Users Guide

previous controller, but the virtual disk to which the hot spare was assigned is no longer present in the
foreign configuration, then the physical disk is imported as a global hot spare.
If any foreign configurations locked using Local Key manager (LKM) are Detected, then import foreign
configuration operation is not possible in iDRAC in this release. You must unlock the drives through
CTRL-R and then continue to import foreign configuration from iDRAC.
The Import Foreign Configuration task is only displayed when the controller has detected a foreign
configuration. You can also identify whether a physical disk contains a foreign configuration (virtual disk
or hot spare) by checking the physical disk state. If the physical disk state is Foreign, then the physical disk
contains all or some portion of a virtual disk or has a hot spare assignment.
NOTE: The task of importing foreign configuration imports all virtual disks residing on physical disks
that have been added to the controller. If more than one foreign virtual disk is present, all the
configurations are imported.
PERC9 controller provides support for auto import of foreign configuration without requiring user
interactions. The auto import can be enabled or disabled. If enabled, the PERC controller can auto import
any foreign configuration detected without manual intervention. If disabled the PERC does not auto
import any foreign configuration.
You must have Login and Server Control privilege to import foreign configurations.
This task is not supported on PERC hardware controllers running in HBA mode.
NOTE: It is not recommended to remove an external enclosure cable while the operating system is
running on the system. Removing the cable could result in a foreign configuration when the
connection is re-established.
You can manage foreign configurations in the following cases:
• All the physical disks in a configuration are removed and re-inserted.
• Some of the physical disks in a configuration are removed and re-inserted.
• All the physical disks in a virtual disk are removed, but at different times, and then re-inserted.
• The physical disks in a non-redundant virtual disk are removed.
The following constraints apply to the physical disks that are considered for import:
• The drive state of a physical disk can change from the time the foreign configuration is scanned to
when the actual import occurs. The foreign import occurs only on drives that are in the Unconfigured
Good state.
• Drives in the failed or offline state cannot be imported.
• The firmware does not allow you to import more than eight foreign configurations.
Importing foreign configuration using web interface
To import foreign configuration:
1. In the iDRAC Web interface, go to Overview → Storage → Controllers → Setup.
The Setup Controllers page is displayed.
2. In the Foreign Configuration section, from the Controller drop-down menu, select the controller
that you want to configure.
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