We have a 8-port 3ware 9650se raid card for our main disk array. We had to bring the server down for a pending power outage, and when we turned the machine back on, the raid card never started.
This card has been in service for a couple years without problems, and was working up until the shutdown.
Now, when we turn the machine on, the bios option rom that normally kicks in before the bootloader doesn't show up, none of the drives start, and when the OS tries to access the device, it just times out.
The firmware on it has been upgraded in the past, so it's possible we've hit some sort of firmware bug.
We're using it in a Silicon Mechanics R272 machine with gentoo for the OS. The OS eventually boots, but alas, without the card.
We've ordered a new one, but I'm worried that if we replace the card it won't recognize the existing array. Has anybody performed a card swap before?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Edit: These are the kernel errors we see:
3ware 9000 Storage Controller device driver for Linux v2.26.02.012.
3w-9xxx 0000:09:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
3w-9xxx 0000:09:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
3w-9xxx: scsi0: ERROR: (0x06:0x000D): PCI Abort: clearing.
3w-9xxx: scsi0: ERROR: (0x06:0x001F): Microcontroller not ready during reset sequence.
3w-9xxx: scsi0: ERROR: (0x06:0x0036): Response queue (large) empty failed during reset sequence.
3w-9xxx 0000:09:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
Best Answer
It's quite painless to swap 3ware cards.
Just make sure it's the same or newer model and that the firmware versions are the same. If the firmware versions are different, the disks won't import to the controller. (been there, done that)
Does the old card show up in
lspciat all? I've had problems where the BIOS settings would get scrambled and cause the card to not show up at all. I had to reenable the PCI slot and also enable MSI for the 3Ware cards to appear again.