Tag: Drive Not Found HBA Issue

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Drive not found HBA issue

Description

The HBA (Host Bus Adapter) can get damaged by the HBA clamp. Specifically the SATA 3 port capacitor can get damaged.

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Note: The damage to the HBA does not affect all units. This has been seen in a very limited number. The clamp is there for shipping purposes only can may be removed. The card can become damaged only during shipping.

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Platform

A-Series systems with more than 4 drives (non raid)

Note: A-Series IP only systems do not use a hold down bracket for the HBA after 11/01/2016.

Note: A-Series Hybrid systems use a modified hold down bracket for the HBA after 11/01/2016.

How to determine if the HBA is bad

  1. The 4 drives connected to the HBA will be labeled with /dev/sdx. The motherboard drives will have /dev/csmi in the path.
  2. The broken capacitor on the HBA may only affect SATA port 3 on the HBA. This ‘should’ be the 2nd drive (numbered 0-3)(drive E: or SDC ). So only one of the first 4 drives which should be drive 2 will show not found or drive errors.
  3. In some cases all 4 drives will show offline
  4. Windows servers typically will not boot at all. Linux servers will boot but will either have drive missing or drive I/O errors.

If you suspect a bad HBA

Windows

  1. Un-clamp and pull the HBA card leaving drives attached
  2. Try to boot the computer
  3. If it boots, then the HBA is bad

Note: they should leave the HBA clamp off whether we replace the HBA or not unless it is an hybrid system with the modified HBA clamp.

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Linux

  1. Open up the system
  2. Examine the HBA card for a broken SATA 3 capacitor and/or swap SATA 3 with another port to see if it comes online after powering up.

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Drive-not-found-HBA-issue.pdf