Recovering from an Unresponsive Storage Array Condition

A can have an for several reasons. Use the following steps to determine a possible cause and solution.

Important: It can take up to five minutes before the Enterprise Management software detects that a storage array has become unresponsive or becomes responsive again. Before performing the suggested actions that follow, ensure you wait a sufficient amount of time before concluding that the storage array is still unresponsive.

To recover from an unresponsive storage array condition, perform the following tasks:

1

Check the Tree view to see if all storage arrays are unresponsive. If so, check the network connection to ensure that it can reach the network; otherwise, continue with step 2.

2

Ensure that the RAID controller modules are installed and that there is power to the storage array. If there is a problem, correct it. Otherwise, go to the step indicated in the following table:

Storage Array Management Method

Go to

( )

Step 3

( )

Step 4

3

For an out-of-band storage array:

a

Ensure that the RAID controller modules are network accessible. To do so, use the ping command to verify that the RAID controller module can be reached. Use the form ping <host-name-or-RAID controller module-IP-address>. If verification is successful, continue to step b. If verification is unsuccessful, go to step c.

b

Remove the storage array with the Unresponsive status from the , and select Add Storage Array to add the storage array again. If the storage array returns to status, you are finished with this procedure. If the storage array does not return to Optimal status, complete steps c and d.

c

Check the Ethernet cables to ensure that there is no visible damage and that they are securely connected.

d

Make sure the appropriate network configuration tasks have been performed (for example, IP addresses assigned to each RAID controller module). Refer to the storage management software installation guide for details.

If there is a cable or network accessibility problem, fix the problem; otherwise go to step 5.

4

For an in-band storage array:

a

Ensure the is network accessible. To do so, use the ping command to verify that the host can be reached. Use the form ping <host-name-or-IP-address>. If verification is successful, continue to step b. If verification is unsuccessful, go to step c.

b

Remove the host with the Unresponsive status from the Enterprise Management Window, and select Add Storage Array to add the host again. If the host returns to Optimal status, you are finished with this procedure. If the host does not return to Optimal status, complete steps c through f.

c

Ensure that the host is turned on and operational and that the host bus adapters have been installed.

d

Check all external cables and switches or hubs to ensure that there is no visible damage and that they are securely connected.

e

Ensure the host-agent software is installed and running. If you started the host system before you were connected to the RAID controller modules in the storage array, the host-agent software will not be able to detect the RAID controller modules. If this is the case, ensure that the connections are secure and restart the host-agent software. Refer to the storage management software installation guide for your operating system for information on how to restart the host-agent.

f

If you have recently replaced or added the RAID controller module, restart the host-agent software so that the new RAID controller module is recognized.

If there is a problem, make the appropriate host modifications; otherwise, continue with step 5.

5

Check with other administrators to see if a firmware upgrade was performed on the RAID controller modules from another storage management station. If a firmware upgrade was performed, the Enterprise Management software on your management station might not be able to locate the new software needed to manage the storage array with the new version of firmware.

If this is the problem, contact your Customer and Technical Support representative; otherwise, continue with step 6.

6

Determine if there is an excessive amount of network traffic to one or more RAID controller modules. This is a self-correcting problem because the Enterprise Management software periodically retries (in the background) to establish communication with the RAID controller modules in the storage array. If the storage array was unresponsive and a subsequent attempt to connect to the storage array succeeds, the storage array becomes responsive.

For an out-of-band storage array, determine if management operations are taking place on the storage array from other storage management stations. There is a RAID controller module-determined limit to the number of TCP/IP connections that can be made to the RAID controller module before it stops responding to subsequent connection attempts. The type of management operations being performed and the number of management sessions taking place together determine the number of TCP/IP connections made to a RAID controller module. This is a self-correcting problem because, after some TCP/IP connections terminate, the RAID controller module then becomes responsive to other connection attempts.

7

If the storage array is still unresponsive, you probably have faulty RAID controller modules. Contact your Customer and Technical Support representative.

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