ServeRAID synchronization halts using Windows Server 2003 - Servers

Resolving The Problem

RETAIN tip: H19130

When manually performing an on-board Raid-1 SATA disk drive array synchronization, using IBM ServeRAID Manager v8.30 or v8.40 running Windows Server 2003 SATA driver v5561, at about 77% into the synchronization, the system hangs with no keyboard activity.

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• xSeries 206m, type 8485, any model
• xSeries 206m, type 8490, any model
• xSeries 306m, type 8491, any model
• xSeries 306m, type 8849, any model

This tip is not option specific.

The system is configured with at least one of the following:

• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, any service pack
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server for 64 Bit Itanium Servers, any service pack
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, EE x64, any service pack
• ServeRAID Support CD, 8.40

Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software.

Please see the compatibility page for more information:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/

Download the latest IBM ServeRAID 8-e SATA II Simple Swap driver version 1.2.5576.0 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (32/64-bit) at the following URL:

http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1MIGR-63290.html

The referenced file will be available from the "Servers - ServeRAID Software Matrix" at the following URL:

http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1SERV-RAID.html

While the SATA disk drive synchronization is running, the default driver timeout value of 60 seconds was not allowing the controller response time to respond back to the driver properly. This timeout value was changed to 90 seconds to allow proper time to respond back to the controller preventing the hang situation.