Adaptec 133U2 User Guide - Page 126

Responding to a Critical Array

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Adaptec CI/O Management Software User's Guide This chapter explains what to do when you need to replace a failed drive, physically reconfigure the disks in your server, and perform other tasks. Note: These steps apply to devices connected to array controllers only, and do not apply to SCSI adapters. Responding to a Critical Array A fault-tolerant (RAID 1, RAID 0/1 or RAID 5) array enters Critical status if one disk in the array fails. The array continues to operate normally, but you may lose data if a second disk in the array fails before the array is reconstructed. (RAID 0/1 arrays can continue operating in Critical status even if two or more disks fail, as long as at least one disk in each mirrored pair remains operational.) If a spare disk is available, the array management software will reconstruct the Critical array automatically. When the reconstruct is complete, the array returns to Fault-tolerant status. If no spare disk is available, you should respond immediately to minimize the possibility of data loss. The most effective strategy is prevention: be sure that arrays are always protected by a spare pool or by dedicated spares! Note: We recommend that you configure your system to automatically launch CI/O as a minimized status-bar icon after each system reboot. This ensures you will be notified of any important event. In addition, you should monitor the status of arrays at all times with Adaptec CI/O Management Software to detect arrays whose status is Critical. You can monitor arrays effectively by enabling the Popup Event Notification option so that a message appears on the screen whenever an array enters Critical status. You can also tell that an array is in Critical status if its icon in the Storage Configuration window looks like this . Follow these steps to return a Critical array to Fault-tolerant status: 10-2

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10-2
Adaptec CI/O Management Software User’s Guide
This chapter explains what to do when you need to replace a failed
drive, physically reconfigure the disks in your server, and perform
other tasks.
Note:
These steps apply to devices connected to array
controllers only, and
do not
apply to SCSI adapters.
Responding to a Critical Array
A fault-tolerant (RAID 1, RAID 0/1 or RAID 5) array enters Critical
status if one disk in the array fails. The array continues to operate
normally, but you may lose data if a second disk in the array fails
before the array is reconstructed. (RAID 0/1 arrays can continue
operating in Critical status even if two or more disks fail, as long as
at least one disk in each mirrored pair remains operational.)
If a spare disk is available, the array management software will
reconstruct the Critical array automatically. When the reconstruct is
complete, the array returns to Fault-tolerant status. If no spare disk
is available, you should respond immediately to minimize the
possibility of data loss. The most effective strategy is prevention: be
sure that arrays are always protected by a spare pool or by dedicated
spares!
Note:
We recommend that you configure your system to
automatically launch CI/O as a minimized status-bar icon
after each system reboot. This ensures you will be notified of
any important event.
In addition, you should monitor the status of arrays at all times with
Adaptec CI/O Management Software to detect arrays whose status
is Critical. You can monitor arrays effectively by enabling the Pop-
up Event Notification option so that a message appears on the
screen whenever an array enters Critical status. You can also tell that
an array is in Critical status if its icon in the Storage Configuration
window looks like this
.
Follow these steps to return a Critical array to Fault-tolerant status: