Verify Video Recording
Before replacing a hard drive, log in to 3VR OpCenter and verify that the appliance otherwise appears to be functioning properly. If live video is not displayed, new events are not being generated, or if video does not play when an event card is selected, contact 3VR Technical Support for assistance before proceeding.
3VR OpCenter 6.0 3VR OpCenter 7.0
Identify Failed Drive Number
The drive number of the failed drive can be identified in the following places:
The drive number of the failed drive can be identified in the following places:
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Replace the Failed Drive
Hard drive replacement is only supported for appliances with RAID (P-Series, E-Series, S-Series 40, and Enterprise Appliances). S-Series 30 and S-Series 35 units do not have RAID and do not support drive replacement.
Replacement Instructions for P-Series, S-Series 40, Enterprise Appliance
Required Materials
- Philips head #2 screwdriver
- Replacement drive supported by 3VR with the appropriate storage capacity for the model of appliance. If you are unsure about the storage capacity of a system’s drives, email the serial number to support@3VR.com for assistance. See Appendix A to view supported hard drive models.
- Connection to the appliance using one of the following connection methods:
- Laptop connected to appliance using the 3VR USB-to-Ethernet Network Service Adapter
- Network connection to the appliance
- Monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to the appliance
- Connection to the appliance using one of the following connection methods:
Replace Failed Drive
- Stop the system from recording:
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3VR Administration Console 6.0
3VR Administration Console 7.0 |
If connected to the appliance using the System Manager client application:
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| 2. The system status indicator on the front of the unit will turn red while the input system is stopped. Note that the unit can remain powered on during drive replacement. | |
| 3. Unlock the drive bay containing the failed drive. |
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| 4. Unlatch the drive tray. |
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| 5. Slide out the drive tray. |
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| 6. Remove the screws from both sides of the drive tray (four screws total). |
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| 7. Swap out the failed hard drive for the replacement drive. Ensure that the SATA interface of the new drive (inset) is positioned on the end opposite from the latch. |
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| 8. Replace the screws on the drive tray. |
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| 9. Insert the drive tray back into the drive bay and re-latch the tray. |
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10. Re-lock the hard drive bay. 11. Restart video recording:
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Replacement Instructions for E-Series
Required Materials
- Philips head #2 screwdriver with at least a 5” shank and magnetized tip
- Replacement drive supported by 3VR with the appropriate storage capacity for the model of appliance. If you are unsure about the storage capacity of a system’s drives, email the serial number to support@3VR.com for assistance. See Appendix A to view supported hard drive models.
- Connection to the appliance using one of the following connection methods:
- Laptop connected to appliance using the 3VR USB-to-Ethernet Network Service Adapter
- Network connection to the appliance
- Monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to the appliance
Replace Failed Drive
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3VR Administration Console 6.0
3VR Administration Console 7.0 |
If connected to the appliance using the System Manager client application:
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2. Wait one minute, then press the power button once (the leftmost button on the front of the appliance, represented by 3. After the system has shut down, disconnect the power cable from the outlet. 4. To remove the cover from the appliance: a. In Front (side of the server nearest to the power buttons): remove two screws on top b. In Back (side of the server nearest to the power cord and camera inputs): remove a single large screw. |
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5. Slide the cover back to remove the cover from the unit. 6. The hard drive enclosure is on the right-hand side at the front of the appliance. Remove the two screws from the top through cutouts on the |
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7. Disconnect the SATA and power cables from the hard drives in the enclosure.
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15. Replace the screws removed in step 6 to secure the drive enclosure.
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Rebuild RAID Array
In order to decrease the time it takes to rebuild the RAID array, Disk Write Cache will automatically be enabled on a 3VR appliance when it enters the RAID rebuild state. It is critical that the appliance not lose power during the rebuilding process or else file system corruption and/or data loss could occur. 3VR recommends the use of a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) to protect the appliance in the event of a power failure.
After replacing the failed drive, use the following steps to initialize the RAID rebuild process:
3VR Software Version 6.0
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After the rebuild has started:
5. Verify that the RAID Array Status field displays “Rebuilding”. 6. Launch 3VR OpCenter and verify that the appliance appears to be functioning properly. See Appendix D for more information about hot spares on a P-Series appliance. Within 10 minutes of initializing the rebuild:
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3VR Software Version 7.0
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After the rebuild has started:
5. Verify that the RAID Array Status field now displays 6. Launch 3VR OpCenter and verify that the appliance is recording video and appears to be functioning normally. What Are Hot Spares? See Appendix D to learn more about the hot spares Within 10 minutes of initializing the rebuild: 7. The P-Series (or Enterprise Appliance) status indicator will Note that the rebuild will be complete at this point, even if the Percentage Complete value displayed is not 100%. |
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Next Steps
While the array is rebuilding, video will continue to be recorded, and events will still be generated and stored. However, users may notice diminished performance when using OpCenter or System Manager.
