Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using
Lifecycle Controller
This Dell Technical White Paper provides the procedure to perform Break-Mirror
operation using Lifecycle Controller on the 12th Generation servers and later of
Dell.
Dell Engineering
November 2013
Aruna Jayaprakash
Balaji K
Bala Gupta
Vinod P S
Sheshadri P.R. Rao
A Dell Technical White Paper
Revisions
Date Description
Nov 2013 Initial release
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2 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
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3 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
Contents
Revisions .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Performing Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller ................................................................................................ 6
Pre-requisites........................................................................................................................................................................................14
4 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
Executive Summary
This whitepaper provides the procedure to perform Break-Mirror operation using Lifecycle Controller on
the 12th generation servers and later of Dell.
Introduction
Break-Mirror is a feature in the Lifecycle Controller of the 12th generation servers and later of Dell that is
used to replicate the data from one server to another by safely breaking or isolating a RAID1 virtual disk.
This feature enables easy operation by providing an intuitive, user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI).
Figure 1 The Break-Mirror Page
5 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
Performing Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
1. To start Lifecycle Controller, press <F10> during POST.
2. In the left pane, click Hardware Configuration.
Figure 2 Lifecycle Controller Home page
6 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
3. In the left pane, click Hardware Configuration, and then click Configuration Wizards.
Figure 3 Hardware Configuration
7 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
4. On the Hardware Configuration: Configuration Wizards page, click Break Mirror.
Figure 4 Configuration Wizards
8 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
5. On the Break Mirror page, a list of all the virtual disks that are RAID1 break-mirror—capable is
displayed. In the Controller column, select the option corresponding to the virtual disk on which
you want to apply the break-mirror feature, and then click Finish.
Figure 5 Break Mirror
9 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
After the break-mirror operation is successfully completed, a message is displayed to indicate that the
server will be automatically turned off.
6. Click Yes.
Figure 6 Break Mirror Confirmation
The break-mirror operation is completed successfully, and the LEDs corresponding to the HDDs start
blinking.
10 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
7. Click Shut down.
8. Wait for the server to automatically turn off, remove the HDDs, and then turn on the server.
Figure 7 Break Mirror Confirmation
11 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
When you restart the server, Power-On-Self-Test (POST) indicates the status (of those virtual disks on
which the break-mirror operation was performed) as Degraded Virtual Disk. The broken virtual disks are
identified as Degraded.
Figure 8 Degraded Virtual Disk
12 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
On the Raid Configuration page of Lifecycle Controller, these virtual disks are indicated as Degraded (in
the State column).
Figure 9 Degraded Virtual Disk in LC UI
13 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
Pre-requisites
1. Break-Mirror operation can be performed only on RAID1 virtual disks.
2. System must have atleast one RAID1 virtual disk to enable the Break-Mirror feature.
Figure 10 Break-Mirror Disabled–1
Figure 11 Break-Mirror Disabled–2
14 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
Notes:
The time required to complete a Break-Mirror operation varies on the basis of number of virtual
disk(s) selected for the Break Mirror operation.
A Break-Mirror operation is not allowed when the initialization of virtual disk is in progress in the
back-end. The Time required to complete the Background initialization process varies on the
basis of size of the virtual disk.
If the memory capacity of the virtual disk is higher, then longer duration is required to complete
the background initialization of the virtual disk.
Figure 12 An Unsuccessfully Completed Break-Mirror Operation
15 Performing a Break-Mirror Operation Using Lifecycle Controller
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