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This server supports the RAID controller options, cables, and RAID backup units shown in Table C-1 .
Note This server supports up to two internal PCIe-style RAID controllers, plus one external PCIe-style RAID controller. Do not mix internal controller types in the server. You can mix internal controllers with an external controller.
Note The embedded RAID option is available only with the SFF 16-drive backplane. It does not operate through an expander.
Note The cables in this section apply to both single- and dual-CPU configurations.
Table C-1 lists the RAID options for the small form factor (SFF) versions of the server.
SFF 16HDD: 8 SAS3 internal |
0, 1, 54, 10 |
||||
SFF 24HDD:
SFF 16HDD: |
|||||
SFF 24HDD: |
|||||
2.Embedded RAID SAS drive control requires an optional SCU ROM upgrade chip to be installed on the motherboard. |
Table C-2 lists the RAID options for the large form factor (LFF) version of the server.
Firmware on the RAID controller card must be verified for compatibility with the current Cisco IMC and BIOS versions that are installed on the server. If not compatible, upgrade or downgrade the RAID controller firmware accordingly using the Host Upgrade Utility (HUU) for your firmware release to bring it to a compatible level.
See the HUU guide for your Cisco IMC release for instructions on downloading and using the utility to bring server components to compatible levels: HUU Guides
Table C-3 lists the technical capabilities for mixing hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSD) types in a RAID group. However, see the best practices recommendations that follow for the best performance.
This server supports installation of up to two SuperCap power modules (SCPMs). The SCPMs mount inside a cage that is next to the cooling fans (see Figure C-2).
The SCPM is supported only when using the LSI MegaRAID-CV controller card. This supercap module provides approximately 3 years of backup for the disk write-back cache DRAM in the case of sudden power loss by offloading the cache to the NAND flash.
For SCPM replacement instructions, see Replacing a SuperCap Power Module (RAID Backup Unit).
This server supports hardware RAID (PCIe controller cards) and embedded software RAID. See Table C-4 for which migrations are allowed and a summary of migration steps.
Note The VMware ESX/ESXi operating system is not supported for use with the embedded MegaRAID controller.
Note The Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V hypervisor is supported for use with the embedded MegaRAID controller. Other hypervisors such as Xen and KVM are not supported.
Note The embedded RAID option is available only with the SFF 16-drive backplane. It does not operate through an expander.
This server includes an embedded RAID controller with two mini-SAS connectors on the motherboard (see Figure C-1).
Note You cannot downgrade from using a RAID controller card to using the embedded controller (see RAID Controller Migration). Instructions for installing upgrade modules and enabling the embedded controller in the BIOS are included here for those upgrading a server with no RAID controller or drives.
This section contains the following topics:
The following RAID levels are supported by the embedded MegaRAID controller.
Note None of these RAID levels require drives of the same size. The smallest drive in the array determines the size of the VD.
Note An array can be divided into multiple VDs of the same RAID level, except when using RAID 10. Mixed arrays are not permitted. For example, you cannot configure a three-drive array into RAID 0 and RAID 5 VDs. Unlike RAID 0, 1, and 5, you cannot create multiple RAID 10 VDs from the same array. A single RAID 10 VD uses up the entire array.
The SCU Upgrade ROM module contains a chip on a small circuit board. This module attaches to a motherboard header (see Figure C-1). This chip adds SAS support for up to eight drives.
Note The Cisco PID UCSC-RAID-ROM5= includes the SCU upgrade ROM module.
The Cisco PID UCSC-RAID-ROM55= includes the SCU upgrade ROM module and the RAID 5 key.
To install a SCU upgrade ROM jumper, follow these steps:
Step 1 Locate the SCU_ROM header (see Figure C-1).
Step 2 Align the connector on the SCU upgrade ROM module with the pins on the header, then gently push the connector onto the pins.
Step 4 Replace the server in the rack, replace cables, and then power on the server by pressing the Power button.
Step 5 Continue with either Installing a Software RAID Key Module for Embedded RAID 5 Support or Enabling the Integrated RAID Controller in the BIOS.
Figure C-1 SCU Upgrade ROM and RAID 5 Key Header Locations on the Motherboard
The software RAID key module contains a chip on a small circuit board. This module attaches to a motherboard header. This chip upgrades SAS support to add RAID 5 support (RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 for up to eight drives). See Figure C-1.
Note You must have the RAID SCU upgrade ROM installed and before you can use the RAID 5 key.
