Users Guide
Table Of Contents
- Dell Technologies PowerEdge RAID Controller 11 User’s Guide PERC H755 adapter, H755 front SAS, H755N front NVMe, and PERC H755 MX adapter
- Contents
- Dell Technologies PowerEdge RAID Controller 11
- Applications and User Interfaces supported by PERC 11
- Features of PowerEdge RAID Controller 11
- Controller features
- Virtual disk features
- Hard drive features
- Fault tolerance
- Install and remove a PERC 11 card
- Safety instructions
- Before working inside your system
- After working inside your system
- Remove the PERC H755 adapter
- Install the PERC H755 adapter
- Remove the PERC H755 front SAS card
- Install the PERC H755 front SAS card
- Remove the PERC H755N front NVMe card
- Install the PERC H755N front NVMe card
- Remove the PERC H755 MX adapter
- Install the PERC H755 MX adapter
- Driver support for PERC 11
- Firmware
- Manage PERC 11 controllers using HII configuration utility
- Enter the PERC 11 HII configuration utility
- Exit the PERC 11 HII configuration utility
- Navigate to Dell PERC 11 configuration utility
- View the HII Configuration utility dashboard
- Configuration management
- Controller management
- Clear controller events
- Save controller events
- Save debug log
- Enable security
- Disable security
- Change security settings
- Restore factory default settings
- Auto configure behavior
- Manage controller profile
- Advanced controller properties
- Virtual disk management
- Physical disk management
- Hardware components
- Security key management in HII configuration utility
- Security key and RAID management
- Security key implementation
- Local Key Management
- Create a security key
- Change Security Settings
- Disable security key
- Create a secured virtual disk
- Secure a non-RAID disk
- Secure a pre-existing virtual disk
- Import a secured non-RAID disk
- Import a secured virtual disk
- Dell Technologies OpenManage Secure Enterprise Key Manager
- Supported controllers for OpenManage Secure Enterprise Key Manager
- Manage enterprise key manager mode
- Disable enterprise key manager mode
- Manage virtual disks in enterprise key manager mode
- Manage non–RAID disks in enterprise key manager mode
- Migration of drives from local key management to enterprise key management
- Troubleshooting
- Single virtual disk performance or latency in hypervisor configurations
- Configured disks removed or not accessible error message
- Dirty cache data error message
- Discovery error message
- Drive Configuration Changes Error Message
- Windows operating system installation errors
- Firmware fault state error message
- Foreign configuration found error message
- Foreign configuration not found in HII error message
- Degraded state of virtual disks
- Memory errors
- Preserved Cache State
- Security key errors
- General issues
- Physical disk issues
- Physical disk in failed state
- Unable to rebuild a fault tolerant virtual disk
- Fatal error or data corruption reported
- Multiple disks are inaccessible
- Rebuilding data for a failed physical disk
- Virtual disk fails during rebuild using a global hot spare
- Dedicated hot spare disk fails during rebuild
- Redundant virtual disk fails during reconstruction
- Virtual disk fails rebuild using a dedicated hot spare
- Physical disk takes a long time to rebuild
- Drive removal and insertion in the same slot generates a foreign configuration event
- SMART errors
- Replace member errors
- Linux operating system errors
- Drive indicator codes
- HII error messages
- Appendix RAID description
- Getting help
- Documentation resources
Cache preservation with non–volatile cache
The non–volatile cache (NVC) allows controller cache data to be stored indefinitely. If the controller has data in the cache
memory during a power outage or improper system shutdown, a small amount of power from the battery is used to transfer
the cache data to non-volatile flash storage where it remains until power is restored and the system is booted. If the cache
preservation process is interrupted by power-on, the controller may request an extra reset during the boot to complete the
process. The system displays a message during boot as Dell PERC at Bus <X> Dev <Y> has requested a system
reset. System will reboot in 5 seconds.
Recovering cache data
About this task
Complete these steps if a system power loss or improper system shutdown has occurred.
Steps
1. Restore the system power.
2. Boot the system.
3. When preserved cache exists on the controller, an error message is shown. For more information about how to recover
cache, see Preserved Cache State.
Battery Transparent Learn Cycle
A transparent learn cycle is a periodic operation that calculates the charge that is remaining in the battery to ensure that there
is sufficient energy. The operation runs automatically, and causes no impact to the system or controller performance.
The controller automatically performs the transparent learn cycle (TLC) on the battery to calibrate and gauge its charge
capacity once every 90 days. The operation can be performed manually if required.
NOTE:
Virtual disks stay in write-back mode, if enabled, during transparent learn cycle. When the TLC completes, the
controller sets the next TLC to +90 days.
Transparent Learn Cycle completion time
The time frame for completion of a learn cycle is a function of the battery charge capacity and the discharge and charge
currents used. Typical time completion for a transparent learn cycle is between 4 to 8 hours. If the learn cycle is interrupted mid
cycle, it begins at a new cycle.
Conditions for replacing the battery
The PERC battery is marked failed when the state or health of the battery is declared bad. If the battery is declared failed,
then all the virtual disks in write-back mode transitions to write-through mode, and the firmware runs learn cycles in subsequent
reboots until the battery is replaced. On replacing the battery, virtual disk transitions to write-back mode.
Operating system device enumeration
Virtual disks and non-RAID disks are presented to the operating system as SCSI devices. The operating system enumerates
these devices based on the SCSI target device in a particular logical order.
The order for PERC H755 is:
1. Non-RAID disks are enumerated first based on slot ID.
2. Virtual disks are enumerated second based on virtual disk target ID.
NOTE: If a virtual disk target ID occupies the slot ID then a non-RAID disk may not show up in slot order.
NOTE: Operating system enumeration may not be in this order if virtual disks or non-RAID disks are created while the
operating system is running. The operating system may name devices based on the order in which they were created
Features of PowerEdge RAID Controller 11 27