The Pains of RAID

Looking back, I wondered, "What in the world DID I learn during my Computer Science degree?" As a IT Support Engineer/Technician, I've been thrown in a pure Microsoft environment and facing problems that I've never been taught of in school. I mean, where did all the algorithms and CPU architecure and logic circuits come into play? Not that I'm blaming the system. Yet, it is fun to learn new things.

So, I finally decided to give it a good shot on the RAID thing. I mean, I've been reading a lot about it, the benefits, the different types of configuration, etc. But since the company has finally purchased the accessories, I figured its about time I actually implemented it.

The DELL Poweredge servers that we had has an on-board RAID controller. Unfortunately, to actually use it, we'd need to purchase a RAID DIMM memory card, a RAID Controller Key, and a RAID Battery. (Who would've though that even RAIDs need its own batteries...) But, then when I read further, we could alternatively use a RAID controller card, in fact it was recommended by on of the DELL technicians that I'm better off buying a card rather than use the on-board controller. Which advice I took...

So, unpackaging the RAID controller card box, I found it was a normal PCI kinda card with a port that obviously needed connecting. (Little did I know at the time that it's a VERY important part of the puzzle) So, I simply plugged it into a PCI slot and waited for magic to happen. I thought that was it. I had actually thought that that was all there was to it. All I needed then was go to the config tool and actually tell it to RAID for me. BEEP! I was wrong... DEAD wrong.

I needed help, so I contacted DELL's support and after about 4 different menus I finally got to someone. Telling my perdicament, I told him that I'm stuck and needed help. So, when it came to the part where I had a card plugged in already, then he told me, "Okay, now take the SCSI CABLE and connect it from the SCSI Backplane to the SCSI RAID controller card..." "OOOOHHHH! So I said, that's what I'm missing. That port that jutted out from the card needs connecting to the MB via another cable!" I thought to myself. So there I was stuck and unmotivated to go further becuase I didn't have any spare SCSI cable on me and I wasn't in the mood to go out and get one right away.

But then I realized something, "Hey, the tape drive is connected with this blue-red-yellowish ribbon, which goes to the SCSI backplane. Could this be another type of SCSI cable?" I asked the technician on the phone. He said, "Yeah. That is one." So I immediately, disconnected the tape drive and plugged it in to the RAID Controller Card. Powered up the machine and PRESTO! Glad I called for help, else I'd be developing white hair as to why the RAID card wasn't working...