To install a RAID 5 software key module, follow these steps:
Step 1 Locate the RAID_KEY header (see Figure C-1).
Step 2 Align the connector on the RAID key module with the pins on the header, then gently push the connector onto the pins.
Step 4 Replace the server in the rack, replace cables, and then power on the server by pressing the Power button.
This controller must be enabled in the server BIOS to use it.
Step 1 Boot the server and press F2 when prompted to enter the BIOS Setup utility.
Step 2 Select the Advanced tab, then South Bridge.
Step 3 Set Onboard SATA Controller to Enabled.
Step 5 Press F10 to save your changes and exit the utility.
If you change from using this integrated controller to a RAID controller card, you must disable the integrated controller in the server BIOS.
Step 1 Boot the server and press F2 when prompted to enter the BIOS Setup utility.
Step 2 Select the Advanced tab, then South Bridge.
Step 3 Set Onboard SATA Controller to Disabled.
Step 4 Press F10 to save your changes and exit the utility.
Launch the utility by pressing Ctrl+M when you see the prompt during system boot.
For more information about using the Embedded MegaRAID software to configure your disk arrays, see the LSI Embedded MegaRAID Software User Guide .
Note The required drivers for this controller are already installed and ready to use with the LSI SWRAID Configuration Utility. However, if you will use this controller with Windows or Linux, you must download and install additional drivers for those operating systems.
This section explains how to install the LSI MegaSR drivers for the following supported operating systems:
For the specific supported OS versions, see the Hardware and Software Interoperability Matrix for your server release.
The MegaSR drivers are included in the C-series driver ISO for your server and OS. Download the drivers from Cisco.com:
Step 1 Find the drivers ISO file download for your server online and download it to a temporary location on your workstation:
a. See the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/navigator.html
b. Click Unified Computing and Servers in the middle column.
c. Click Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Standalone Server Software in the right-hand column.
d. Click your model of server in the right-hand column.
e. Click Unified Computing System (UCS) Drivers .
f. Click the release number that you are downloading.
g. Click Download to download the drivers ISO file.
h. Verify the information on the next page, then click Proceed With Download .
i. Continue through the subsequent screens to accept the license agreement and then browse to a location where you want to save the drivers ISO file.
This section explains the steps to install the LSI MegaSR driver in a Windows installation.
For the specific supported OS versions, see the Hardware and Software Interoperability Matrix for your server release.
Perform the following steps to install the LSI MegaSR device driver in a new Windows Server 2008R2 operating system. The Windows operating system automatically adds the driver to the registry and copies the driver to the appropriate directory.
Step 1 Create a RAID drive group using the LSI SWRAID Configuration utility before you install this driver for Windows. Launch this utility by pressing Ctrl+M when LSI SWRAID is shown during BIOS post.
Step 2 Download the Cisco UCS C-Series drivers ISO, as described in Downloading the LSI MegaSR Drivers.
Step 3 Prepare the drivers on a USB thumb drive:
a. Burn the ISO image to a disc.
b. Browse the contents of the drivers folders to the location of the embedded MegaRAID drivers:
c. Expand the Zip file, which contains the folder with the MegaSR driver files.
d. Copy the expanded folder to a USB thumb drive.
Step 4 Start the Windows driver installation using one of the following methods:
Step 5 Launch a Virtual KVM console window and select the Virtual Media tab.
a. Click Add Image and browse to select your remote Windows installation ISO file.
b. Select the check box in the Mapped column for the media that you just added, then wait for mapping to complete.
Step 6 Power cycle the server.
Step 7 Press F6 when you see the F6 prompt during bootup. The Boot Menu window opens.
Step 8 On the Boot Manager window, select the physical disc or virtual DVD and press Enter . The Windows installation begins when the image is booted.
Step 9 Press Enter when you see the prompt, “Press any key to boot from CD.”
Step 10 Observe the Windows installation process and respond to prompts in the wizard as required for your preferences and company standards.
Step 11 When Windows prompts you with “Where do you want to install Windows,” install the drivers for embedded MegaRAID:
a. Click Load Driver . You are prompted by a Load Driver dialog to select the driver to be installed.
b. Connect the USB thumb drive that you prepared in Step 3 to the target server.
c. On the Windows Load Driver dialog that you opened in Step a, click Browse.
d. Use the dialog to browse to the location of the drivers folder on the USB thumb drive, and click OK.
Windows loads the drivers from the folder and when finished, the driver is listed under the prompt, “Select the driver to be installed.”
e. Click Next to install the drivers.
