Format doesn't proceed

[Treytor]

So I moved and am trying to bring my array back online.  I have 17 disks and they all check out except for two.  I'm sure something got messed up in my attempts to bring it back online, but I am not sure what.  In any case, I am okay with this and it is now showing 2 disks as unformatted (but the array is running).

 

One has an orange dot, and the other red.  I confirm to format the disks, but nothing happens.  It says it is formatting, but then if I refresh it asks me to format again.

 

How do I get these disks to initialize?

 

I've tried it on 4.6 and upgraded to 5 beta 2.  Both are doing it.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Joe L.]

So I moved and am trying to bring my array back online.  I have 17 disks and they all check out except for two.  I'm sure something got messed up in my attempts to bring it back online, but I am not sure what.  In any case, I am okay with this and it is now showing 2 disks as unformatted (but the array is running).

 

One has an orange dot, and the other red.  I confirm to format the disks, but nothing happens.  It says it is formatting, but then if I refresh it asks me to format again.

 

How do I get these disks to initialize?

 

I've tried it on 4.6 and upgraded to 5 beta 2.  Both are doing it.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Step 1, post a syslog.  A "red" indicator says that a "write" failed to the disk.  (could be anything from a bad disk, to a loose cable)

It will not go away on its own even if you fix the problem. 

[Treytor]

Thank you for the quick reply.  I am noticing that each time I try to re-seat the sata cables and drives (RPC-4020), different drives show up missing, or red, etc...

 

I've sort of cobbled my current array together with budget sata controllers, and onboard mobo controllers.  While it worked, it most certainly wasn't reliable.  I need to do a re-build.  I was considering getting a new case and starting from scratch, but my current case seems to be a popular choice still.  Any idea where I can order replacement backplanes?  One of the sata plugs is loose (the socket on the plate) and another completely came off a few months back.  That's what you get for a budget case I suppose...

 

Should I try to resurrect this case, or go for something a little more solid?

 

Thanks again!

[SSD]

Locking SATA cables will usually fix marginal connections to SATA MB/controller ports. Usually a good place to start. Sometimes locking don't fit, but you can push them on and they still make a solid connection.

[kizer]

Locking are pretty cheap too.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022602&p_id=4543&seq=1&format=2

 

[Treytor]

I'll consider it.  I may have some here if I can find them.

 

On another note, would it be smart to get a couple of these instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?

Item=N82E16816101358

 

The wiki says you need two to support 20 drives, but wouldn't that only support 16? 

I assume these would age well and transition to a new mobo smoothly as well.

 

 

[BRiT]

You should have at least 4 and more typically 6 SATA on the motherboard [ 8 + 8 + 4 >= 20 ; 8 + 8 + 6 >= 20 ].