This article explains how to delete and create RAID on QFX3100 (Qfabric)

The two QFX3100 hard disk drive (HDD) modules are organized as a RAID 1, or mirrored configuration. If one HDD module fails or needs to be replaced, the remaining HDD module becomes the primary drive in the RAID. The QFX3100 continues to operate with only the primary drive, but the RAID does not operate optimally because there is no redundancy. Normally, the primary drive is only used in standalone mode until you replace the failed drive. You can replace the failed drive while the unit is running (hot-swap) and the RAID automatically resynchronizes the primary drive to the new drive.

The system operation is severely degraded while the drive automatically synchronizes the remaining drive to the replacement drive. Expect this synchronization process to take at least 17 hours. If you remove the primary drive before the newer drive becomes synchronized with the primary drive, you must re-create the RAID and reinstall the QFX3100 software image.

The independent failure of two drives is extremely rare. When one or both HDD modules appear to fail, likely causes are:

• One HDD module is not able to autocorrect, causing a hard failure. A replacement HDD module can be hot-swapped with the failed module.
   

• Both HDD modules have been removed from the QFX3100 and moved to another QFX3100. The RAID becomes inactive and is not recognized as storage in the new location. If the RAID is inactive, you can restore it using an internal controller utility to activate the disk.
   

• One HDD module has been removed and the new module inserted. However, before the two drives are synchronized, the primary drive is removed. In this scenario, the system loses track of the synchronization and corrupts the RAID. Once it has been corrupted, you must use an internal controller utility to delete, re-create, and activate both disk members.

To recover a corrupted RAID using the internal controller utility, take the following steps:

1. Start the reboot of one of the HDD modules.

2. Press Ctrl+c to interrupt the reboot sequence at the BIOS page. The following example shows a typical BIOS page:

   LSI Corporation MPT SAS BIOS
   MPTBIOS-6.30.00.00 (2009.11.12)
   Copyright 2000-2009 LSI Corporation.
   
   Integrated RAID exception detected:
   Volume (00:130) is currently in state INACTIVE/OPTIMAL
   enter the LSI Corp Configuration Utility to investigate!
   
   Press Ctrl-C to start LSI Corp Configuration Utility...
   Pressing Ctrl+c starts the configuration utility, which after initialization, displays the Adapter List page.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the default adapter. Then press Enter to open the Adapter Properties page.

   

4. Use the arrow keys to highlight RAID Properties under Adapter Properties . Then press Enter to open the View Array page.

   

5. Select Manage Array to delete or create an Array.

   

6. Select delete array followed by Y under Manage Array option page.

   

   

7. Once complete, you will be redirected to Adapter properties option page. Select Raid properties   to create a new IM Volume .

   

   

8. The new volume information appears on the Create New Array page. The following example shows that both HDD modules are visible but not part of the RAID.

   Select the first No field in the RAID Disk column. Then press the spacebar to change the entry to Yes , to select a disk.  In this case, we have selected disk Slot num. 0

   

   The utility gives you the option to overwrite all the data on the drive or to synchronize the data with that on the other drive.

   Select D to delete the corrupt data from the disk.

   

   Select C to create an array.

   

   Once done Slot num. 0 . Raid Disk will be marked as Yes .

   

   Follow the same procedure for disk Slot num. 1

   Select disk Slot num. 1 (spacebar to change the entry to Yes, to select a disk)

   

   Select C to create an array

   

   Once complete, disk Slot num. 1 will be marked as Yes for Raid disk

   

9. Select C to create the array after both fields in the RAID Disk column are recognized as storage.

   

10. Select Save changes then exit this menu . Then press Enter to start creating the array.

    When the RAID has been created, the Adapter Properties page appears again and shows the status as enabled.

    

    

11. Press the ESC key twice to exit. Then select Exit the Configuration Utility and Reboot to complete the RAID recovery.

    First ESC from Adapter Properties

    

    Second ESC from Adapter list

    

    Select Exit the Configuration Utility and Reboot to complete the RAID recovery.

    

12. Install the QFX3100 software image using either the QFabric USB install media or the QFabric Director Group recovery media.