IBM Support

LSI controllers start auto sync after diags and hard drive updates - Servers

Troubleshooting


Problem

IBM systems that integrate either the LSI Logic 53C1020/1030 SCSI controller or the LSI Logic 1064e SAS controller will auto start a synchronization of mirrored drives after exiting system diagnostics. The systems will also auto start after completing hard drive Firmware updates using the respective SAS or SCSI hard drive Firmware update programs.

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H127252

Issue

IBM systems that integrate either the LSI Logic 53C1020/1030 SCSI controller or the LSI Logic 1064e SAS controller will auto start a synchronization of mirrored drives after exiting system diagnostics. The systems will also auto start after completing hard drive Firmware updates using the respective SAS or SCSI hard drive Firmware update programs.

To determine which integrated controller is in a server, reference to your system documentation and user guides or observe the LSI controllers POST banner during system startup.

If an operating system is installed, use the operating system specific computer device management software to view information about the hardware and installed drivers. In addition, use the Storage Management software that is provided with the system.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

  • BladeCenter HS20, type 7981, any model
  • BladeCenter HS20, type 8678, any model
  • BladeCenter HS21, type 8853, any model
  • BladeCenter LS21, type 7971, any model
  • BladeCenter LS41, type 7972, any model
  • IntelliStation M Pro (M50), type 9229, any model
  • IntelliStation M Pro (M50), type 9230, any model
  • IntelliStation Z Pro, type 6221, any model
  • IntelliStation Z Pro, type 9228, any model
  • System x3200, type 4362, any model
  • System x3200, type 4363, any model
  • System x3250, type 4364, any model
  • System x3250, type 4365, any model
  • eServer 326, type 8848, any model
  • xSeries 225, type 8647, any model
  • xSeries 225, type 8649, any model
  • xSeries 235, type 8671, any model
  • xSeries 335, type 8676, any model
  • xSeries 335, type 8830, any model
  • xSeries 336, type 8837, any model
  • xSeries 345, type 8670, any model
  • xSeries 365, type 8861, any model
  • xSeries 365, type 8862, any model
  • xSeries 382, type 8834, any model

This tip is not option specific.

This tip is not software specific.

Additional information

The LSI Logic 53C1020/1030 SCSI controller and the LSI Logic 1064e SAS controller will auto start a synchronization by design.

The LSI ASPI driver, which is part of the System Diagnostic Tools (any version) and the hard drive Firmware update program (any version), turns off drive mirroring temporarily while the respective tools are running. The tools do not modify data on the physical drives, but an error could occur on one or both of the drive drives. The potential for an error could violate the integrity of the mirror set unless corrected.

The LSI RAID controller corrects this potential problem by automatically running a synchronization after exiting the respective tool. This process preserves the integrity of the mirror and prevents changes to data without notification.

An example of how the data might change could be when an error occurs on one of the mirrored disks while running diagnostics.

Since mirroring is turned off, the LSI controllers RAID Firmware will not correct the problem using the good data on the mirrored pair.

When the user exits System Diagnostics or the hard drive Firmware update program, the LSI ASPI driver enables the mirror again. This starts an automatic synchronization to check the integrity of the mirror. When the controller detects the problem, the controller Firmware will run an error correction routine and copy the good data from mirrored pair to preserve the integrity of the mirror. If the problem cannot be corrected, the LSI RAID Firmware will mark the drive defunct.

This is not required to actually run diagnostics on the hard drives before the synchronization is necessary or to actually execute any hard drive Firmware updates. The LSI ASPI driver will disable mirroring after loading into memory and a synchronization will begin after exiting the tool.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

BladeCenter:Operating system independent / None

System x:Operating system independent / None

IntelliStation Pro:Operating system independent / None

Older System x:Operating system independent / None

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Document Information

Modified date:
18 April 2023

UID

ibm1MIGR-66533

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