Seagate WSS NAS - How to Replace a Failed Boot Drive from Slot 1

Prerequisites for these steps to work

• The Storage Pool must have been configured with Parity, with a fixed capacity, and without a hot spare.  

• The unallocated space on the boot disk in slot 1 was used in the Storage Pool.  

• The replacement drive must be blank and has never been part of the current StoragePool or Virtual Disk.

Replace the Hard Drive

In this example, the disk drive in slot 1 (boot drive) has failed and is no longer detected.

The Seagate WSS NAS should be powered off.
 

Remove the drive from slot 1 and replace it with a drive that is blank with the same capacity as the original or larger.

Performing the NAS Operating System Recovery Process

The Seagate WSS NAS must be placed in recovery mode to install the operating system on the new hard drive in slot 1.

1. Insert a paperclip or similar object into the pinhole above the USB port on the back of the Seagate WSS NAS and hold this button in.
    

2. Push and release the Power button on the front of the Seagate WSS NAS.
    

3. Continue to hold the reset button on the back for 5 seconds then release it.  The Power/Status button light will blink for approximately 5 minutes.
    

4. Once the Power/Status Button and Function lights turn solid, push the Function Button under the Power Button to begin the installation of Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials.

The installation can take approximately 20 minutes.

5. Wait for the Power/Status Button light to turn solid before moving to the next step.

Use Remote Desktop to login to the Seagate WSS NAS.

1. Launch Microsoft Remote Desktop from a PC on the local network.
    

2. Enter the default name of the Seagate WSS NAS: seagate-wss-nas
    

3. Choose Connect.
    

4. Enter the default login, administrator, and the password.   Note:  If you never changed the password, then it’s the default which is admin.
    

5. Choose OK.
    

Upon login, use the Seagate Setup Assistant to re-configure the Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials operating system.

Use Server Manager to re-connect to the Storage Pool and Virtual Disk

1. Open Server Manager > Select File and Storage Services > Select Storage Pools.

Note: Under Physical Disks, the drive with the Yellow Warning indicates the failed drive that has already been removed from the Seagate WSS NAS. Also note, regardless of which one of the 2 through 6 drives that have been removed, the failed drive will always show as PhysicalDisk-1 and the new drive will show as PhysicalDisk1 without the hyphen.

2. Right click the Storage Pool and choose Set Read-Write Access…
    

3. Add Physical Disk select Physical Disk, click OK.
    

4. Choose a Server for Read-Write Access, click OK.
    

5. Under Virtual Disk, right click the virtual disk and click Attach Virtual Disk.
    

6. The Attach Virtual Disk box will ask if you want to continue, click Yes.
    

7. Select Disks on the left and right click the virtual disk and choose Bring Online.
    

8. The Bring Disk Online box will open.  Read the warning then click Yes.  The virtual disk is now online.
    

Use PowerShell to to Retire a Drive

The disk that failed and was removed shows with a yellow warning. This needs to be removed so the Storage Pool will no longer be Degraded.  The PowerShell Utility can be used to correct this issue.

1. In Server Manager click Tools and open PowerShell.
    

2. At the PowerShell prompt copy and paste the following commands one at a time and Enter each.

Get-PhysicalDisk
 

$missingDisk = Get-PhysicalDisk | Where-Object { $_.OperationalStatus -eq 'Lost Communication' }
 

$missingDisk | Set-PhysicalDisk -Usage Retired
 

Get-PhysicalDisk

PhysicalDisk-1 will now show Retired.
 

Repair the Virtual Disk

In Server Manager > Storage Pools under Virtual Disks, right click the Virtual Disk and choose Repair Virtual Disk.

Now that the Virtual Disk is repaired, the reference to the original failed drive can be removed.

Remove the Retired Drive

1. In Server Manager > Storage Pools under Physical Disks, right click on PhysicalDisk-1 and choose Remove Disk.
    

2. The Remove Physical Disk box will open.  Read the Warning and click Yes.
    

3. Another Remove Physical Disk box will open.  Read the Information and click OK.

The Storage Pool and Virtual Disk are no longer degraded and the reference to the failed Disk has been removed.

Note: If the Seagate WSS NAS is rebooted, the virtual drive will be detached and will need to be re-attached manually.  The Virtual Disk can be made to remain attached any time the Seagate WSS NAS is rebooted or powered up by using PowerShell with some commands..

Use PowerShell to Re-Attach Virtual Disks automatically

1. In Server Manager top right, click Tools and open PowerShell.  This step will show that the Virtual Disk is set True for Manually Attached.
    

2. Copy and Paste the following command at the PowerShell prompt and Enter.
    

Get-VirtualDisk | Where-Object {$_.IsManualAttach –eq $True}

3. Now Copy and Paste this command to the PowerShell prompt and Enter. This will set ManualAttach to False.
    

Get-VirtualDisk | Where-Object {$_.IsManualAttach –eq $True} | Set-VirtualDisk –IsManualAttach $False

This next command will show that ManualAttach is now set to False, meaning that after a reboot, the Virtual Disk will connect automatically.

4. Now Copy and Paste this command at the PowerShell prompt and Enter.

Get-VirtualDisk

 

5. Close the PowerShell.