Dell OpenManage, patch-testing using RAID1 mirror for backup
sbs200...@gmail.com
of a mirrored set on a Dell PowerEdge 2650. Specifically, what I want
to do is test a patch on a machine, and then be able to revert back to
the pre-patch state using a drive from my mirror that was pulled prior
to the patch. The following link does a really nice job explaining
exactly what I'm trying to do, except it's for an HP Server using
the HP Smart Array controller, instead the Perc4 controller on this
Dell PowerEdge.
Here is the current procedure that I'm following...
1) Using Dell OpenManage Assistant, get the OS (SBS2003) loaded on a
PowerEdge 2650.
2) Install the OpenManage Server administrator, including the storage
manager.
3) Shutdown the server.
4) Remove drive 0 from server and save it as the backup.
5) Boot the OS on the live drive (physical drive 1).
6) Patch the OS, and reboot. After the reboot I decide I want to
roll-back.
7) So I shutdown the server. Then pull drive 1 out and set it aside.
8) Put drive 0 back into port 0. Boot the server.
9) No bootable devices are found.
I think this is something pretty obvious that I'm overlooking.
I've used the OpenManage server administrator tool to regenerate a
filed drive before, but I've never tried reverting to a "backup".
If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
![Nathan Liu [MSFT]'s profile photo](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/default-user=s40-c)
Nathan Liu [MSFT]
Thank you for posting in the SBS newsgroup.
Please kindly note this issue should be related to Dell's product, please
kindly contact Dell product support. Thanks for your understanding.
Additionally, I'm glad to provide the following information for your
reference:
Dell PowerEdge 2650
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/pedge_2650?c=us
&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb#tabtop
Dell Product Support
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/product_support/e
n/servers_storage_networking?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb&~ck=mn
Have a nice day!
Best regards,
Nathan Liu (MSFT)
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--------------------
>From: sbs200...@gmail.com
>Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
>Subject: Dell OpenManage, patch-testing using RAID1 mirror for backup
>Date: 12 Dec 2005 14:23:06 -0800
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sbs200...@gmail.com
SBS, and knowing that most SBSers use Dell, I'd be surprised if someone
didn't have an answer. I know how to do this on an HP system
(http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00378986/c00378986.pdf),
but I think I'm just missing something on the Dell's. Having contacted
Dell, they weren't very helpful.
So short of saying, "sorry, not our problem", and pointing me to Dell,
could someone give me a useful answser, because I'm not seeing anything
in the Dell OpenManagement guide
(http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/OMSS10UG/).
Thanks!
Dave Nickason [SBS MVP]
advice. It sounds like this is a new server so I'm thinking that if I give
you advice that blows it up, you can just reinstall rather than having your
whole office out of business and it's my fault : -)
If I'm reading you right, you're popping 0 as a backup and patching 1. Then
you want to revert, so you're popping out 1 and putting back 0. (I'm
assuming you're always putting each drive in the slot it came out of -
changing slots would probably be an issue of its own). So the system is
seeing 1 as bootable after you've removed 0, but when you pull 1 and insert
0, it doesn't see 0 as bootable.
If that's all correct, I think all you need to do is to boot into the PERC
controller bios (I think it's ctrl+m during boot - just watch the screen and
it'll tell you). Select the drive and hit the "make bootable" option. I'm
not in a place where I can figure out the exact steps, but I think there'll
be instructions at the bottom of the screen.
FYI, I "test" SBS patches by not installing them for a few days after
they're released. I just follow this group to see if anyone has reported
issues. Some of the SBS MVP's - particularly Susan Bradley - have huge
networks of SBS'ers who would alert them to a problem with a patch right
away. Also, MS is doing much more intensive SBS-specific patch testing than
they previously did, so unless your environment is quite unusual, IMO you're
unlikely to have a problem.
<sbs200...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134426186....@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
sbs200...@gmail.com
You're correct. This is a new server, and basically what I want to do
is use it to create a procedure that all of our technicians can follow,
without blowing up customer servers "learning". So right now, all I
have is the OS loaded (actually, I just blew-it-up, so scratch that),
on what amounts to a test box (that is, it's only a test box, until
someone complains about it not being in production yet).
So yes, you're reading me right. I'm popping out 0 as the backup.