Perform the following steps to update the LSI MegaSR driver for Windows or to install this driver on an existing system booted from a standard IDE drive.
Step 1 Click Start , point to Settings , and then click Control Panel .
Step 2 Double-click System , click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager . Device Manager starts.
Step 3 In Device Manager, double-click SCSI and RAID Controllers , right-click the device for which you are installing the driver, and then click Properties .
Step 4 On the Driver tab, click Update Driver to open the Update Device Driver wizard, and then follow the wizard instructions to update the driver.
This section explains the steps to install the embedded MegaRAID device driver in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation or a SuSE Linux Enterprise Server installation.
See Downloading the LSI MegaSR Drivers for instructions on obtaining the drivers. The Linux driver is offered in the form of
dud-[
driver version
].img
, which is the boot image for the embedded MegaRAID stack.
Note The LSI MegaSR drivers that Cisco provides for Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux are for the original GA versions of those distributions. The drivers do not support updates to those OS kernels.
This section describes how to prepare physical Linux installation diskettes from the driver image files, using either the Windows operating system or the Linux operating system.
Note Alternatively, you can mount the dud.img
file as a virtual floppy disk, as described in the installation procedures.
Preparing Physical Installation Diskettes With the Windows Operating System:
Under Windows, you can use the RaWrite floppy image-writer utility to create disk images from image files. Perform the following steps to build installation diskettes.
Step 1 Download the Cisco UCS C-Series drivers ISO, as described in Downloading the LSI MegaSR Drivers and save it to your Windows system that has a diskette drive.
Step 2 Extract the
dud.img
file:
a. Burn the ISO image to a disc.
b. Browse the contents of the drivers folders to the location of the embedded MegaRAID drivers:
c. Expand the Zip file, which contains the folder with the driver files.
Step 3 Copy the driver update disk image
dud-[driver version].img
and your file
raw write.exe
to a directory.
Note RaWrite is not included in the driver package.
Step 4 If necessary, use this command to change the file name of the driver update disk to a name with fewer than eight characters: copy dud-[ driver version ].img dud.img
Step 5 Open the DOS Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where
raw write.exe
is located.
Step 6 Type the following command to create the installation diskette: raw write
You are prompted to enter the name of the boot image file.
Step 8 Type the following: dud.img
You are prompted for the target diskette.
Step 10 Insert a floppy diskette into the floppy drive and type: A:
Step 12 Press Enter again to start copying the file to the diskette.
Step 13 After the command prompt returns and the floppy disk drive LED goes out, remove the diskette.
Step 14 Label the diskette with the image name.
Preparing Installation Disks With a Linux Operating System:
Under Red Hat Linux and SuSE Linux, you can use a driver diskette utility to create disk images from image files. Perform the following steps to create the driver update disk:
Step 1 Download the Cisco UCS C-Series drivers ISO, as described in Downloading the LSI MegaSR Drivers and save it to your Linux system that has a diskette drive.
Step 2 Extract the
dud.img
file:
a. Burn the ISO image to a disc.
b. Browse the contents of the drivers folders to the location of the embedded MegaRAID drivers:
c. Expand the Zip file, which contains the folder with the driver files.
Step 3 Copy the driver update disk image
dud-[driver version].img
to your Linux system.
Step 4 Insert a blank floppy diskette into the floppy drive.
Step 5 Confirm that the files are in the selected directory.
Step 6 Create the driver update diskette using the following command:
dd if=dud-[ driver version ].img of=/dev/fd0
Step 7 After the command prompt returns and the floppy disk drive LED goes out, remove the diskette.
Step 8 Label the diskette with the image name.
For the specific supported OS versions, see the Hardware and Software Interoperability Matrix for your server release.
This section describes the fresh installation of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux device driver on systems with the embedded MegaRAID stack.
Step 1 Create a RAID drive group using the LSI SWRAID Configuration utility before you install this driver for the OS. Launch this utility by pressing Ctrl+M when LSI SWRAID is shown during BIOS post.
Step 2 Prepare the
dud.img
file using one of the following methods:
Step 3 Extract the
dud.img
file:
a. Burn the ISO image to a disc.
b. Browse the contents of the drivers folders to the location of the embedded MegaRAID drivers:
c. Copy the
dud-<
driver version
>.img
file to a temporary location on your workstation.
