System SD card failure

[qtelcom]

I had a System SD card that became unreadable/corrupt (the system couldn't see it, and neither could the manager PC with a sd reader) on a customers Release 7 system. The card had been working fine for 8 months, and then one day it decides to crap out. No changes/upgrades were made prior to the failure.

The problem was resolved by simply getting a new Avaya system sd card and getting the licenses transferred to the new FK number.

The customer was a little surprised that a simple SD card going bad could take down the operational status of the phone system. (the licenses went invalid when the system could no longer read the SD card, so the software update license, PRI licenses, avaya ip enpoints, etc... all went invalid.)


My question: Is there any kind of redundancy options for the sd card in the event that the primary sd card nosedives and becomes absolutely dead? -and keep the system operational?

The only thing I can think of, is putting a second Avaya SD card (obviously it would have a different FK number) in the optional slot, using a copy command on the system to copy the system sd slot to the optional sd card slot. Then, in the event of the primary card going bad and unreadable, you could slip the second one in the system slot. -and then the only thing your waiting on is getting the licenses transferred by your BP, which can be done with a phone call and acquired via email pretty quickly.

Any better ideas?

 

[tlpeter]

Indeed you can put a second SD card in the second slot.
Then you can put a backup on that card.What version was the system on?
I think you had one of the first series SD cards.


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[qtelcom]

7.0.12, it was upgraded once, and the upgrade was successful back then, no problems. The only thing was they lost power a few days earlier. The system is on battery backup/surge and properly grounded. Everything worked fine for those few days after the power loss, then the SD card just up and died and the system lost it's licensing after that. Troubleshooting found the found the SD card was unreadable.

If a second Avaya SD was present in the second slot, I'm thinking we could swapped the cards and then transferred the licenses, which would've been faster than running a tech up and doing it.

Wish there was a feature to allow all licenses to be valid for 4 hours regardless of a SD card present or at least auto fallback on the optional SD card and still have those licenses run properly for a set amount of time. The system won't even boot without a SD card present. As it stands your system can completely die if the stupid $25 SD card fails. I would love it if this system could be a little more fault tolerant.

 

[madwok]

My 4 year old kid popped out the SD card on my demo kit while it was running so I know your pain with non readable error . Luckily, I just reformatted the card and rebuilt it back from the Manager backup . So far so good for the last couple week now . Don't know for sure what is the right way to do or not but at least I got it running again.

 

[TomMills]

My 4 year old kid popped out the SD card on my demo kit while it was running"

Thats what the screw is for

http://www.twitter.com/tem1985

ACSS-SME
fo shizzle ma nizzle.

 

[dwone555]

I currently have a IP500V2 with a SD card Failure. Although the license files have never went invalid? It has been this way for about a month now.

I currently have a maintenance window for tonight to upgrade to 7.0.23 and am hoping it just clears the alarms. If not I do have a backup SD card and would have to have our distributor move the licenese files.

Wish me luck!!

 

[tlpeter]

A tip.

Copy the card with a card reader.
Then format it with Manager and recreate it.
If you cannot format it then try it with Windows.
Then format it again but again with Manager.
When it does not work then keep trying.
I never had one completely fail!


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

> If you cannot format it then try it with Windows.

Peter, this will destroy the card and it will no longer be a licence SD Card.


ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[tlpeter]

Sean, i did it with a demo dongle and it still works.
But only try as a last resort!



BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

I did it once not thinking about it, and it was good night nurse for that serial number.



ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[tlpeter]

Did you do a quick or a normal format?
I only did it when it asked me to do it, it was not seen as an SD card anymore


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 

[Westi]

I think that the SD cards are getting worse than the USB dongle.
I did a remote change on a line which required a reboot and the system came back up without seeing the SD card but a hard reboot brought it back (thank fully it is a 3 hour drive one way)it was the third time I had to ask a customer to pull the plug because that happened.

Joe W.

FHandw, ACSS

Google it you damn kids

 

[tonymoo]

Had a similar issue with a 6.1.20 system yesterday. System had been upgraded once from 6.1.12. Happened after a remote config change and reboot. Had to take the customer (in neighbouring country) through steps outlined by tlpeter in a related post to get it back online ... reformat, recreate and system's back online.

Customer wants to know how it can be prevented though

Systems & Communications Engineer