Users Guide

PERC9 controller provides support for auto import of foreign configuration without requiring user interactions. The auto import can be
enabled or disabled. If enabled, the PERC controller can auto import any foreign configuration detected without manual intervention. If
disabled the PERC does not auto import any foreign configuration.
You must have Login and Server Control privilege to import foreign configurations.
This task is not supported on PERC hardware controllers running in HBA mode.
NOTE: It is not recommended to remove an external enclosure cable while the operating system is running on the
system. Removing the cable could result in a foreign configuration when the connection is re-established.
You can manage foreign configurations in the following cases:
• All the physical disks in a configuration are removed and re-inserted.
• Some of the physical disks in a configuration are removed and re-inserted.
• All the physical disks in a virtual disk are removed, but at different times, and then re-inserted.
• The physical disks in a non-redundant virtual disk are removed.
The following constraints apply to the physical disks that are considered for import:
• The drive state of a physical disk can change from the time the foreign configuration is scanned to when the actual import occurs. The
foreign import occurs only on drives that are in the Unconfigured Good state.
• Drives in the failed or offline state cannot be imported.
• The firmware does not allow you to import more than eight foreign configurations.
Importing foreign configuration using web interface
NOTE: If there is an incomplete foreign disk configuration in the system, then the state of one or more existing online
virtual disks is also displayed as foreign.
NOTE: Importing foreign configuration for BOSS controller is not supported.
To import foreign configuration:
1. In the iDRAC web interface, go to Configuration > Storage Configuration;.
2. From the Controller drop-down menu, select the controller you want to import the foreign configuration to.
3. Click Import under the Foreign Configuration and then click Apply.
Importing foreign configuration using RACADM
To import foreign configuration:
racadm storage importconfig:<Controller FQDD>
For more information, see the iDRAC RACADM Command Line Reference Guide available at dell.com/idracmanuals.
Clearing foreign configuration
After moving a physical disk from one controller to another, you may find that the physical disk contains all or some portion of a virtual disk
(foreign configuration). You can identify whether a previously used physical disk contains a foreign configuration (virtual disk) by checking
the physical disk state. If the physical disk state is Foreign, then the physical disk contains all or some portion of a virtual disk. You can
clear or erase the virtual disk information from the newly attached physical disks.
The Clear Foreign Configuration operation permanently erases all data residing on the physical disks that are added to the controller. If
more than one foreign virtual disk is present, all the configurations are erased. You may prefer to import the virtual disk rather than destroy
the data. An initialization must be performed to remove foreign data. If you have an incomplete foreign configuration which cannot be
imported, you can use the Clearing Foreign Configuration option to erase the foreign data on the physical disks.
Clearing foreign configuration using web interface
To clear the foreign configuration:
1. In the iDRAC web interface, go to Configuration > Storage Configuration > Controller Configuration.
The Controller Configuration page is displayed.
2. From the Controller drop-down menu, select the controller for which you want to clear the foreign configuration.
Managing storage devices
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