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

Uppie1414

Golden Member
Sep 1, 2003
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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

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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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?
 

rsutoratosu

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2011
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2850 there is a RAID key you can pull out

td13-RaidKey-04_500px.jpg
 

Uppie1414

Golden Member
Sep 1, 2003
1,803
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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

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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you can do the SMBIOS tape trick and rock the perc controllers in any pc.
 

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
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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

Golden Member
Sep 1, 2003
1,803
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Well, I already have a 2950 and 1950 server set up--what else do I need to add?

thanks!
 

Uppie1414

Golden Member
Sep 1, 2003
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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)