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Impending drive failure - unable to copy drive to pool

A drive is reporting internal errors that could cause the drive to fail. The storage array has attempted to automatically copy the drive's contents as a safety precaution, but was unable to as there is either not enough free capacity in the pool or temporarily removing the drive from the pool would cause the pool to contain less than the minimum of 11 drives.

Important
  • Because the drive has not failed, its fault indicator light will not be turned on.

  • Make sure the replacement drive has a capacity equal to or greater than the drive you will remove.

  • You can replace the drive while the storage array is receiving I/O.

  • It is recommended to copy the drive's contents to its pool before failing the drive, as it greatly reduces the possibility of data loss, and removes the need to reconstruct the drives contents.

CAUTION
Electrostatic discharge can damage sensitive components

Always use proper antistatic protection when handling components. Touching components without using a proper ground may damage the equipment.

Recovery Steps

  1. Are any drive failures being reported in the Problems area?

    • If yes, replace the failed drives using the recovery steps in the Drive Failed procedure listed in the Problems area, and then go to step 2.

    • If no,go to step 2.

  2. Do you want to replace the affected drive before it fails?

    • If yes, go to step 3.

    • If no, wait for the drive to fail and then replace the failed drive using the recovery steps in the Drive Failed procedure listed in the Problems area.

  3. Check the number of drives in the pool listed in the Details area.

    1. Go to Storage > Pools & Volume Groups.

    2. Highlight the pool and select View / Edit Settings.

    Does the pool contain 12 or more drives?

    • If yes, go to step 4.

    • If no, go to step 5.

  4. This problem can be resolved by either adding unassigned drives to the pool, deleting one or more of the pool's volumes to allow the drive's contents to be copied to the pool, or by physically replacing the drive and reconstructing the drive's contents.

    • If you want to add unassigned drives to allow the drive's contents to be copied to the pool, go to step 6.

    • If you want to delete volumes on the pool to allow the drive's contents to be copied to the pool, go to step 7.

    • If you want to physically replace the drive and reconstruct the drive's contents, go to step 9.

  5. The problem can be resolved by either adding unassigned drives to the pool to allow the drive's contents to be copied to the pool or by physically replacing the drive and reconstructing the drive's contents.

    • If you want to add unassigned drives to the pool to allow the drive's contents to be copied to the pool, go to step 6.

    • If you want to physically replace the drive and reconstruct the drive's contents, go to step 9.

  6. Add one or more unassigned drives to the pool, and then go to step 8.

    1. Go to Storage > Pools & Volume Groups.

    2. Highlight the pool identified in the Details area

    3. Select Add Capacity and add one or more drives to the pool.

    4. Go to step 8.

  7. Delete one or more volumes from the pool.

    1. Go to Storage > Volumes.

    2. Highlight the volume you want to delete from this pool.

    3. Select Delete under Uncommon Tasks.

    4. Repeat for each volume you want to delete.

  8. Wait until the drive copy operation has completed, and finish replacing the drive using the recovery steps in the Drive in Pool Failed procedure listed in the Problems area.

  9. Physically replace the affected drive.

    1. Go to Hardware.

    2. Highlight the drive listed in the Details area.

    3. Select Fail to fail the drive, making sure to uncheck the Copy contents of drive before failing checkbox.

    4. Remove the failed drive (its fault indicator light should be on).

    5. Wait 30 seconds.

    6. Insert the new drive. Its fault indicator light may be lit for a short time (one minute or less).

  10. Select Recheck to ensure the problem has been resolved.