Patching 1. Popping out 1, replacing 0 in slot 0. Then trying to boot
off of 0. I've been though the Perc Bios, and I must just really be
missing something, because I don't see an obvious way to point at 0 and
say, "make bootable".
Regarding your SBS patching advice; I'm with you on that. But, for a
variety of reasons, I need to test patches on the actual hardware, and
be able to roll-backup. Some reasons include... "just in case", and
"it's easier to have a demonstratable process with documented
roll-back", as well as "to meet contract obgliations", and finally, why
not take advantage of something that's built-into the hardware?
I'll start poking around the Perc Bios some more, and post anything I
find. But in the mean time, anything else you could offer would be
great.
Thanks!
Dave Nickason [SBS MVP]
configuring a raid 5, but now that it's configured, I can't really
experiment with it. I think you'd just arrow to the drive to select it, hit
the space bar, then choose the make bootable menu item. Unfortunately I
didn't have to do it so I'm not 100% familiar with the process.
<sbs200...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134515419.4...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Nathan Liu [MSFT]
Thank you for your kind update.
I'm so sorry, I have done deep research from Internet or Dell website,
however, I cannot find any valuable information for your issue. Let's check
if there are other partners can share their experience on this issue. I
appreciate your time and understanding. Thanks!
Have a nice day!
Best regards,
>Subject: Re: Dell OpenManage, patch-testing using RAID1 mirror for backup
>Date: 13 Dec 2005 06:38:01 -0800
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Les Connor [SBS Community Member - SBS MVP]
party product like Ghost or Paragon Drive-Backup.
That would be the fastest way to get the server back to a previous
condition - and doesn't have a dependence on any particular raid setup, nor
the need to disrupt it.
--
Les Connor [SBS Community Member - SBS MVP]
-----------------------------------------------------------
SBS Rocks !
----------------------
"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll
understand." - Confucius
<sbs200...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134515419.4...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Tony
network. As soon as you introduce the SBS server with an "old"
version of the AD, bad things are going to happen. If there's no
other DC, then this would be a safer way to restore a server quickly.
The actual problem is puzzling, since you're using hardware RAID. And
since the 0 drive was the original 0 drive, and you're trying to use
it as it was originally used, why it won't work is a mystery.
I also just aquired a 2800 this week with built-in RAID, you use
<ctl-M> to enter. Under the Configure menu, there is an option to
select the Bood drive. I'd poke around in there to see if your
settings have been screwed.
Later
Tony
addicted2it
intuitive. But what I think was causing the confusion, is that you
essentially have to clear your configuration in the PERC bios before
you revert back to the backup. If you don't clear the configuration,
you'll just keep fighting things until you accidentally wipe out a
drive.
For an overview; you want to break the mirror and have one disk act as
the backup, test your patch on the remaining drive, then revert to the
backup, and finally regenerate your mirror.
Procedure created on a Dell PowerEdge 2850, A04 bios revision.
1) Shutdown the OS
2) Remove the SCSI drive on ID1.
3) Power up the OS, patch your server. Reboot, verify the patch.
Shutdown.
4) Remove the SCSI drive on ID0.
5) Put the SCSI drive originally on ID1 back on ID1.
6) Boot the server, and use ctrl-m to enter the PERC bios.
7) Clear your configuration (Configure>Clear Configuration)
8) Ignore the warning message about Configuration being cleared, and
say yes.
9) Go back to Configure>View/Add Configuration.
10) Highlight the drive, press the spacebar - you'll see ONLIN
A00-00 flashing. Press enter to make it stop flashing. Press F10
while you have the active ID selected.
11) Press the spacebar to make the dialog box say "Span-1". Then
Press F10.
12) Select Access, and press enter.
13) Save the configuration, ignoring the initialization message.
14) Boot your OS.
15) Login, put you other SCSI drive back in, and regenerate the mirror
using the OpenManage server assistant.
Whew. If there's an easier way here, I don't know what it is. I
think using disk imaging makes a heck of allot more sense (assuming
that we're either talking about SBS and you don't have another DC in
your setup, or that the machine in question isn't a DC). But non-live
imaging is time consuming, and you might save a little bit of effort
doing it this way (but the cost of more risk, because it's not too
difficult to mess things up)
Maybe it's just me, but this seems easier on the HP SmartArray
adapaters. That and, HP OpenView has quite a bit more polish to it
than Dell OpenManage.
-- http://addicted-to-it.blogspot.com/