Sign in
Microsoft.com
 
Microsoft
 
 
 

locked
Home Server Drive Missing RRS feed

 > 

  • Question

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    Hi all

    I have been using WHS since Dec 2007 and to be honest I am not impressed.  My main concern is reliability. 

    Herewith Setup:

    Intel D945CNL Motherboard, Core 2 Duo 2.2Ghz Intel, 2 x 512Mb DDR2 667 RAM, 3 x 500Gb and 1 x 750Gb Seagate SATA drives and 320Gb Seagate USB, all housed in old Intel Server Chassis with 3 x 350Watt hot swap PSU's.  System is on 1 x 500Gb.  Power Pack 1 with all MS updates installed.  System is used for backup of media center, 2 x laptops and 1 x desktop PC all running Vista 32 Bit (Business and Ultimate) and also to store data and ripped DVD's from my own collection.  Media Center runs MyMvoies 2.47 accessing data on home-server.  I also have 2 x XBox360 as media extenders.  WHS is alos used to access data online when not at home.  System C = 20Gb

    Addins = WHS Disk Management, Asoft Autoexit, Remote notification, No Virus software.  Herewith WHS history.

    I have to date "damaged" 4 x 500Gb Seagate SATA drives, and although they are covered by warranty (swop out) I have lost most/all my data everytime. 

    1. I had a system drive failing in March, replaced it, did server re-installation that failed, then did new installation and managed to rescue data by copying DE folders on each drive
    2. In June same problem, now data drive failing, replaced, lost data and had to do new installation.
    3. Early Sept WHS reported missing drive, backup service not running and file conflicts, checked all cables, etc.  Cannot remove missing drive, did it eventually from registry.  Lost some data, replaced faulty drive (faulty drive wouldn't initialise).  Did new installation, was running fin for 2 weeks.
    4. Yesterday 23rd Sept, same problem as in 3, different drive failing, backup service not running, file conflicts and drive missing.  Drive was replaced and missing drive removed via registry (WHS could not remove drive), Lost most of data, although duplicated, but recent data copied to folders not replicated was saved.

    I have done tests from Jan 2008 to backup and restore PC's in the house and it works 100%, all PC's are backed up daily, also updates are installed when available, also no performance issues when accessing uncompressed ripped DVD (8Gb) from media center on network.

    Now my question:  Why does the drives keep on failing, get missing, etc.  Is it bad drives, don't think so.  Is WHS causing these drives to fail.  Hardware is more than adequate in my view.  Faling seem to occur when drives get full.

    SATA 0 20Gb System, 465Gb Data 80% Free on Data volume
    SATA 1 465Gb 2% Free
    SATA 2 465Gb 3% Free
    SATA 3  698Gb 8% Free

    Any suggestions or comments will be appreciated.

    Werner

    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 8:49 PM

Answers

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    Just a few thoughts: 

    1. My first guess would also be this a hardware issue or perhaps even driver issue. In your case my prime suspect would be PSU or power cabling / connections, then storage controller, MB, RAM, or CPU. If you have any 3rd party drivers you don't really need I would replace them with Windows 2003 drivers

    2. I would also checking eventlogs for recent to storage related errors (ntfs errors, delayed write failures, storage controller failures, ...........).

    3. Are the disks actually wrecked? Do they spin up (in another machine)? If yes please run chkdsk /f /r on failing disk.

    4. Also I would monitor SMART parameters for each of the disks on a daily basis and regularly check eventlogs. If the disks are slowly degrading you wil see it coming before you lose all of your precious data.

    5. I think it's highly unlikely WHS (or any other OS) is actually wrecking your disk.

    6. Are you running any third party disk management / defrag software? Also please check of the Disk Management Add-inn is fully compatible with Powerpack 1.

    7. Please check if you're actually running latest version of Powerpack 1 (Windows Home Server Console, Settings, Resources, Version Info for each of the listed WHS components should be 6.0.1800.0. [EDIT] Windows Home Server Drive Extender could be 6.0.1800.8 if you applied the most recent windows update [edit].
    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:46 PM
    Moderator

All replies

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    3 Power supplies, 4 hard drives.....Could heat be an issue?  I really do not think the drives being at capacity is breaking them.

    Still.....
    Grey
    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:00 PM
    Moderator
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    My guess, since you've had multiple failures, would be the hard drive controllers. I would try testing each drive individually on another system. If necessary, swap out the motherboard.
    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:19 PM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    Just a few thoughts: 

    1. My first guess would also be this a hardware issue or perhaps even driver issue. In your case my prime suspect would be PSU or power cabling / connections, then storage controller, MB, RAM, or CPU. If you have any 3rd party drivers you don't really need I would replace them with Windows 2003 drivers

    2. I would also checking eventlogs for recent to storage related errors (ntfs errors, delayed write failures, storage controller failures, ...........).

    3. Are the disks actually wrecked? Do they spin up (in another machine)? If yes please run chkdsk /f /r on failing disk.

    4. Also I would monitor SMART parameters for each of the disks on a daily basis and regularly check eventlogs. If the disks are slowly degrading you wil see it coming before you lose all of your precious data.

    5. I think it's highly unlikely WHS (or any other OS) is actually wrecking your disk.

    6. Are you running any third party disk management / defrag software? Also please check of the Disk Management Add-inn is fully compatible with Powerpack 1.

    7. Please check if you're actually running latest version of Powerpack 1 (Windows Home Server Console, Settings, Resources, Version Info for each of the listed WHS components should be 6.0.1800.0. [EDIT] Windows Home Server Drive Extender could be 6.0.1800.8 if you applied the most recent windows update [edit].
    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:46 PM
    Moderator
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    brubber said:
    1. My first guess would also be this a hardware issue or perhaps even driver issue. In your case my prime suspect would be PSU or power cabling / connections, then storage controller, MB, RAM, or CPU. If you have any 3rd party drivers you don't really need I would replace them with Windows 2003 drivers


    Rudebox,

    hat you experience is certainly not normal. I have had my server running 24x7 for 10 months now. Never had any problem with the hardware.
    I would suspect - as brubber pointed out - that this is an issue with your hardware configuration.

    First on my list would be the power supply and/or a heat-problem. Did you check the day-to-day drive temperatures of your disks? The operation temperature of the disk must be in range with the temperature specifications for your drives. Any vibrations by an unbalanced cooling ventilator?

    Do you by any chance use an UPS?  If so: a faulty or underpowered UPS system can result in damage as you described.

    Theo.


    No home server like Home Server
    Wednesday, September 24, 2008 8:51 PM
    Moderator