Step 4 Start the Linux driver installation using one of the following methods:
Step 5 Launch a Virtual KVM console window and select the Virtual Media tab.
a. Click Add Image and browse to select your remote RHEL installation ISO file.
b. Click
Add Image
again and browse to select your
dud.img
file.
c. Select the check boxes in the Mapped column for the media that you just added, then wait for mapping to complete.
Step 6 Power cycle the server.
Step 7 Press F6 when you see the F6 prompt during bootup. The Boot Menu window opens.
Step 8 On the Boot Manager window, select the physical disc or virtual DVD and press Enter .
The RHEL installation begins when the image is booted.
Step 9 Press Esc to go to the CLI boot prompt.
Step 10 Type one of the following commands at the boot prompt:
Note The noprobe values depend on the number of drives. For example, to install RHEL 5.7 on a RAID 5 configuration with three drives, enter:
linux dd blacklist=isci blacklist=ahci noprobe=ata1 noprobe=ata2 noprobe=ata3
The prompt asks whether you have a driver disk.
Step 12 Use the arrow key to select Yes , and then press Enter .
Step 13 Select fd0 to indicate that you have a floppy diskette with the driver on it.
Step 14 Do one of the following actions:
The installer locates and loads the driver for your device. The following message appears:
Step 15 Follow the Red Hat Linux installation procedure to complete the installation.
For the specific supported OS versions, see the Hardware and Software Interoperability Matrix for your server release.
This section describes the installation of the SuSE Linux Enterprise Server driver on a system with the embedded MegaRAID stack.
Us e the following procedure to install the SLES drivers.
Step 1 Create a RAID drive group using the LSI SWRAID Configuration utility before you install this driver for the OS. Launch this utility by pressing Ctrl+M when LSI SWRAID is shown during BIOS post.
Step 2 Prepare the
dud.img
file using one of the following methods:
Step 3 Extract the
dud.img
file:
a. Burn the ISO image to a disc.
b. Browse the contents of the drivers folders to the location of the embedded MegaRAID drivers:
c. Copy the
dud-<
driver version
>.img
file to a temporary location on your workstation.
Step 4 Start the Linux driver installation using one of the following methods:
Step 5 Launch a Virtual KVM console window and select the Virtual Media tab.
a. Click Add Image and browse to select your remote RHEL installation ISO file.
b. Click
Add Image
again and browse to select your
dud.img
file.
c. Select the check box in the Mapped column for the media that you just added, then wait for mapping to complete.
Step 6 Power cycle the server.
Step 7 Press F6 when you see the F6 prompt during bootup. The Boot Menu window opens.
Step 8 On the Boot Manager window, select the physical disc or virtual DVD and press Enter . The SLES installation begins when the image is booted.
Step 9 When the first SLES screen appears, select Installation on the menu.
Step 10 Type one of the following in the Boot Options field:
Step 11 Press F6 for the driver and select Yes .
Step 12 Do one of the following actions:
“Yes” appears under the F6 Driver heading.
Step 13 Press Enter to select Installation.
The following message appears: LSI Soft RAID Driver Updates added.
Step 15 At the menu, select the driver update medium and press the Back button.
Step 16 Continue and complete the installation process by following the prompts.
This section includes the following topics:
The RAID controller connectors in this server are shown in Figure C-2. The colored lines indicate the recommended cable-routing paths from the SAS expander or backplane to the possible controller locations:
Note The foam rubber air dam must be in place as shown (item 4) when the server is running to ensure correct air flow. The underside of the air dam has an opening that allows the cables to run under it.
Figure C-2 RAID Controller Cable Routing
The server is orderable in three different versions, each with one of three different front panel/backplane configurations:
Note The SAS expander is required for the SFF 24-drive option and the LFF 12-drive option.
The SFF 16-drive option does not use the SAS expander.
The cable connections required for each type of controller are as follows:
These options can control up to 16 drives.
The required UCSC-CABLE-A6 cable kit has two cables. Cable 1 controls drives 1–8 and cable 2 controls drives 9–16.
Step 1 Connect SAS cable 1 from card connector SAS 0 to the Port0 connector on the expander.
Step 2 Connect SAS cable 2 from card connector SAS 1 on the card to the Port1 connector on the expander.
This option can control up to 24 drives.
The required UCSC-CABLE-A6 cable kit has two cables. Cable 1 controls drives 1–12 and cable 2 controls drives 13–24.
Step 1 Connect SAS cable 1 from card connector SAS 0 to the Port0 connector on the expander.
Step 2 Connect SAS cable 2 from card connector SAS 1 on the card to the Port1 connector on the expander.
