Hard disk drive problems

Use this information to solve hard disk drive problems.

Table 1. Symptoms and user actions for hard disk drive problems.

Table with one spanned column at the top and two other columns with headers that provides information about symptoms and user actions to solve hard disk drive problems

Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem is solved. See Parts listing, System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Type 6241 to determine which components are customer replaceable units (CRU) and which components are field replaceable units (FRU). If an action step is preceded by (Trained service technician only), that step must be performed only by a Trained service technician.
Symptom	Action
The server fails to recognize one drive.	Verify that the drive is supported for this server. Check the ServerProven web site at the Lenovo ServerProven website for a list of supported hard drives. Make sure that the drive is seated in the drive bay properly and that there is no physical damage to the drive connectors. Run the DSA SAS Fixed Disk or SAS Attached Disk diagnostic tests (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs), then do the following: If the drive fails the diagnostic test, replace the drive. If the drive passes the diagnostic tests but is still not recognized, complete the following steps: Replace the drive. Replace the hard drive backplane. Replace the standard I/O book (Removing the standard I/O book and Replacing the standard I/O book).
Not all drives are recognized by the DSA hard disk drive diagnostic test.	Set up the RAID configuration before running the DSA diagnostics. Remove the drive that is indicated by DSA (see Removing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap drives); then, run the hard disk drive diagnostic test again (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs). If the remaining drives are recognized, replace the drive that you removed with a new one.
The server stops responding during the hard disk drive diagnostic test.	Set up the RAID configuration before running the DSA diagnostics. Remove the hard disk drive that was being tested when the server stopped responding (see Removing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap drives), and run the diagnostic test again (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs). If the hard disk drive diagnostic test runs successfully, replace the drive that you removed with a new one (see Replacing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap drives).
A newly installed hard disk drive is not recognized.	Set up the RAID configuration (see Configuring RAID arrays). Check the IMM event log for hard disk drive events and resolve the problem. If the LED is lit, remove the drive from the drive bay, wait 45 seconds, and reinsert the drive, making sure that the drive assembly connects to the hard disk drive backplane. Observe the associated green hard disk drive activity LED and the amber status LED: If the green activity LED is flashing and the amber status LED is not lit, the drive is recognized by the controller and is working correctly. Run the DSA hard disk drive test to determine whether the drive is detected (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs). If the green activity LED is flashing and the amber status LED is flashing slowly, the drive is recognized by the controller and is rebuilding. If neither LED is lit or flashing, check the hard disk drive backplane (go to step 5). If the green activity LED is flashing and the amber status LED is lit, replace the drive. If the activity of the LEDs remain the same, go to step 5. If the activity of the LEDs changes, return to step 1. Make sure that there is a hard disk drive backplane is present to install the drive into. Make sure that the hard disk drive backplane is correctly seated. When it is correctly seated, the drive assemblies correctly connect to the backplane without bowing or causing movement of the backplane. Reseat the backplane power cable and repeat steps 1 through 3. Reseat the backplane signal cable and repeat steps 1 through 3. The backplane signal cable or the backplane is the potential problem: Replace the affected backplane signal cable. Replace the affected backplane. Run the DSA tests for the SAS/SATA adapter and hard disk drives (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs). If the adapter passes the test but the drives are not recognized, replace the backplane signal cable and run the tests again. Replace the backplane. If the adapter fails the test, disconnect the backplane signal cable from the adapter and run the tests again. If the adapter fails the test, replace the adapter. See Problem determination tips for more information. Check for Retain Tips for related issues on the Support web site at the Lenovo Data Center Support website. If the problem persist, contact Lenovo Support.
Multiple hard disk drives are not recognized or are offline.	If the server was recently installed, moved, or serviced, make sure that the drives are seated correctly, the backplane cables are securely connected to the backplane and the storage book board, and the RAID adapter is configured correctly. Make sure that there is no physical damage to the drive connectors, backplanes or cables (make sure the cables are not pinched or damaged). Verify that the drives are supported for this server. See the ServerProven web site at the Lenovo ServerProven website for a list of supported hard drives. Check the IMM event log for any RAID hard disk drive events and resolve the problem.
Hard disk drive(s) installed in the server, but not detected by the SAS controller.	Complete the following steps: Verify that the drives are supported for this server. See the ServerProven web site at the Lenovo ServerProven website for a list of supported hard drives. Check the IMM event log for any RAID hard disk drive events and resolve the problem. Make sure that the drives are seated correctly, the SAS signal cables are securely connected, the backplane cables are securely connected to the backplane and the storage book board, and the RAID adapter is configured correctly. If the problem remains: Reseat the backplane(s), SAS signal cable(s), and backplane power cable(s). Restart the server.
A replacement hard disk drive does not rebuild.	If the server was recently installed, moved, or serviced, make sure that the drives are seated correctly, the backplane cables are securely connected to the backplane and the system board, and the RAID adapter is configured correctly. Make sure that the hard disk drive is recognized by the adapter (the green hard disk drive activity LED is flashing). If it is not recognized, see A newly installed hard disk drive is not recognized symptom actions to set the RAID configuration. Review the SAS/SATA RAID adapter documentation to determine the correct configuration parameters and settings.
An amber hard disk drive status LED does not accurately represent the actual state of the associated drive.	If the server was recently installed, moved, or serviced, make sure that the drives are seated correctly, the backplane cables are securely connected to the backplane and the system board, and the RAID adapter is configured correctly. Complete the following steps: If the drives are not hot-swap drives, turn off the server. Reseat the hard disk drive. Turn on the server and observe the activity of the hard disk drive LEDs. Check that the appropriate firmware is installed to support the drive in question. Check for Retain Tips that are related to this issue at the Support web site at the Lenovo Data Center Support website. If the problem persist, contact Support.