Resolving RAID 5 Array Degradation
Question
A systems administrator receives a notification from the RAID controller that the RAID 5 array is degraded.
Upon logging into the server, the administrator sees that on logical disk 0, physical disk 2 has failed.
Which of the following is the BEST course of action to take to resolve the problem?
Answers
Explanations
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.A.
When a RAID 5 array is degraded, it means that at least one of the physical disks that make up the array has failed or is experiencing problems. In this scenario, the system administrator received a notification that the RAID 5 array is degraded, and upon logging into the server, they see that physical disk 2 has failed in logical disk 0. The best course of action to resolve the problem is to replace the failed physical disk as soon as possible.
Option A suggests scheduling system downtime and replacing physical disk 2. This option is a viable solution since it involves replacing the failed physical disk as soon as possible, allowing the array to rebuild, and confirming that the system is no longer degraded. However, scheduling downtime may not be necessary, and the failed disk should be replaced immediately.
Option B is the best course of action since it involves immediately replacing physical disk 2, waiting for the array to rebuild, and confirming that the system is no longer degraded. This option is the most efficient as it reduces the downtime required to repair the system. The system administrator should ensure that they have a spare disk on hand to replace the failed disk.
Option C involves deleting logical disk 0 and manually configuring a new RAID array using only the known-good working drives. This option is not the best course of action since it involves deleting the logical disk and configuring a new RAID array, which could cause data loss. Additionally, the known-good working drives may not have enough capacity to create a new RAID array.
Option D involves converting the RAID 5 array to a RAID 0 array to avoid system downtime. This option is not a viable solution since converting to a RAID 0 array would result in a loss of data redundancy, which could lead to data loss in the future. The best practice is to maintain data redundancy by replacing the failed physical disk and allowing the array to rebuild.
In conclusion, the best course of action to resolve the problem is to immediately replace the failed physical disk, wait for the array to rebuild, and confirm that the system is no longer degraded. Option B is the correct answer.
