Users Guide

For more information, see the iDRAC RACADM Command Line Reference Guide available at dell.com/idracmanuals.
Monitoring backplane using iDRAC settings utility
In the iDRAC Settings utility, go to System Summary. The iDRAC Settings.System Summary page is displayed. The
Backplane Inventory section displays the backplane information. For information about the fields, see the iDRAC Settings
Utility Online Help.
Viewing storage device topology
You can view the hierarchical physical containment view of the key storage components, that is, a list of controllers, enclosures
connected to the controller and a link to the physical disk contained in each enclosure. The physical disks attached directly to
the controller are also displayed.
To view the storage device topology, go to Overview > Storage > Topology. The Topology page displays the hierarchical
representation of the storage components in the system.
Click the links to view the respective component details.
Managing physical disks
You can perform the following for physical disks:
● View physical disk properties.
● Assign or unassign physical disk as a global hot-spare.
● Convert to RAID capable disk.
● Convert to non-RAID disk.
● Blink or unblink the LED.
Related concepts
Inventorying and monitoring storage devices on page 197
Assigning or unassigning physical disk as global hot spare on page 198
Assigning or unassigning physical disk as global hot spare
A global hot spare is an unused backup disk that is part of the disk group. Hot spares remain in standby mode. When a physical
disk that is used in a virtual disk fails, the assigned hot spare is activated to replace the failed physical disk without interrupting
the system or requiring your intervention. When a hot spare is activated, it rebuilds the data for all redundant virtual disks that
were using the failed physical disk.
NOTE: From iDRAC v2.30.30.30 or later, you can add global hot spares when virtual disks are not created.
You can change the hot spare assignment by unassigning a disk and choosing another disk as needed. You can also assign more
than one physical disk as a global hot spare.
Global hot spares must be assigned and unassigned manually. They are not assigned to specific virtual disks. If you want to
assign a hot spare to a virtual disk (it replaces any physical disk that fails in the virtual disk), then see Assigning or unassigning
dedicated hot spares.
When deleting virtual disks, all assigned global hot spares may be automatically unassigned when the last virtual disk associated
with the controller is deleted.
If you reset the configuration, the virtual disks are deleted and all the hot spares are unassigned.
You must be familiar with the size requirements and other considerations associated with hot spares.
Before assigning a physical disk as a global hot spare:
● Make sure that Lifecycle Controller is enabled.
● If there are no disk drives available in ready state, insert additional disk drives and make sure that the drives are in ready
state.
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Managing storage devices