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Controller Properties and Tasks

Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator Storage Management User's Guide

  Controller Properties

  Controller Tasks

Use this window to view information about the controller and execute controller tasks.

Controller Properties

The controller properties can vary depending on the model of the controller. Controller properties may include:

Property

Definition

These icons represent the severity or health of the storage component. See "Storage Component Severity" for more information.

ID

This property displays the controller ID assigned to the controller by Storage Management. Storage Management numbers the controllers attached to the system starting with zero. This number is the same as the controller ID number reported by the "omreport Command".

Name

This property displays the name of the controller.

State

This property displays the current status of the controller. Possible values are:

Ready — The controller is functioning normally.

Degraded — The controller has suffered a failure and is operating in a degraded state.

Failed — The controller has suffered a failure and is no longer functioning.

Firmware Version

This property displays the version of the firmware that is currently installed on the controller.

NOTE: On some controllers, Storage Management may not be able to obtain the firmware version. In this case, Storage Management displays Not Applicable.

Minimum Required Firmware Version

This property displays the minimum firmware version that is required by Storage Management. This property is only displayed if the controller firmware does not meet the minimum requirement.

The firmware and drivers listed in the Readme file refer to the minimum supported version for these controllers. Later versions of the firmware and drivers are also supported. See the Dell™ Support website at support.dell.com for the most recent driver and firmware requirements.

Driver Version

This property displays the version of the driver that is currently installed on the controller.

The 2.8.0.6085 driver install package for the PERC 3/Si, and 3/Di controllers contains the 6076 driver. For this driver, Storage Management displays 2.8.0.6076 whereas Microsoft® Windows® Device Manager displays 2.8.0.6085.

NOTE: On some controllers, Storage Management may not be able to obtain the driver version. In this case, Storage Management displays Not Applicable.

Minimum Required Driver Version

This property displays the minimum driver version that is required by Storage Management. This property is only displayed if the controller driver does not meet the minimum requirement.

The firmware and drivers listed in the Readme file refer to the minimum supported version for these controllers. Later versions of the firmware and drivers are also supported. See the Dell Support website at support.dell.com for the most recent driver and firmware requirements.

Number of Connectors

This property displays the number of connectors the controller has. Each connector can be attached to physical disks or an enclosure. Depending on the controller type, the connector can be either a SCSI channel or a SAS port.

Rebuild Rate

The rebuild rate is the percentage of the system's resources dedicated to rebuilding a failed disk when a rebuild is necessary. See "Set Rebuild Rate" for more information.

BGI Rate

The background initialization (BGI) rate is the percentage of the system's resources dedicated to performing the background initialization of a virtual disk after it is created. See "Set Background Initialization Rate" for more information.

Check Consistency Rate

The check consistency rate is the percentage of the system's resources dedicated to performing a check consistency on a redundant virtual disk. See "Check Consistency" for more information.

Reconstruct Rate

The reconstruct rate is the percentage of the system's resources dedicated to reconstructing a disk group after adding a physical disk or changing the RAID level of a virtual disk residing on the disk group. See "Set Reconstruct Rate" for more information.

Alarm State

This property displays whether the controller's alarm is enabled or disabled.

Cache Memory Size

This property displays the size of the controller's cache memory.

Patrol Read Mode

This property displays the Patrol Read mode setting for the controller. Possible values are:

Auto — When set to Auto, a Patrol Read runs continuously on the system. When one iteration of the Patrol Read is complete, the next Patrol Read is scheduled to start within four hours. You do not have the option of manually starting or stopping the Patrol Read in Auto mode.

Manual — When set to Manual, you can start or stop the Patrol Read process.

Disabled — This property indicates that the Patrol Read process is disabled.

For more information about Patrol Read, see:

"Set Patrol Read Mode"

"Start and Stop Patrol Read"

Patrol Read State

This property displays the current state of the Patrol Read process. Possible values are:

Ready — The Patrol Read process is enabled and will run when next scheduled or when manually initiated.

Active — The Patrol Read process is currently running.

Stopped — The Patrol Read has been stopped.

For more information about Patrol Read, see "Set Patrol Read Mode".

Patrol Read Iterations

This property displays the number of Patrol Read iterations.

For more information about Patrol Read, see "Set Patrol Read Mode".

Cluster Mode

This property indicates whether the controller is part of a cluster configuration.

SCSI Initiator ID

This property displays the SCSI ID of a SCSI controller. The default value is usually 7. You can change the default value in the BIOS. In cluster mode, the value is 6 or 7.

The SCSI ID is not displayed on the PERC 4/IM, PERC 3/Si, and 3/Di controllers. Use the BIOS on these controllers to identify the SCSI ID.

Controller Tasks

Do the following to execute a controller task:

  1. Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.

  2. Select a controller object.

  3. Select the Information/Configuration subtab.

  4. Select a task from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.

  5. Click Execute.

NOTE: Different controllers support different features. For this reason, the tasks displayed on the Tasks drop-down menu can vary depending on which controller is selected in the tree view. If no tasks can be performed because of controller or system configuration limitations, then the Tasks drop-down menu displays No Task Available.

Controller Tasks:

Rescan Controller

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

On SCSI controllers, a rescan updates configuration changes (such as new or removed devices) for all components attached to the controller. For information on when you may want to do a rescan, see "Rescan to Update Storage Configuration Changes".

NOTE: Rescan Controller is not supported on non-RAID SCSI controllers. You must reboot the system before Storage Management can see configuration changes on non-RAID SCSI controllers. Otherwise, configuration changes are not reflected in the Storage Management graphical user interface (GUI).

To rescan a controller:

  1. Expand the tree view to display the controller object.

  2. Select the Controller object.

  3. Click the Configuration/Information subtab.

  4. Select Rescan from the Controller Tasks drop-down menu.

  5. Click Execute.

Create Virtual Disk

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Create Virtual Disk task to launch the Create Virtual Disk Express Wizard. See "Create Virtual Disk Express Wizard (Step 1 of 2)" for more information.

Enable Alarm (Controller)

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Enable Alarm task to enable the controller's alarm. When enabled, the alarm sounds in the event of a device failure.

Disable Alarm (Controller)

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Disable Alarm task to disable the controller's alarm. When disabled, the alarm does not sound in the event of a device failure.

Quiet Alarm (Controller)

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Quiet Alarm task to quiet the controller's alarm when it is sounding. After it is quieted, the alarm is still enabled in the event of a future device failure.

NOTE: The Quiet Alarm task is available on the PERC 3/SC, 3/DCL, 3/DC, 3/QC, 4/SC, 4/DC, 4e/DC, CERC ATA100/4ch, and the CERC SATA1.5/6ch controllers.

Test Alarm (Controller)

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Test Alarm task to test whether the controller alarm is functional. The alarm will sound for about two seconds.

NOTE: The Test Alarm task is only available on the CERC SATA1.5/6ch controller.

Set Rebuild Rate

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Set Rebuild Rate task to change the rebuild rate. See "Set Rebuild Rate" for more information.

Reset Configuration

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use the Reset Configuration task to erase all information on the controller, so that you can perform a fresh configuration. This operation destroys all virtual disks on the controller.

NOTICE: Resetting a configuration permanently destroys all data on all virtual disks attached to the controller. If the system or boot partition resides on these virtual disks, it will be destroyed.
NOTE: Resetting the controller configuration does not remove a foreign configuration. To remove a foreign configuration, use the "Clear Foreign Configuration" task.

Export Log File

Does my controller support this feature? See "Appendix: Supported Features."

Use this task to export the controller log to a text file. See "Export Log" for more information.

Controller Components

For information on attached components, see the following topics:


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