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Angelique.van.C
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January 1st, 2007 13:00
Wrong SCSI disk size indication on Precision 650
Hey all,
I've got a problem and personally I think it has something to do with the BIOS of the onboard SCSI L1020/L1030 controller of my Workstation Precision 650, or better I think it has to do with the LBA boundery limit.
Connected to this controller are two Hitachi/IBM U320 drives, type IC35L146UWDY10-0. Those drives should be 146Gb each, however the MPT LSI Logic software shows per drive no more then 36Gb. As far as I judge the latest Dell drivers (firware/BIOS) are installed. I checked the LSI website for newer software, it's there but it cannot be installed.
Can somebody help me with this since I don't believe that the card cannot handle it. It's probably - as usual - something simple or it needs just the right tough.
Thanks for your help.
When you need more information, please let me know.
Greetings,
Angelique van Campen
Angelique.van.C
6 Posts
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Posted January 5th, 2007 15:00
Hey Chipstone,Thanks for much for your reply.Due to a lot reasons I forget to update my problem.I initially thought it was the SCSI LSI Logic software firmeware/BIOS but finally it was the HDD itself. A German member of the Hitachi Hardisk Division informed me that ones in a while without any reason or notice, the HDD drive shows a complete different value then it really is. He suggested to run via the Hitachi Partner website the program DDD-SI. A diagnostic tool which can bring the orginal amount of HDD space back. I did this and indeed, the drives are now again 146Gb each.In other words, a lot of nerveus but the problem is solved.Anyway CHipstone, thanks again for your reply.Yours Sincerely,Angelique
Chipstone
525 Posts
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Posted January 5th, 2007 12:00
There are a lot of drives being sold, especially on auction websites, with proprietary software. These drives sometimes are formatted to a capacity lower than the aggregate size (short-stroked).
I gets complicated but there are system arrays with a bunch of these short-stroked drives under the impression the combined array will move data faster with drives formatted to a lower capacity than when formatted at factory specs.
You would need to have SCSI software that will pierce the windows barrier, capable of seeing the drive outside the current format scope. I have purchase a few drives with this problem and a friend at a corporation has been able to reformat them back to the original size.
I believe they use Northstar SCSI software, it’s expensive.
If you don’t have this type of software, try Google the net, some companies provide similar SCSI software, download functional trial software, install and see if in fact this is the case.
BTW: LBA limitation only apply to non SCSI drives
Message Edited by Chipstone on 01-05-200709:09 AM