Raid 1 issues with XFX REVO64 card - a shot in the dark.

[stduc]

The story so far. Sorry if it's a bit long.

A PC with a REVO64 card using 2 x Seagate 500GB drives in a RAID 1 configuration reported 1 drive failed.

Tested with Seagates DOS bootable utility - BOTH drives reported as failing SMART - no further testing possible.
Tested with Spinrite - same report - Imminent total drive failure SMART data critical.

Moved drives to onboard SATA and tested with Spinrite - Both drives OK - but one drive had 3 hours less time logged than the other. That serial no was the one reported as having failed originally.

Replaced "failed" drive with a new one and rebuilt array (well it is still rebuilding as I write - at 17% after 3 hours).

What a nightmare to figure out how to rebuild the array. I called XFX who said they would get a technician to call me back - I called again the next day and got an apology and the same response. I am still awaiting a call!

Now I originally got that card because it is driverless. I got it less than 2 years ago. But it seems to be out of date and obsolete with no support!

Is it normal for RAID 1 rebuilds to take all day and more? Should I replace the other drive after the rebuild? What couold I replace the REVO64 card with that would be better supported?

So, this is a shot in the dark, in case anyone has any suggestions to make.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[kjv1611]

What about just using the onboard RAID, or does your board support that? Either that, or you can spend the money on something like a 3WARE RAID card. I believe they're the most or one of the most respected brands in RAID hardware.

 

[stduc]

There is no on-board RAID. I will take a look at 3WARE properly, but a quick did not find any that were driverless.

All is well now after running all night re-building. But it did seem to me to be too painful a way of ensuring you didn't lose anything.

 

[stduc]

It wouldn't boot this morning. No BIOS screen even. I have no time to look further until later, but it is looking as if there is another underlying cause here. I suspect the REVO64 card may have developed a fault.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[kjv1611]

Sure sounds like something along those lines. Keep us posted.

Of course, some of the testing you could do to narrow down other possibilities (though I do think it sounds like the motherboard or the RAID card, one...

1. Try removing as many components as possible from system, and see if will still boot - could be a power supply issue

2. If more than one stick of RAM, try running with one stick at a time to see if runs better without any one, two, or more pieces of memory. If so, then the problem is more likely RAM.

But I'd put the RAID card or mobo as the #1 possibility in your case. When you say wouldn't get to the BIOS, do you mean the system BIOS or RAID BIOS? That would make a difference as well - if the RAID BIOS, then it's even more likely it's that component (RAID card).

Regardless, let us know what you test, how it goes, etc. I know the feeling about not having time to get back to a project for sure.

 

[stduc]

I meant that there was no BIOS booting screen. In fact there was no video signal! Also no beeps from the BIOS either.

This morning I pulled the REVO64 card and powered it up. No problems - got the "insert a disk" message.

On re-inserting the card it booted fine. REVO64 BIOS screen reported "All is well" - LOL (It's a friendly BIOS!).

It is now on test on the bench. Both the VIDEO and the REVO card seem a little warm to me. Although this machine has performed well for about 13 months in a pretty warm environment. I'm wondering whether I can add a case fan - but it won't be easy as there is no place for one on the case and only a perforated oblong area that I may be able to adapt.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[BadBigBen]

I pulled the REVO64 card and powered it up.

and

On re-inserting the card it booted fine.

sounds more like a little corrosion problem...

and by reinserting, the card got better contact... maybe cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser could help in the long run...

warm, as in warm like a sunny spring day in Texas, or warm like a sunny summer day in Death Valley? most RAID cards do get warm just like the Video cards (these even get hot)....


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[stduc]

kjv1611 There is really nothing I can remove that would make a difference to the power load. There are only 2 cards. The REVO64 card and a video card.

I looked into adding a Card slot fan, but decided there really wasn't enough space. As the PC had no case fan I decided that might be the best solution. I wanted to add one at the front to blow air over the two cards but the power/control lead wasn't long enough to reach any of the mobos fan sockets and I didn't want it running at full speed all the time so dismissed the idea of using an adaptor. Instead I settled for mounting at the rear next to the video card where I hope it will pull enough cool air over both cards, expelling air via the rear of the case.

The PC is still on the test bench, seems OK at the moment. Fingers crossed. The PSU fan exhaust seems a little cooler and the case fans exhaust stream is cold!

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[kjv1611]

If you need longer cable length, you could simply use a molex connected fan, and that would give you the length you need there. Or if you wanted to use the fan header, still, you could get a fan power connector extension.

 

[stduc]

kjv1611 Good idea, except... I didn't want to run it via a molex as explained. I didn't have a 3 wire extension lead to hand and this was Sunday. I don't think it will make much difference anyway as blowing into the case directly onto the boards sounds good in theory but could lead to dust build up, not to mention the mass of cables that were in the way of the air flow anyway and which I could see no way to re-route.

Monday pm an all is well 1 happy customer.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[kjv1611]

Good deal. Sorry I missed your mention of the molex connection. Well, I "read" it, but I must've fallen asleep at that part.

 

[stduc]

Seems it must have been an overheating issue as I checked in today & the PC is still behaving itself. Consider this thread closed.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]