Server Recovery Procedure [IBM/Acronis/Win2003/bad stripe]

Occurrence Summary:
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Server: IBM System X 3400
Problem: Bad Stripe in RAID array
Suspected cause: Improper shutdown of system
Backup SW: Acronis True Image
Backup media: External USB HDD 1 TB

1) Server diagnosed with bad stripe [there is no way to repair bad strip in RAID 5, other than deleting and creating a NEW array]

2) Acronis backup software deployed to backup all available good data [but backup encounter problem relating to bad sectors]

3) In Win2k3, ran "CHKDSK -r" (repair) to mark and update bad sector table so that Acronis backup will not complain about "failure to read"

4) Re-run Acronis FULL backup, success success success.

5) Proceed to run ServeRAID to delete existing RAID logical drive and create a new RAID logical drive (raid 5). This seems the only way to remove bad stripe table entries.

6) ServerGuide 7.4.17 to rebuilt NOS (Win 2003). Saved me the trouble to find 3rd party RAID drivers in floppy form.

7) Win 2003 R2 Std installation completed in style

8) Install Acronis True Image with Universal Restore

9) Insert backup media (external USB 1TB HDD for my case)

10) Run "Restore" in Acronis, select backup file (.tib) and start Restore process

11) After 5 hours, 500+ GB data was restored.

*ServeGuide/ServerRAID/Acronis/Windows/IBM are trademarks of respective vendors.