PowerEdge T300 RAID SAS6 IR bad disk

Can I transfer the primary disks contents to the hot spare so I can removed/replace the failing disk?

No, just offline the predictive failure disk and it should initiate a rebuild of the array using your hot spare. You can find more information on replacing disks in the manual:

www.dell.com/support/home/product-support/product/dell-sas-6ir-intgtd-and-adptr/manuals

Thanks

Can you tell me what section of the manual covers that function?

Can you tell me what section of the manual covers that function?

Page 46 is the beginning of the section on how to replace disks in an array.

If your controller supports forcing a drive online/offline then you should force predictive failure drives offline before removing them. I don't think the SAS6/IR supports this feature. In that case you would offline the drive by physically disconnecting it. Pull the drive out if it is in a backplane, you can do this without powering down the server. If it is a cabled drive then you should shut down the server and remove the drive.

Thanks

Thanks, I found that information.  I'm being cautious since I'm dealing with my production mail server. From your previous post here is what I think I can do.  While my server is running I can pull the failing disk from the backplane without crashing the system.  At this point the RAID should activate my hot spare?  Does this sound right?  

Thanks,

Scott

Great! Is it necessary to synchronize before I do this?

Scott

While my server is running I can pull the failing disk from the backplane without crashing the system.  At this point the RAID should activate my hot spare?

Yes, if everything works as it should that is what will happen.

Thanks

Is it necessary to synchronize before I do this?

No

I was able to pull the failing drive and all is well.  Now for the replacement process.  I will pickup a new drive tomorrow.  If I just pop in the new drive will it be recognized as a hot spare or will I need to initialize it?  Do I need to power down to install the replacement drive or can I install hot?

Scott