RAID array disk size change error?

null_set · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 151 Location: Jersey

Hey guys... long time no post, I know.
My box has been performing great, and I've had no problems with it lately (well, just one, but that's another post), so I've been lurking.
However, an issue came up at work (I don't work with ToggleHead anymore) that tech support has been unable to help with (big surprise).

So... I've got a DVR on a Dell server with 3x500MB HDDs in a RAID 5 array. Occaisionally I'd get "The hard disk size has changed" error messages, but the size of the array never actually changed. About a week ago, they had a data loss and a system freeze, and had to rebuild the database from archives. They don't have external backup.
Any idea what could cause the size change message? Nothing in the system logs regarding drive failure, and chkdisk didn't find anything, either.
Any input would be appreciated.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

model of dell server?

PCI based or onboard RAID array?

Honestly its sounding like a DMA HDD error...but this could be driver issues among other things too....
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null_set · TweakNOOB Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 151 Location: Jersey

I'd have to pull the PO for the model & specs. One of their standard higher-end servers. P4D, 2GB RAM, a 256-bit vid card.
(can't remember much about it, I installed the thing months ago)
Onboard RAID.
Server had been running great, recording continuously for about four months or so before the errors appeared. HDD's aren't even close to full.
If it was a driver issue, wouldn't it have shown up a long time ago?
There's 9 cams @ 8fps @ 4CIF, avg. image size around 50-75kb, and they're all recording pretty much 24-7... so there's a lot of throughput into those drives.
It's not on a UPS or even a surge protector (even though I told them that it was a bad idea)...could a power spike/dip have caused a burp in the data transmission?
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

you should know that a spike or dip can cause the strangest of things sometimes....

my advice is run the HDD manufacturers utility to see if they come up with any issues....firstly

who built the machine? if it was you, just throw it out and get a real man to build the next one =P

(im only kidding)
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