Primary Storage

Hello,
we have an older Storwize V5000 which to which we don't add actively new data, but still host some valuable older data. As we are slowly phasing out the system we don't have a maintenance contract anymore.   We now had a failing disk, which I replaced with the usual guided procedure and got a message that the error was fixed at the end. However, the new disk wasn't added to the mdisk (which is shown as degraded), but was shown as unused instead and the original disk was marked as missing. I thought adding the disk and rebuilding might take some time and left it overnight and indeed the missing disk is gone now, but the new disk was still unused and the mdisk is still degraded (as it is down to one rebuild area). I manually marked the new disk as spare and waited again - nothing happened. I tried to run the fix for the degraded mdisk, but the disks listed as options to add are just the ones currently active in the mdisk. This is recognized by the system: "There is no drive that matches the array member goal." The slot where the new spare disk is situated isn't listed.
Does anybody know how to manually add the new disk to the mdisk with a missing member?
The replace disk procedure is no option as I would have to remove a disk and the failed disk isn't listed anymore.
Thank you in advance

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter
------------------------------

#StorageManagementandReporting
#Storage
#PrimaryStorage

Hello Dirk,
as you mentioned "[…]down to one rebuild area[…]", I conclude, the array mdisk on that V5000 is of type DRAID.
In order to include the replaced disk presently in status UNUSED, first of all mark the same as CANDIDATE, e.g. using CLI:
chdrive -use candidate x
Note: x = drive id of the unused drive as seen with command lsdrive 
 
Now, we need to integrate the new drive into the array, so the copyback process can start:
charraymember -immediate -newdrive x -member y z   
Note: 
x = drive id
y = member id of the missing drive in the array as seen with command lsarraymember z   
z = name or id of the array mdisk in question

Good luck!





------------------------------
Christian Schroeder
IBM SpecV Storage Support with Passion
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed November 23, 2022 05:00 AM
From: Dirk Reiter
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello,
we have an older Storwize V5000 which to which we don't add actively new data, but still host some valuable older data. As we are slowly phasing out the system we don't have a maintenance contract anymore.   We now had a failing disk, which I replaced with the usual guided procedure and got a message that the error was fixed at the end. However, the new disk wasn't added to the mdisk (which is shown as degraded), but was shown as unused instead and the original disk was marked as missing. I thought adding the disk and rebuilding might take some time and left it overnight and indeed the missing disk is gone now, but the new disk was still unused and the mdisk is still degraded (as it is down to one rebuild area). I manually marked the new disk as spare and waited again - nothing happened. I tried to run the fix for the degraded mdisk, but the disks listed as options to add are just the ones currently active in the mdisk. This is recognized by the system: "There is no drive that matches the array member goal." The slot where the new spare disk is situated isn't listed.
Does anybody know how to manually add the new disk to the mdisk with a missing member?
The replace disk procedure is no option as I would have to remove a disk and the failed disk isn't listed anymore.
Thank you in advance

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter
------------------------------

#StorageManagementandReporting
#PrimaryStorage
#Storage

Hello Christian,

thanks a lot for your help it worked perfectly!
The copyback is running now and the problem is solved.

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu November 24, 2022 03:10 AM
From: Christian Schroeder
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello Dirk,
as you mentioned "[…]down to one rebuild area[…]", I conclude, the array mdisk on that V5000 is of type DRAID.
In order to include the replaced disk presently in status UNUSED, first of all mark the same as CANDIDATE, e.g. using CLI:
chdrive -use candidate x
Note: x = drive id of the unused drive as seen with command lsdrive 
 
Now, we need to integrate the new drive into the array, so the copyback process can start:
charraymember -immediate -newdrive x -member y z   
Note: 
x = drive id
y = member id of the missing drive in the array as seen with command lsarraymember z   
z = name or id of the array mdisk in question

Good luck!





------------------------------
Christian Schroeder
IBM SpecV Storage Support with Passion

Original Message:
Sent: Wed November 23, 2022 05:00 AM
From: Dirk Reiter
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello,
we have an older Storwize V5000 which to which we don't add actively new data, but still host some valuable older data. As we are slowly phasing out the system we don't have a maintenance contract anymore.   We now had a failing disk, which I replaced with the usual guided procedure and got a message that the error was fixed at the end. However, the new disk wasn't added to the mdisk (which is shown as degraded), but was shown as unused instead and the original disk was marked as missing. I thought adding the disk and rebuilding might take some time and left it overnight and indeed the missing disk is gone now, but the new disk was still unused and the mdisk is still degraded (as it is down to one rebuild area). I manually marked the new disk as spare and waited again - nothing happened. I tried to run the fix for the degraded mdisk, but the disks listed as options to add are just the ones currently active in the mdisk. This is recognized by the system: "There is no drive that matches the array member goal." The slot where the new spare disk is situated isn't listed.
Does anybody know how to manually add the new disk to the mdisk with a missing member?
The replace disk procedure is no option as I would have to remove a disk and the failed disk isn't listed anymore.
Thank you in advance

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter
------------------------------

#StorageManagementandReporting
#Storage
#PrimaryStorage

Hello Dirk,
thanks for the feedback, glad to learn it works again.

------------------------------
Christian Schroeder
IBM SpecV Storage Support with Passion
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Fri November 25, 2022 05:10 AM
From: Dirk Reiter
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello Christian,

thanks a lot for your help it worked perfectly!
The copyback is running now and the problem is solved.

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter

Original Message:
Sent: Thu November 24, 2022 03:10 AM
From: Christian Schroeder
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello Dirk,
as you mentioned "[…]down to one rebuild area[…]", I conclude, the array mdisk on that V5000 is of type DRAID.
In order to include the replaced disk presently in status UNUSED, first of all mark the same as CANDIDATE, e.g. using CLI:
chdrive -use candidate x
Note: x = drive id of the unused drive as seen with command lsdrive 
 
Now, we need to integrate the new drive into the array, so the copyback process can start:
charraymember -immediate -newdrive x -member y z   
Note: 
x = drive id
y = member id of the missing drive in the array as seen with command lsarraymember z   
z = name or id of the array mdisk in question

Good luck!





------------------------------
Christian Schroeder
IBM SpecV Storage Support with Passion

Original Message:
Sent: Wed November 23, 2022 05:00 AM
From: Dirk Reiter
Subject: Storwize V5000 disk replacement - how to add spare to mdisk?

Hello,
we have an older Storwize V5000 which to which we don't add actively new data, but still host some valuable older data. As we are slowly phasing out the system we don't have a maintenance contract anymore.   We now had a failing disk, which I replaced with the usual guided procedure and got a message that the error was fixed at the end. However, the new disk wasn't added to the mdisk (which is shown as degraded), but was shown as unused instead and the original disk was marked as missing. I thought adding the disk and rebuilding might take some time and left it overnight and indeed the missing disk is gone now, but the new disk was still unused and the mdisk is still degraded (as it is down to one rebuild area). I manually marked the new disk as spare and waited again - nothing happened. I tried to run the fix for the degraded mdisk, but the disks listed as options to add are just the ones currently active in the mdisk. This is recognized by the system: "There is no drive that matches the array member goal." The slot where the new spare disk is situated isn't listed.
Does anybody know how to manually add the new disk to the mdisk with a missing member?
The replace disk procedure is no option as I would have to remove a disk and the failed disk isn't listed anymore.
Thank you in advance

------------------------------
Dirk Reiter
------------------------------

#StorageManagementandReporting
#Storage
#PrimaryStorage