Encountering drive issues in a server environment can be a significant concern, especially when data integrity is paramount. This article delves into a specific case experienced with a Dell R730 Server, focusing on a persistent drive failure within slot 5. This analysis aims to provide insights into potential causes and troubleshooting steps for similar situations, particularly for users managing Dell R730 servers.
The Dell R730 server, a robust and widely utilized platform, is often deployed in environments demanding high availability and storage capacity. In this scenario, the server is configured with a PERC H700 controller, equipped with a 512MB cache and battery backup, managing a RAID 5 array. Consistency checks and rebuild operations have been performed through both the BIOS interface and the PERC CLI utility. Despite these efforts, a recurring issue persists with a drive in slot 5.
The Persistent Drive Failure in Slot 5
The problem manifests as repeated failure reports specifically from the drive located in slot 5. Interestingly, this occurs despite the drive consistently passing various diagnostic tests. These tests include:
- Consistency Checks & Patrol Reads: Completed successfully without errors.
- Smartctl (Linux): All SMART tests pass, indicating no underlying hardware issues.
- Dell Diagnostics: Official Dell diagnostics report no faults.
- Data Integrity: Data remains intact, with no observed read or write performance degradation.
Furthermore, system logs, including syslog, show no errors that would typically accompany a drive failure. The iDRAC (Dell Remote Access Controller) also provides no additional descriptive information beyond the failure alerts. The PERC controller log offers more detail, revealing SENSE errors, specifically b/47/03 and 6/26/00, primarily observed during boot processes. The b/47/03 error appears related to or triggered by an internal device reset, although the initiator of this reset remains unclear.
A snippet from the PERC log illustrates these errors:
12/06/21 21:41:09: iopiEvent: EVENT_SAS_DEVICE_STATUS_CHANGE
12/06/21 21:41:09: DM_HandleDevStatusChgEvent: devHandle=x000a SASAdd=4433221102000000 TaskTag=xffff ASC=x00 ASCQ=x00 IOCLogInfo x31120303 IOCStatus x8000 ReasonCode x08 - INTERNAL_DEVICE_RESET
12/06/21 21:41:09: EVT#507548-12/06/21 21:41:09: 113=Unexpected sense: PD 05(e0xff/s5) Path 4433221102000000, CDB: 8e 00 00 00 00 04 8c 3f df d5 00 00 00 08 00 00, Sense: b/47/03
12/06/21 21:41:09: Raw Sense for PD 5: 70 00 0b 00 00 00 00 0a 00 00 00 00 47 03 00 00 00 00
...
12/06/21 21:41:10: EVT#507549-12/06/21 21:41:10: 113=Unexpected sense: PD 05(e0xff/s5) Path 4433221102000000, CDB: 00 00 00 00 00 00, Sense: 6/29/00
12/06/21 21:41:10: Raw Sense for PD 5: 70 00 06 00 00 00 00 0a 00 00 00 00 29 00 00 00 00 00
...The RAID 5 array consists of four drives. Three drives are of the same part number, while the fourth, located in slot 5, is a newer RMA replacement installed several months prior to the onset of these issues. It’s important to note that drive firmware updates have not been applied recently.
Investigating Potential Causes and Solutions
The consistent nature of the drive failures, isolated to slot 5 and contradicted by diagnostic tests, suggests potential causes beyond a simple drive malfunction. Here are possible areas to investigate:
- Backplane/Slot Issue: Although less common, there could be an issue with the server backplane or the slot 5 connector itself. This could cause intermittent connectivity problems misinterpreted as drive failures.
- Controller Firmware/Driver: While no recent updates were mentioned, verifying the PERC H700 controller’s firmware and driver versions is crucial. Outdated or corrupted firmware can lead to misreporting drive status.
- Drive Compatibility/Firmware Mismatch: Although the replacement drive is a newer model, subtle incompatibilities in firmware versions between drives in the array, particularly the replacement drive and the older drives, might trigger errors under specific conditions.
- Cabling/Connections: Less likely with direct-connect backplanes, but worth considering if there are any intermediary cables or connectors for slot 5 that could be loose or faulty.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Firmware Verification: Ensure the PERC H700 controller firmware and drivers are up to date and compatible with the installed drives and the Dell R730 server model.
- Cautious Drive Swapping (with Data Backup): If feasible and with a complete backup of the 26TB of data, carefully consider swapping the suspect drive in slot 5 with a known good drive from another slot (or a spare). This should only be done with extreme caution and understanding of RAID rebuild processes to avoid data loss. Monitoring if the issue follows the drive or stays with slot 5 can help isolate the problem.
- Backplane Inspection: If drive swapping is not conclusive or advisable, a more in-depth hardware inspection, potentially involving Dell support, might be needed to examine the server backplane and slot 5 connector for physical defects.
- OMSA/iDRAC Detailed Logs: Investigate getting OMSA (Dell OpenManage Server Administrator) running to gather more detailed system and hardware logs. While iDRAC is providing basic alerts, OMSA might offer more granular error information.
Conclusion
The Dell R730 server drive failure in slot 5 presents a perplexing situation where diagnostics contradict persistent failure reporting. Systematic troubleshooting, focusing on firmware, backplane integrity, and cautious component swapping (with adequate data protection measures), is essential to pinpoint the root cause. Further investigation into detailed logs via OMSA and potentially engaging Dell support for hardware-level analysis may be necessary to resolve this issue and ensure the long-term stability of the Dell R730 server and its RAID array.
