imported (if it doesn't auto-import).

Regards,

Robert

[Robert Burns]

Section 5-23:  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/c/sw/raid/configuration/guide/RAID_Config_Guide.pdf

Regards,

Robert

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Robert,

Thanks to reply my message.

Is that method safe? Although different internal port 4 vs 8?

Could you verify it?

If there is no problem such as losing data on the hard drives I will try to replace it.

That's a very kind of you Robert

[padramas]

Helmi,

I would suggest you to open TAC service request with CIMC tech support bundle.

I have to check the docs on whether these two cards can be  interchanged and still preserve RAID metadata.

However, if TAC decides to replace it,it  cannot be swapped with different model.

Padma

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Padma,

Thanks to reply my message

I have already opened this case with TAC, but the problem is I use different type of server C210series with LSI megaraid 9260-8i in this case.

While the problematic server is in different type, C200series with LSI megaraid 9260-4i. This occurs because some maintenance contract problem with my C200.

TAC engineer has delivered LSI megaraid 9260-8i.

What your suggest padma?

That's very kind of you

[Robert Burns]

You wouldn't lose any data by swapping the controllers even if they're different types.  When you boot the system after the swap, the controller should display a message to press "F" to import the "foreign RAID Config" detected.  Let the controller read the config and follow the on screen instructions.  After the import is done, you can break into the LSI option ROM and verify the RAID health, or allow the system to boot.  Ensure all the SAS cables are securely connected when you swap the controllers.

If you're still unsure, you can open a TAC case as Padma advised and they'll walk you through the process.

Regards,

Robert

[Robert Burns]

There's no problem going from a 9260-4i to a 9260-8i.  The 8i will just have a second mini SAS connector for adding more drive bays, but the 8i will support anything the 4i was connected to (and more). 

Robert

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for reply,

Can I use 2 controllers for redundancy?

[Robert Burns]

Can you use two controllers yes - but not for redudancy.  Each controller "owns" a set of connected drives.  They can't be shared as there is a hard sas connection to each bay.

If you need controller level redundancy you're looking at a SAN array such as NetApp or EMC type products.

Robert

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your reply,

there are 2 connectors from 9260-8i (SAS 0 and SAS 1), whereas 9260-41 only have one connector and one cable.

which one i should connect one cable SAS from C200 to 9260-81? SAS 0 or SAS 1?

That's very kind of you

[Robert Burns]

SAS-0

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Robert Burns,

Thanks for reply, I really need your help righ now.

I have replaced the raid controller card. but I have some problem, when i booted the server and saw this screen :

Foreign configuration(s) found on adapter.

Press any key to continue or `C' load the configuration utility,

or `F' to import foreign configuration(s) and continue.

I Pressed F button quickly.

then it  followed by this message

1 Virtual Drive(s) found on host adapter.

The new raid controller card  only detect 1 virtual drive whereas the UCS server have 2 virtual drive.  The UCS server can launch VMware ESXI server, but it doesn't detect any  storage which cause the guest on vmware being unknown. as attached

What should I do?

are datas in other virtual drive lost?

Thanks for your help

[Helmi Muzammil]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for reply, I really need your help righ now.

I have replaced the raid controller card. but I have some problem, when i booted the server and saw this screen :

Foreign configuration(s) found on adapter.

#

Press any key to continue or `C' load the configuration utility,

#

or `F' to import foreign configuration(s) and continue.

I Pressed F button quickly.

then it  followed by this message

1 Virtual Drive(s) found on host adapter.

The  new raid controller card  only detect 1 virtual drive whereas the UCS  server have 2 virtual drive.  The UCS server can launch VMware ESXI  server, but it doesn't detect any  storage which cause the guest on  vmware being unknown. as attached

What should I do?

are datas in other virtual drive lost?

That's very kind of you

[Robert Burns]

Did you try to do a "Rescan All" from the storage adapter within ESX?

On your original server was there actually two virtual drives or was there a single virtual drive, and then ESX just had a Datastore within that virtual drive?

You would have seen a VD0 and VD1 during the boot sequence of the original server if you had two.  If I had to guess I would say that you had one virtual drive configured on the RAID controlelr (which is exactly what it detected) but the ESX datastore just isn't being seen because the PCI bus address may have changed.  If this is the case we might need VMware to restore the VMFS - I don't believe you've lost anything, its just not detected yet.

Robert