Best Way to Test Dell 2.5" and 3.5" SERVER SAS drives??

[Uppie1414]

Hey guys,

So I've created a new testing system over here for my 2.5" SAS, 3.5" SAS and SCSI drives.

Right now I have an X345 and X3650 for my IBM SAS/SCSI and a Dell 2850 for the SCSI. I'm currently running a Dell 1950 for 2.5" and a 2950 for 3.5" Dell SAS.

My problems are with the Dell setups. I cannot figure out how to disable the RAID cards so I can see each drive individually. Perhaps I'm looking at this the wrong way? I mean, I'm probably testing 10-20 drives a week and I want a simple setup where I can plug them all in, run tests and take notes/logs after it's done.

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dane

 

[aigomorla]

what about setting the drives in Raid-1/10, and then running a test on the array instead of running a test on each drive?

 

[Uppie1414]

what about setting the drives in Raid-1/10, and then running a test on the array instead of running a test on each drive?

PMed--what's the best way to do this?

 

[rsutoratosu]

2850 there is a RAID key you can pull out

 

[Uppie1414]

I did that for the 2850 (thanks 🙂)...now trying to do one of two here for 1950/2950:

Remove the RAID and throw in a 5/ir controller card (that way it recognizes each drive and I can test).
Setting the drives in Raid-1/10, and then running a test on the array instead of running a test on each drive

 

[Emulex]

you can do the SMBIOS tape trick and rock the perc controllers in any pc.

 

[Uppie1414]

you can do the SMBIOS tape trick and rock the perc controllers in any pc.

Can you explain please?

 

[Gillbot]

you can do the SMBIOS tape trick and rock the perc controllers in any pc.

I ran a PERC 5 and 6 in my main PC, never had to do any tricks to get it working. Best $5 I spent on ebay. :thumbsup:

 

[Auric]

Presumably referring to the SMBus (System Management Bus) and the incompatability between desktop mainboards and older such server cards which may be worked around by physically interrupting/insulating certain PCIe pins.

For independent drives, the cards' IR firmware can be replaced with the IT (Initiator-Target) version.

 

[Uppie1414]

Well, I already have a 2950 and 1950 server set up--what else do I need to add?

thanks!

 

[Uppie1414]

My 1950 and 2950 still isn't giving me the option to test....just says no drives recognized. Others are saying I should be able to test (They recognize in the configuration (CTR+R)

 

[Uppie1414]

bump

 

[brshoemak]

Editing

 

[Uppie1414]

Bump