Troubleshooting No Drive Lights Flashing on Server with Upgraded Hot Plug Storage
Question
An administrator has just upgraded a server from non-hot plug storage to all hot plug storage.
The administrator powers up the server, during POST the RAID controller is recognized but none of the drive lights flash.
Which of the following should the administrator do FIRST to troubleshoot the problem?
Answers
Explanations
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A. B. C. D.A.
The issue described in the question is that the RAID controller is recognized during POST, but none of the drive lights flash. This suggests that the hot plug storage is not properly connected to the server or is not being recognized by the system. To troubleshoot this issue, the administrator should take the following steps:
Step 1: Check the backplane cabling Option A suggests checking the backplane cabling. The backplane is a board that connects the hard drives to the RAID controller. It is possible that the cabling may have become loose or disconnected during the upgrade process. Checking the backplane cabling would help to ensure that the hot plug storage is properly connected to the server.
Step 2: Check the server BIOS If the backplane cabling is properly connected, the administrator should check the server BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) settings. The server BIOS is responsible for detecting and initializing hardware components during startup. It is possible that the BIOS settings may need to be adjusted to recognize the new hot plug storage.
Step 3: Update the RAID controller firmware If the backplane cabling and server BIOS settings are correct, the administrator should consider updating the firmware for the RAID controller. Firmware is software that is embedded in hardware components, such as the RAID controller, and provides instructions for how they operate. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve compatibility issues and improve performance.
Step 4: Install the latest hard drive firmware Finally, if updating the RAID controller firmware does not resolve the issue, the administrator may want to consider updating the firmware for the hard drives themselves. Like the RAID controller firmware, the hard drive firmware can also impact compatibility and performance.
In conclusion, the first step the administrator should take to troubleshoot the issue is to check the backplane cabling. If the cabling is properly connected, the next step is to check the server BIOS settings. If those settings are correct, the administrator should update the RAID controller firmware. If the issue persists, the administrator can try updating the hard drive firmware as a final step.
