Problem with XServe and XServe RAID via Fibre Channel

Question

Level 1

8 points

Problem with XServe and XServe RAID via Fibre Channel

Hello everybody,

I have a problem with my revived Xserve RAID.

I see it in RAID-Admin and configure it successfully (via Ethernet). Connect it with our Xserve via Fibre Channel, but the XServe and XServe RAID don't detect each other.

The Fibre Channel LEDs on the Xserve are permanent white and on the Xserve RAID completely off.

RAID-Admin status of Fibre Channel: "No connection (1 Array)" with a red square.

If I try to open the Fibre Channel Utility I get the message: "Fibre Channel card cannot be found". OS X Disk Utility don't find it, too.

I changed cable, the card-slot and made many reboots. But every time the same: They don't detect each other.

Xserve (2009):

- 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5500

- Apple dual-channel 4 Gb Fibre Channel card (LSI7204EP)

XServe RAID:

- RAID 5 in one array (only left side with 5x 500GB)

- Firmware 1.5.1

- Apple 4 Gb SFP-SFP cable

Thanks for your support and sorry for my bad English!

Xserve, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), + XServe RAID

Posted on May 31, 2016 7:59 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 1, 2016 5:37 AM in response to mpm-mainz

Hi Mpm-mainz,

check if you have LUN Masking enabled. To be able to see it you'd need to download raid admin 1.5 not the 1.5.1

Xserve RAID Admin Tools 1.5

Have you also tried to use the other controller? Even if it doesn't have disks in it then it should appear in the Fibre Card System Preferences.

Thanks
Owen

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Answer 2

Camelot

Level 9

59,211 points

Jun 1, 2016 10:50 PM in response to mpm-mainz

The problem clearly lies in the fact:

"...I get the message: "Fibre Channel card cannot be found"

If Mac OS X doesn't recognize the fiber channel card, the rest of the issues are moot. Since you don't get active LEDs on the card/RAID, it sounds like this is the place to start.

Which version of Fiber Channel Utility are you running? It looks like 2.1.4 is the latest, although it's targeted for 10.4.x.

It's almost certainly the case that earlier versions won't work, although it's not clear that 2.1.4 will.

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Answer 3

mpm-mainz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2016 1:52 AM in response to Camelot

Yes, you're right. I have version 2.1.4.

Is there any other way to connect with the internal Fibre Channel card?

PS: The card was successful in use for years. I don't think it's defect...

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Answer 4

Jun 3, 2016 8:06 AM in response to mpm-mainz

The fibre channel utility has been a System Preference since 10.5, a 2009 Xserve would have come with 10.5 or 10.6 server.. If OS X sees there is a fibre card installed then it appears in System Preferences and you'll be able to click on it to see the card and connections.

MPM can you have a look at System Profiler and see if under PCI it shows the fibre card and also under Fibre Channel if it shows anything in there.

Also do you have any other fibre cables you could test with.. If you have 2 x 4GB Transceivers and an LC - LC cable you would be able to hook it up that way but best to check if the card is recognised.

Beatle

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Answer 5

mpm-mainz Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2016 5:36 AM in response to beatle20359

Okay. The Problem has been changed...

Because you saying, that I can look at System Profiler and see under PCI shows the fibre card and also under Fibre ChanneI, I was looking up.

But there was nothing. No Fibre Channel card was detected. I shut the Xserve down and make him electroless.

After start and power-up the Xserve, the orange info-LED shows 4 times fast, then off and 4 times fast again. The display's dead, too. Also the Xserve doesn't start. I tryed to make on and off again, but there's no hope.

I checked RAM and other stuff. After trying a few things I found the evildoer. It was the Fibre ChanneI card. Without this I can start the Xserve normally.

I can't believe, that the card is dead. I changed the PCI-E port. But same error.

Now I try it on a Windows desktop-pc to connect with the card...

Do you have any wisely ideas how I can test the card?

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