Chapter 7
Troubleshooting
57
3. Check the Cache Status LED to verify that the controller cached data is flushed to the disk drives.
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Solid – Cache contains data yet to be written to the disk.
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Blinking – Cache data is being written to nonvolatile memory.
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Flashing at 1/10 second on and 9/10 second off – Cache is being refreshed by the supercapacitor.
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Off – Cache is clean (no unwritten data).
4. Reseat the host cable and inspect for damage.
Is the host link status/link activity LED on?
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Yes – Monitor the status to ensure there is no intermittent error present. If the fault occurs again, clean the
connections to ensure that a dirty connector is not interfering with the data path.
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No – Proceed to the next step.
5. Move the host cable to a port with a known good link status.
This isolates the problem to the external data path (host cable and host-side devices) or to the controller module
port.
Is the host link status/link activity LED on?
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Yes – You now know that the host cable and host-side devices are functioning properly. Return the cable to the
original port. If the link status/link activity LED remains off, you have isolated the fault to the controller module
port. Replace the controller module.
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No – Proceed to the next step.
6. Swap the host cable with a known good one.
Is the host link status/link activiy LED on?
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Yes – You have isolated the fault to the cable. Replace the cable.
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No – Proceed to the next step.
7. Verify that the HBA is fully seated, and that the PCI slot is powered on and operational.
8. Replace the HBA with a known good HBA, or move the host side cable to a known good HBA.
Is the host link status/link activity LED on?
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Yes – You have isolated the fault to the HBA. Replace the HBA.
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No – It is likely that the controller module must be replaced.
9. Move the host cable back to its original port.
Is the host link status/link activity LED on?
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No – The controller module port has failed. Replace the controller module.
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Yes – Monitor the connection for a period of time. It may be an intermittent problem, which can occur with
damage cables, and HBAs.
Isolating a controller module expansion port connection fault
During normal operation, when a controller module expansion port is connected to a drive enclosure, the expansion port
status LED is green. If the connected port's expansion port LED is off, the link is down. Use the following procedure to
isolate the fault.
This procedure requires scheduled downtime.
NOTE Do not perform more than one step at a time. Changing more than one variable at a time can complicate the
troubleshooting process.
1. Halt all I/O to the storage system as described in
2. Check the host activity LED.
If there is activity, halt all applications that access the storage system.