Importing or Clearing a Foreign Configuration

Foreign Configurations in Cable Pull and Drive Removal Scenarios

A foreign configuration is a RAID configuration that already exists on a replacement set of drives that you install in a computer system. You can use the MegaRAID Storage Manager software to import the foreign configuration to the RAID controller or to clear the foreign configuration so you can create a new configuration using these drives.

To import a foreign configuration, you must perform the following tasks:

Enable security to allow importation of locked foreign configurations. (You can import unsecured or unlocked configurations when security is disabled.)

Run a scan for foreign configurations.

If a locked foreign configuration is present and security is enabled, enter the security key, and unlock the configuration.

Import the foreign configuration.

In addition, if one or more drives are removed from a configuration, by a cable pull or drive removal for example, the configuration on those drives is considered a foreign configuration by the RAID controller.

Verify whether any drives are left to import because the locked drives can use different security keys. If there are any drives left, repeat the import process for the remaining drives. After all the drives are imported, there is no configuration to import.

NOTE  When you create a new configuration, the MegaRAID Storage Manager software shows only the unconfigured drives. Drives that have existing configurations, including foreign configurations, do not appear. To use drives with existing configurations, you must first clear the configuration on those drives.

Perform the following steps to import or clear a configuration:

1.	Enable drive security to allow importation of locked foreign drives.

2.	After you create a security key, right-click the controller icon, and select Scan for Foreign Configuration.

If locked drives (where security is enabled) exist, the Unlock Foreign Drives dialog appears.

Figure 142. Unlock Foreign Drives

3.	Enter the security key to unlock the configuration.

a.	(Optional) Select the Show Key check box.

If you choose this option, the security key that you enter will be visible to you. If you do not select this option, the security key will not be visible to you.

The Foreign Configuration Detected dialog appears, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 143. Foreign Configuration Detected Dialog

4.	Choose one of the following options:

Click Import to import the foreign configuration from all of the foreign drives.

Click Clear to remove the configuration from all foreign drives.

Click Advanced to preview and import specific foreign configurations.

5.

Click OK.

NOTE  The operation cannot be reversed after it is started. Imported drives display as Online in the MegaRAID Storage Manager window.

6.	Repeat the import process for any remaining drives.

Because locked drives can use different security key, you must verify whether there are any remaining drives to be imported.

NOTE  When you create a new configuration, the MegaRAID Storage Manager software shows only the unconfigured drives. Drives that have existing configurations, including foreign configurations, do not appear. To use drives with existing configurations, you must first clear the configuration on those drives.