Chapter 4: Front Panel Interface
31
Replacing a Disk Drive Module
UltraTrak disk drive modules should not be removed unless it has been
determined that a drive in the array has failed.
Generally, a disk drive that is a member of a fault tolerant array may be replaced
at any time without affecting the availability of data to the system. Depending on
the RAID type, drive removed, and type of access, performance may be reduced
until the drive is replaced.
Disk drives may be replaced while UltraTrak is running; special circuitry is
designed into the UltraTrak that protects the components and notifies the
processor.
Only a failed drive should be removed from the array. Removing any other drive
may cause the array to become unavailable. The replacement drive must be of
equal capacity or larger than the failed drive.
In arrays where a hot spare is already installed, the hot spare automatically
replaces the failed drive. When the failed drive is replaced, the new drive
becomes the new hot spare.
Reconstruction begins automatically as soon as a replacement drive becomes
available to the array. However, if the replacement drive was formerly part of
another array, then the previous array information must be deleted (from the
replacement drive – see page 50, “Delete Array”, for more details) before
reconstruction begins.
Warning
The electronic components within the UltraTrak disk array are sensitive
to damage from ESD (Electro-Static Discharge). Appropriate precautions
should be observed at all times when handling the array or its
subassemblies.