If your RAID configuration is deemed "incomplete" when scanning to configure, this could signal an issue with how your RAID controller interprets the metadata across the connected drives. Let’s address this step-by-step:
1. What Does "Configuration Incomplete" Mean?
This indicates that the RAID controller detects the drives but cannot find or fully assemble the RAID metadata. This could be due to:
Drive order mismatch (drives connected in the wrong sequence).
Corrupted or missing RAID metadata on one or more drives.
A mismatch in RAID firmware versions/settings between the old and new controllers.
A failed or unresponsive drive in the RAID array.
2. Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix
Step 1: Verify Physical Drive Connections
Ensure all drives are securely connected to the RAID controller.
Double-check against the original drive connection order, especially if the drives were disconnected during the controller replacement.
If the original order is unknown, modern raid controllers can often reconstruct RAID arrays from their metadata automatically.
Step 2: Import Foreign Configuration
Access the RAID controller BIOS during boot (usually Ctrl+R or Ctrl+H for LSI controllers).
Navigate to the Foreign Configuration menu. If a configuration is flagged as foreign:
Choose Import Foreign Configuration to attempt importing the state of the previous RAID setup.
Once imported, check the RAID status. Ideally, it should transition from "Incomplete" to "Optimal." Note: If the controller cannot import the configuration, explore Manual Configuration options (detailed in Step 6).
Step 3: Check for Drive Failures
Using the RAID BIOS or management software (e.g., MegaRAID Storage Manager), analyze the health of individual drives.
Replace any drive showing errors or marked as dead/failed.
Degraded or missing drives can cause the RAID volume to be incomplete.
Step 4: Rebuild the RAID (If Initiated)
If some drives are fine but others were missing or out of order, the controller may trigger a rebuild.
Allow the rebuild process to complete, as this can restore the "Optimal" state from the incomplete configuration.
Step 5: Update Controller Firmware
Mismatched firmware between the old and new RAID cards could prevent proper metadata interpretation during the scan.
Update your replacement RAID card to match the firmware version of the one it replaced. Download and install the firmware from Broadcom's (LSI) official site.
Restart and reattempt importing the RAID configuration.
Step 6: Manual Configuration (If Import Fails)
Create the RAID array manually using the exact settings of the original RAID:
RAID level (e.g., RAID 5/6 in your case).
Stripe size, block size, cache settings.
Assign all previously associated drives to the array without initializing data.
Save and apply this configuration.
This action will try to "rebuild" the RAID metadata without reinitializing the disks (initialization will erase data—proceed cautiously).
3. Checks After RAID Repair
Once the incomplete RAID configuration is resolved:
Verify that the RAID volume is visible in Windows Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).
Ensure Windows has assigned a drive letter and that the file system remains intact.
4. In Extreme Cases
If the steps above fail and the RAID configuration remains incomplete:
Consider using data recovery software or consulting with RAID recovery professionals if your data is critical.
Attempt to recreate the exact condition of the previous environment (original RAID card, firmware, etc.) to reconstruct the array.
Would you like specific guidance based on the RAID tools or settings you’re using? Let me know, and I can provide more tailored instructions!