Step 3 If you are using the 9265CV-8i card, you can also install an SCPM for RAID backup. Install the SCPM (see Replacing a SuperCap Power Module (RAID Backup Unit)), then attach the cable from the card to the SCPM.
The SFF 16-drive option does not use a SAS expander, so connections from the controller are made directly to the backplane. The cable connections required for each type of controller are as follows:
This option can control up to eight drives. This option can be used only with the SFF 16HDD version of the server because this controller does not operate through an expander.
The required UCSC-CABLE-A7 cable kit has two mini-SAS cables. Cable 1 controls drives 1–4 and cable 2 controls drives 5–8.
Step 1 Connect mini-SAS cable 1 from the motherboard connector SCU_PORT_0 to the drives 1–4 connectors on the backplane.
Step 2 Connect the cable 1 SGPIO connector labeled, “S1” to its backplane connector.
Step 3 Connect mini-SAS cable 2 from the motherboard connector SCU_PORT_1 to the drives 5–8 connectors on the backplane.
Step 4 Connect the cable 2 SGPIO connector labeled, “S2” to its backplane connector.
These option can control up to 8 drives with one controller. You can control up to 16 drives with two controllers and two cable kits.
First Controller (Drives 1 through 8, Cable UCSC-CABLE-A7):
The required UCSC-CABLE-A7 cable kit has two mini-SAS cables. Cable 1 controls drives 1–4 and cable 2 controls drives 5–8. Make the following connections to your first controller card:
Step 1 Connect mini-SAS cable 1 from the card connector SAS1 to the drives 1–4 connectors on the backplane.
Step 2 Connect the cable 1 SGPIO connector labeled, “S1” to its backplane connector.
Step 3 Connect mini-SAS cable 2 from the card connector SAS2 to the drives 5–8 connectors on the backplane.
Step 4 Connect the cable 2 SGPIO connector labeled, “S2” to its backplane connector.
Second Controller (Drives 9 through 16, Cable UCSC-CABLE-A8):
The required UCSC-CABLE-A8 cable kit has two mini-SAS cables. To control 16 drives in this configuration, you must add a second controller card to control drives 9–16. Cable 3 controls drives 9–12 and cable 4 controls drives 13–16. Make the following connections to your second controller card:
Step 1 Connect mini-SAS cable 1 from the card connector SAS1 to the drives 9–12 connectors on the backplane.
Step 2 Connect the cable 1 SGPIO connector labeled, “S1” to its backplane connector.
Step 3 Connect mini-SAS cable 2 from the motherboard connector SAS2 to the drives 13–16 connectors on the backplane.
Step 4 Connect the cable 2 SGPIO connector labeled, “S2” to its backplane connector.
The cable connections required for each type of controller are as follows:
LSI MegaRAID SAS 9266CV-8i, SAS 9220-8i, or SAS 9240-8i PCIe Card (Cable UCSC-CABLE-11)
This option can control up to 12 drives.
The required
UCSC-CABLE-11
cable kit has two cables. Cable 1 controls drives 1–6 and cable 2 controls drives 7–12.
Step 1 Connect mini-SAS cable 1 from connector SAS1 on the card to the SAS1 connector on the expander.
Step 2 Connect mini-SAS cable 2 from connector SAS2 on the card to the SAS2 connector on the expander.
When you replace a RAID controller, the RAID configuration that is stored in the controller is lost. Use the following procedure to restore your RAID configuration to your new RAID controller.
Step 1 Replace your RAID controller. See Replacing a PCIe Card.
Step 2 If this was a full chassis swap, replace all drives into the drive bays, in the same order that they were installed in the old chassis.
Step 3 Reboot the server and watch for the prompt to press F.
Note For newer RAID controllers, you are not prompted to press F. Instead, the RAID configuration is imported automatically. In this case, skip to Step 6.
Step 4 Press F when you see the following on-screen prompt:
Step 5 Press any key (other than C) to continue when you see the following on-screen prompt:
Step 6 Watch the subsequent screens for confirmation that your RAID configuration was imported correctly.
The LSI utilities have help documentation for more information about using the utilities.
For basic information about RAID and for using the utilities for the RAID controller cards, see the
Cisco UCS Servers RAID Guide
.
For more information about using the Embedded MegaRAID software to configure your disk arrays, see the LSI Embedded MegaRAID Software User Guide .
Full LSI documentation is also available:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/3rd-party/lsi/mrsas/userguide/LSI_MR_SAS_SW_UG.pdf