Users Guide

Monitoring storage devices using RACADM
To view the storage device information, use the storage command.
For more information, see the iDRAC RACADM CLI Guide available at www.dell.com/idracmanuals.
Monitoring backplane using iDRAC settings utility
In the iDRAC Settings utility, go to System Summary. The iDRAC Settings.System Summary page is displayed. The Backplane
Inventory section displays the backplane information. For information about the fields, see the iDRAC Settings Utility Online Help.
Viewing storage device topology
You can view the hierarchical physical containment view of the key storage components, that is, a list of controllers, enclosures connected
to the controller and a link to the physical disk contained in each enclosure. The physical disks attached directly to the controller are also
displayed.
To view the storage device topology, go to Storage > Overview. The Overview page displays the hierarchical representation of the
storage components in the system. The available options are:
• Controllers
• Physical Disks
• Virtual Disks
• Enclosures
Click the links to view the respective component details.
Managing physical disks
You can perform the following for physical disks:
• View physical disk properties.
• Assign or unassign physical disk as a global hot-spare.
• Convert to RAID capable disk.
• Convert to non-RAID disk.
• Blink or unblink the LED.
• Rebuild physical disk
• Cancel rebuild physical disk
• Cryptographic erase
Assigning or unassigning physical disk as global hot spare
A global hot spare is an unused backup disk that is part of the disk group. Hot spares remain in standby mode. When a physical disk that is
used in a virtual disk fails, the assigned hot spare is activated to replace the failed physical disk without interrupting the system or requiring
your intervention. When a hot spare is activated, it rebuilds the data for all redundant virtual disks that were using the failed physical disk.
NOTE:
From iDRAC v2.30.30.30 or later, you can add global hot spares when virtual disks are not created.
You can change the hot spare assignment by unassigning a disk and choosing another disk as needed. You can also assign more than one
physical disk as a global hot spare.
Global hot spares must be assigned and unassigned manually. They are not assigned to specific virtual disks. If you want to assign a hot
spare to a virtual disk (it replaces any physical disk that fails in the virtual disk), then see Assigning or unassigning dedicated hot spares.
When deleting virtual disks, all assigned global hot spares may be automatically unassigned when the last virtual disk associated with the
controller is deleted.
If you reset the configuration, the virtual disks are deleted and all the hot spares are unassigned.
You must be familiar with the size requirements and other considerations associated with hot spares.
Before assigning a physical disk as a global hot spare:
• Make sure that Lifecycle Controller is enabled.
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Managing storage devices