Re: RAID Problem diagnostic help desperately needed.

From: Phil Ellett (techserver_at_cyberws.co.uk)
Date: 08/25/03 

Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 20:24:28 +0100

"Jim Turner" <itwiz@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:9c0b90245777ea3777ad621b0352f431@news.teranews.com...
> On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 04:21:48 +0100, "Phil Ellett"
> <techserver@cyberws.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >Hi folks,
> >
> >I have been trying for over three months to work out the source of my
> >problems using hardware RAID 1 with a Promise TX2000 controller, two
120Gb
> >IBM/Hitachi drives and a Asus A7M266-D Mboard with single XP2400+ chip,
1Gb
> >RAM.
> >
> >The symptoms in ALL cases are that the RAID array fails and goes into a
> >CRITICAL state.
> >
> >The following are my observations and conclusions and I would welcome ANY
> >comments.
> >
> >(O = Observation, C = Conclusion)
> >
> >O1: I have managed to get the array to fail by simply completing the
> >"Define Array" section of the RAID BIOS during the disk to disk copying
> >state of the setup procedure. (problem happens with shipped 2.0.0.28 and
> >latest 2.0.0.33 BIOS versions).
> >
> >C1: Problem is OS and/or driver independent
> >
> >O2: Problem still exists when card is installed in another machine.
> >
> >C2: Problem is psu/motherboard/memory/processor etc. independent
> >
> >O3: Drives pass "Drive Fitness Test" software testing either on
independent
> >machines or by testing using the Promise card in situe as test software
> >detects seperate channels on controller allowing each drive to be tested
> >independently.
> >
> >C3: Fault does not lie with drives.
> >
> >O4: In one test (off-site) RAID array failed using round ATA100 cable but
> >appears to work fine with old standard 40 way ATA33 flat cables and two
> >(non-matching) older 40 and 60Gb IBM drives.
> >
> >C4: Problem relates to corruption of data over IDE cables.
> >
> >O5: Test repeated (on-site) with same 40 way ATA33 flat cables as above
but
> >with IBM/Hitachi 120Gb 120GX drives. Problem STILL present.
> >
> >C5: Problem may relate to a transfer speed exhibited by new 120GX drives
but
> >not apparent on older drive due to decrease speed. Other possibility
> >(although I think unlikely) is noise on electrical circuit present
on-site
> >but not a off-site test location. This however does not explain problem
> >exhibited with ATA100 round cables at off-site location.
> >
> >
> >The only sensible conclusion I can come up with from the above
observations
> >is that my Promise TX2000 card exhibits an intermittent fault causing
data
> >corruption that appears to be worse with higher data transfer rate and
Non
> >flat cables. I am therefore assuming I have a faulty card and hence will
be
> >returning it. Has anyone else come up with similar problems on this card
> >(or that of any other manufacturer), ie. is such a fault (manufacturing
> >fault?) possible such that replacing card with another one will fix the
> >problem.
> >
> >Any advice or ideas for other test to accurately confirm which component
is
> >a fault would be GREATLY appreciated. This my first (and at the current
> >rate) LAST venture into using RAID !!!!.
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >
> >Phil.
> >Sheffield.
> >
> Have you tried standard (not round) 80 wire cables? Many round cables
> are noisier, less reliable than the flat ones. Also, make sure the
> cables are not too long. 40 wire cables should cause the drives to
> operate at ata33 mode, limiting the speed, and making it less
> sensitive to errors/crosstalk/noise outside of the cables.. Could be
> that the card can't handle the speed of the new drives. Could also be
> that your cables aren't really ata133. The folding done on some cheap
> round cables will reduce the effectiveness of the crosstalk prevention
> of the extra wires.
>
> Jim

Problem still exist with Promise supplied 80 flat cables .. Promise card is
ATA133 and as far as I know drives are ATA100 .. therefore card should NOT
be too slow for drives.

Thanks.

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