The rebuild process may take hours or days to complete, depending upon system resource usage. Technicians performing drive replacements may leave the site after initializing the RAID rebuild, once they have verified that the system is still functioning normally.
Appendix A: 3VR Hard Drive Replacement Policy
Supported Hard Drive Models
The following replacement drive models are approved for use in 3VR appliances as of the release date of this document. See the Hard Drive Replacement Policy page at www.3VR.com (under Services and Support > FAQ) for the most up-to-date list.
| Capacity | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | Western Digital | WD2502ABYS |
| 500 GB | Western Digital | WD5002ABYS |
| 1 TB | Western Digital | WD1002FBYS |
| 2 TB | Western Digital | WD2002FYPS |
To determine the appropriate replacement drive capacity for a specific 3VR appliance, email the following information to support@3VR.com:
- Appliance serial number (from System Manager)
- Appliance part number (from System Manager)
- Appliance model name (from System Manager)
- Failed disk number (from Health Alert)
Hard Drive Replacement Policy
There are three options for handling in-warranty hard drive replacements (see the Warranty Policy FAQ at www.3vr.com under Support > FAQ for the most up-to-date warranty information).
- Option A. Obtain a replacement hard drive from 3VR (processing fee applies)
(Part # RS-HD-RPL, see 3VR Commercial Price Guide for more information) - Option B. Obtain a replacement hard drive directly from the hard drive manufacturer
- Option C. Maintain a hard drive inventory at reseller location
Appendix B: Troubleshooting
If the Rebuild RAID Array Link Does Not Appear in System Manager
The Rebuild RAID Array option should be displayed only after a drive has been replaced. If there is no Rebuild RAID Array link in the RAID/Disk Settings window:
- Verify that the power and SATA connections on all drives are properly connected.
- Verify the replacement drive manufacturer, model, and capacity matches that of the drive which is being replaced.
- Verify the replacement drive is not defective. Follow the drive replacement instructions using another replacement drive if available.
- Verify that the drive tray has been completely inserted into the drive bay and is locked in place.
- If the above options have not resolved the issue, contact 3VR Technical Support for further assistance.
Contact Technical Support
If you are having trouble with a 3VR system or application, contact 3VR Technical Support by phone at 415-513-4572 or email support@3VR.com Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time) for assistance.
Appendix C: About the RAID/DISK Issue Health Alert
The 3VR appliance will generate a RAID/Disk Issue health alert when it detects a degraded RAID array. This health alert will remain open and be updated throughout the rebuilding process:
RAID Degradation Detected
60 minutes* after the system detects a hard drive failure, a RAID/Disk Issue alert will be generated.
RAID array degradation detected since 7/8/2011 at 11:28 am (10 minutes). Please contact your technical support representative to replace the drive. No data has been lost.
=DETAILS BELOW=
A drive has failed in array 1 at position 1; it is recommended that a replacement drive be inserted there.
RAID Rebuild in Progress
Within 10 minutes of initializing the RAID rebuild, the RAID/Disk Issue alert will update to track the progress of the rebuild.
RAID array rebuild in progress since 7/8/2011 at 3:33 PM (3.7 hours). A failed drive has been replaced and the new drive is being initialized into the array. This may take several days on a system with high activity.
=Details Below=
Percent complete: 23%
RAID Rebuild Completed
When the RAID rebuild is complete, the health alert details panel will display “RAID array rebuild Done” at the top. In addition, the status of the RAID/Disk Issue alert will change to Resolved.
Resolved on 7/10/2011 at 5:05 PM
Notes: RAID array rebuild Done.
The Hard Drive Failure Threshold setting controls the length of time that the system will wait before generating a health alert reporting a failed drive. The default value for this setting is 60 minutes.
Appendix D: About Hot Spares
The P-Series VIP appliance features the ability to install up to two extra hard drives, referred to as “hot spares”, on the unit.
When an appliance with a hot spare installed detects the failure of one of the RAID array member disks, the appliance will automatically begin rebuilding the array using a spare disk. The failed drive can then be replaced and the new disk re-incorporated on the system as a hot spare.
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When an appliance with a hot spare installed detects that one of its disks has failed:
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