Unsolved
4 Posts
0
984
June 4th, 2022 08:00
H810 on r720 not seeing MD3200 disks
Hello all! I have recently purchased a MD3200 to add to my r720 I have in my homelab (I have a 4 server lab at home I use for a cyber range/ malware analysis). I acquired a Perc H810 in order to connect the DAS to the r720 via mini-SAS cables.
The r720 sees the H810, but it does not see any disks when I go into the RAID configuration. I am running ESXi 6.7 on the server, and most of the articles I have read refer to using the MDSM (some kind of manager software?), or installing it from .iso on to a Windows Server (an .exe file).
Does anyone have an idea (or point me to an article) as to how I can: a) Get the H810 in the r720 to see the disks in the MD3200, and/or b) get the management software/app installed in ESXi? Dell's support/downloads area was less than helpful as no matter what I put in as an operating system, it kept showing me app/x-dosexec files (all .exe files) which I can't use to install on ESXi.
tapelibraryfixer
2 Intern
•
427 Posts
0
June 5th, 2022 02:00
is the MD3200 an expansion shelf?
you would likely be better off with an MD1200.
DELL-Marco B
Moderator
•
4K Posts
0
June 6th, 2022 04:00
Hello,
at first please read the manual that explain how to create a virtual disk from MDSM.
https://dell.to/3Nr9m4g
Once you created the VD you can access it from the server. In the pdf you can see also part related to host access
https://dell.to/3Nr9m4g
Thanks
Marco
IS-Labber
4 Posts
0
June 6th, 2022 06:00
Hello tapelibraryfixer. The MD3200 is a DAS (direct attached storage). I am understanding that it is a newer version of the MD1200...or at least similar with some upgrades? What I am also finding out, is that my problem may be that the MD3200 is not compatible with the Perc H810 which I purchased to add to my r720 in order to have an external SAS connection. Since the MD3200 is not just a dumb storage shelf, it looks like it needs a 'dumb' HBA card for the external SAS connection, not a RAID controller card. I have one on order so we'll see what happens. I am also going to attempt to flash the 810 to IT mode and see if it works as a pass-through.
IS-Labber
4 Posts
0
June 6th, 2022 06:00
Firstly, thanks for the manual, I'll hang on to that. Secondly, the post was actually about not being able to see the disks at all, AND not being able to connect through the management port. Maybe I missed something in that manual but in order to do as you say, don't you need to be able to communicate with the MD3200 in the first place? I installed the MDSM on a Windows Server 2019 VM on the r720, but it does not see the MD3200.
DELL-Marco B
Moderator
•
4K Posts
1
June 6th, 2022 09:00
Hello,
this is the cause of the issue. The MD3200 is not compatible with a RAID controller as it has already the RAID controller onboard. So it need as you said a "dumb" HBA card with only SAS connection.
The H810 is a RAID controller and cannot work with MD3200.
Thanks
Marco
IS-Labber
4 Posts
0
June 10th, 2022 09:00
I ended up ordering a 12DNW DELL SAS 6/E EXTERNAL 2P STORAGE HBA. I have installed it i the same slot the H810 was and got this screen. I couldnt find anything in the Lifecycle Controller that had to do with disabling or enabling a part replacement update. I did find in the BIOS an area that pertained to this device that said 'disabled' and was set to OS only (OS only one that can make changes to it?) I set it to BIOS and OS and the Disabled changed to 'Enabled'. Not sure what that did other than allowed the r720 to boot. Once it booted, VMware esxi hung up while loading some tool called mtdsastool?...Something like that.. I turned off the MD3200 which had the fans at full speed the entire time and ESXi immediately finished booting. I'll continue troubleshooting, my next step is to change which PCI slot the HBA is plugged in to. I still can not see the management ports plugged in to my switch, and the MDSM on the windows server 2019 still cant find the MD3200. I have a 'password reset' cable that should be arriving today to see if I can console in to th