Check your RAID settings

Bloody Jack Kidd · September 22, 2011, 08:19:05 PM

We've recently noticed multiple Dell servers with PERC 6 RAID controllers that appear to have had a default setting where no READ cache was enabled. Changing this to Adaptive Read yielded an average 20% improvement in sequential read performance.

Hans Manhave · September 23, 2011, 02:42:28 PM

I guess one has to be at the console and start some firmware / keystroke combo to get into that option? I am looking forward to reboot the server and see. Normally I don't like to do that at all.

Bloody Jack Kidd · September 23, 2011, 03:09:17 PM

Dell's Open Manage Server Administrator tool, if installed, will let you check and change this from Windows.

Jeff Golas · September 23, 2011, 03:40:39 PM

Or if you have Drac or iDrac cards.

Hans Manhave · September 24, 2011, 11:45:25 AM

Quote from: Bloody Jack Kidd on September 23, 2011, 03:09:17 PM
Dell's Open Manage Server Administrator tool, if installed, will let you check and change this from Windows.

Including if one has Windows installed virtually?

Jeff Golas · September 24, 2011, 03:59:41 PM

Looks like it has to be installed within the Hypervisor...

http://deinfotech.blogspot.com/2011/08/installing-dell-openmanage-server.html

Granted just checking a raid setting would only require one reboot - installing OM takes a few it looks like, but then you have it accessibly moving forward. Better to just get iDracs on any new boxen - you may even be able to get it for an existing server.

Mark · September 26, 2011, 09:30:07 AM

So.. remembering the username and password combination for your iDRAC is somewhere on the list of important things then, I take it.

The only hint I left myself is that it 's not root/calvin and that I have forgotten it before.

Jeff Golas · September 26, 2011, 09:43:02 AM

What...you're not using the Vortex password manager by Nick's buddy?

http://www.maelstromsolutions.com/Password_Tool.aspx

Yeah I prob forgot all mine too lol.

Mark · September 26, 2011, 09:44:43 AM

Quote from: Jeff Golas on September 26, 2011, 09:43:02 AM
What...you're not using the Vortex password manager by Nick's buddy?

http://www.maelstromsolutions.com/Password_Tool.aspx

Yeah I prob forgot all mine too lol.

Hah! Nah, my password manager is physically mounted on a stick just above my shoulders. Found my password written on the bottom of my virtual keyboard

BUT, not seeing where this setting is in the iDRAC yet.

Jeff Golas · September 26, 2011, 05:02:30 PM

Hrmm maybe the idrac doesn't cover raid, I thought it did. I'll take a look later this week when the list at my desk goes under 5 people.