This KB article provides easy-to-follow steps for dismantling RAID configuration on Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) server using System Utilities and Intelligent Provisioning.
RAID can be configured as per the organization’s specific storage requirements using a RAID controller. RAID can be configured to levels like RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 6, as well as hybrid configurations like RAID 10, RAID 50, and RAID 60, providing flexibility in performance, redundancy, and capacity.
In a RAID configuration, the drives are presented to the operating system as a single logical volume rather than individual physical disks. During hardware decommissioning, data migration, and system upgrades, the RAID configuration must be dismantled before performing data erasure. A data wiping software needs direct access to each physical drive to perform sector-by-sector erasure, which is impossible without dismantling the RAID.
BitRaser Drive Eraser software supports automatic RAID dismantling on select RAID controllers like Dell PERC, LSI & Adaptec. For other RAID controllers like HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen 10 users can follow the below steps to dismantle RAID configuration.
Methods to Access HPE Servers for RAID Dismantling
There are two primary methods to access servers and dismantle RAID:
- Direct Access: Using a monitor and keyboard connected via the Ethernet port.
- Remote Access: Using Lights Out Management (LOM) tools like iLO (Integrated Lights Out) for HPE servers.
Method 1: Direct Access
In this method, to dismantle RAID via the Ethernet port, you can follow the instructions mentioned in either of the sections below:
Dismantling RAID Configuration via System Utilities:
- Step 1: Press the F9 key to access ‘System Utilities.’ (Refer to Image 1)
Image 1: System Utilities Screen HPE ProLiant
- Step 2: Go to System Configuration > HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen 10. The HPE Smart Array P408i-a is the RAID controller. (Refer to Image 2)
Next, navigate to Configure Controller Settings > Clear Configuration > Delete All Array Configurations, then click on ‘Submit Changes.’ (Refer to Image 3)
Image 2: Go to the HPE RAID Controller
Image 3: Click on Submit Changes
- You have successfully dismantled the RAID on the HPE server via System Utilities. (Refer to Image 4)
Image 4: RAID Dismantling via System Utilities Completed
Now, let’s see the steps for dismantling RAID via Intelligent Provisioning.
Dismantling RAID Configuration via Intelligent Provisioning:
- Step 1: Press the F10 key and select ‘Intelligent Provisioning.’ (Refer to Image 5)
Image 5: Intelligent Provisioning Screen
- Step 2: Select PERFORM MAINTENANCE > RAID Configuration. (Refer to Image 6)
Next, select the RAID Controller (HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen 10), then click on ‘Configure’ under the Action menu. (Refer to Image 7)
Image 6: Click on RAID Configuration
Image 7: Click on Configure
- Step 3: Scroll down the menu on the right and click on ‘Clear Configuration.’ You will see a warning message informing you that clearing the RAID configuration will erase all data and arrays. Click ‘Clear’ to proceed. (Refer to Images 8 & 9)
Image 8: Click on Clear Configuration
Image 9: Click Clear to Remove RAID Configuration
- You have successfully dismantled the RAID configuration on the HPE server via Intelligent Provisioning. (Refer to Image 10)
Image 10: RAID Dismantling via Intelligent Provisioning Completed
Method 2: Remote Access: In this method, you need to take access to the HPE ProLiant Server via the iLO port remotely. Once the connection is established, follow the steps in either of the below mentioned sections for Dismantling RAID.
Steps to Access the HPE ProLiant Server via iLO
- Step 1: Enter the IP address of the server in your browser and enter the iLO login credentials that were created when setting up the server.
- Step 2: Click on ‘Remote Console & Media’ on the left sidebar, then click on ‘Web Start,’ it will download a Java Network Launch Protocol (.jnlp) file that is required for launching Java applications over a network. Java enables the remote console functionality of iLO. (Refer to Image 11)
Image 11: Go to Remote Console and Click on Web Start
- Step 3: Follow the onscreen instructions & access the server. Restart or Switch On the server. (Refer to Images 12 & 13)
Image 12: Run Java Integrated Remote Console
Image 13: HPE ProLiant Server Booting Up
Stage 2: Dismantle RAID Configuration on HPE Server
HPE server provides two options for RAID Dismantling; it can be by using either method mentioned below:
+1-844-775-0101
