Over the last week I have had the opportunity to upgrade 2 disks in my array. Each time I had the array (or at least the GUI) become non-responsive and had to sneak in (via telnet) and attempt to powerdown the array. I was eventually successful at the powerdown and everything eventually went OK. Is there something I'm doing wrong (procedure follows).

 

1. Preclear new disk

2. Stop server

3. Place precleared disk in my enclosure

4. restart server

5. reassign the disk I want to upgrade.

6. Press the start array button (indicates that the data will be rebuilt and array status says upgrade disk)

 

This is where everything dies, GUI non-responsive, and takes a few times to get the powerdown command to shut down the server. I've waited at least a 1/2 hour to get the GUI back, too.  /mnt/dev/ only lists the disks up to the new one (if I'm replacing disk 4 then only disks 1-3 are listed)

 

7. Power up the server.

8. Press the Start array command (indicates that the data will be rebuilt and disk status says valid configuration)

9. Data is rebuilt and everything appears normal.

 

Why does the first rebuild attempt bog down the server and blow up the GUI?

Post a syslog next time it happens.

 

Step 5 ("Reassign the disk I want to upgrade") should be "Unassign the disk I want to upgrade"

 

You should then Start the array so it shows a missing disk.

 

THEN Stop the array and assign the new (replacement) disk to that slot.

 

When you Start the array after that it should do a rebuild with no problem.

 

Step 5 ("Reassign the disk I want to upgrade") should be "Unassign the disk I want to upgrade"

 

You should then Start the array so it shows a missing disk.

 

THEN Stop the array and assign the new (replacement) disk to that slot.

 

When you Start the array after that it should do a rebuild with no problem.

 

I thought that might be the case. The 'upgrade disk' in the array status line was confusing me, as it implies that the new disk is already seen as a replacement.

 

Thank you, Gary, for the help you have delivered over the last few days, and threads of mine.

 

p.s. everything is working fine fine, despite my  slight screw up.