Sun Storage A1000 Array
 

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Increasing the capacity to a StorEdge A1000 or A3X00 array by adding new disk drives might result in RAID Manager (RM) 6.x tools and utilities being unable to access the array with the only resolution to reboot the host system. Also, an LUN that was created on the new drive(s) may disappear when the host system is rebooted or the array is reset. In this case, the LUN may not be recoverable. The data on that LUN may be lost.

This issue can occur on the following releases:

• RAID Manager 6.x and earlier

This issue can occur on the following platforms:

• StorEdge A1000
• StorEdge A3X00

When a new disk or group of disks is added to an A1000 or A3X00 array and during the subsequent attempt to create an LUN or LUNs on the new disks, the RM6 tool or utility might hang and there is no longer any access to the array from RM6. Another possibility is if new LUNs are created for the new disks, on the subsequent reboot of the host system or reset of the array those new LUNs may disappear with no error messages or indications.

In the case where the RM6 tools and utilities fail to work after an LUN creation attempt was made to the new drives, the only recovery action would be to reboot the host system. In the case where an LUN was created and suddenly disappears after a reboot or array reset, then recovery of the LUN would require contacting your local Sun Enterprise Service representative. The LUN and recovery of the data may not be possible.

Below is the proper procedure that must be utilized when adding new drives to an A1000 and A3X00 array.

Adding Disk Drives to Existing Arrays

You can add new drives to empty slots in your existing array. To add new disk drives:

1. Insert a disk drive into the tray.

2. Allow time for the drive to spin up (approximately 30 seconds).

3. Run a health check to insure that the drive is not defective.

4. Fail the drive then revive the drive to update DacStore on the drive.

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 until all drives have been added.

6. New drives are now ready for LUN creation.

The workaround provided above is the resolution to this issue.

• State Resolved (and Closed)
• Updated Resolution section

Please see FIN I0782-1 for more information

Notes from Responsible Engineer: don.curren@sun.com:

I have not been able to find any manual entry that explains the process of

 adding new drives to an array. The only place where it is documented that I can find is in

 the Somona best practice guide which is only for Sun internal use only. This

 process up until this point is only documented in the Somona best practice guide.

 The same process that has been defined in the Somona best practice guide

 section 2.3 "Adding Disks or Disk Trays" for adding new disk(s) to an A3x00

 has been found to apply also to the A1000 array.

> 2) This product has been out for almost 3 years.  Why is this problem

 >    just surfacing now?  

 > 



 This has been a problem in the past mainly with the A3x00 array which is why the

 process was included in the Sonoma best practice guide. However up until

 recently

 this guide was tagged for the A3x00 product only and did not include the A1000

 and this information does not get to customers.

 

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