Applies to: WRR-5301/5501 servers

Issue Summary

This article helps identify and resolve the issue where Windows OS fails to correctly recognize the volume size of RAID-configured storage in the WRR-5301/5501 server product. It also provides guidance on preserving existing video storage saved to the affected volume.

For example, a WRR-5501-24TB should show approximately 16TB for the D:\ drive. To verify this, compare the D:\ drive size with the ordered configuration. Ensure you account for RAID-6 when calculating usable storage space. Refer to the following table for the correct RAID-6 capacity.

• If the D:\ drive size matches the expected value from the table, the server is not affected by this issue.

• If the D:\ drive has significantly less capacity, proceed with the troubleshooting steps in this article.
  
  

Prerequisite

Before troubleshooting this issue, the video data needs to be backed up to a temporary storage location.

Enabling Storage Backup

To enable storage backup:

1. Open WAVE Client and log in as Administrator.
    
2. Right-click the server and select Server Settings.
   
   
   
    
3. On the Storage Management tab, click the Add External Storage button and input the storage location's network path.
   
    
4. Toggle the switch next to the new storage location to ON (green).
   
    

5. Use the drop-down menu for the new storage volume to set it as the Backup drive.
   
    

   

Setting Backup Options

To set backup options:

1. In the Backup Archive section, click Backup Settings. 
   
    
2. Select On Demand from the Execute Backup drop-down menu, then click OK.
   
   
   
    
3. Click Backup Archive From and select the cameras to backup footage. By default all devices are selected.
   
   
   
    
4. Select All Streams from the Backup Quality drop-down menu.
   
   
   
    
5. Click Apply to begin your backup.
   
    
6. Click Start Backup Now.
   
   
   
   A progress bar will display the current status of your storage backup followed by a prompt to announce completion of the storage.
   
   IMPORTANT: Depending on the time it takes to back up, archives during the duration of the backup may not get copied to the Backup Drive and result in loss of data.
   
   
   
   All video data that has been backed up will now be available in temporary storage.
   
    
7. Set the Backup Drive to Main and the main Storage Volume to Backup. This way the archives can be stored in the temporary drive while the main Storage Volume is being repaired. 
   
   
    

Resolution

Resolving this issue requires that the existing RAID-enabled storage volume be rebuilt and rediscovered by Windows OS.
 

NOTE: This process will erase all the recorded data and any other 
files stored on the drives. If you wish to backup your recordings, 
follow the instructions in the previous section.

To repair the storage volume:

1. Using the MegaRAID Storage Manager, right-click the Virtual Drive and select Delete Virtual Drive.
   
   
   
    

2. Check the box next to Confirm and click Yes.
   
   
   
    
3. Right-click the Controller and select Create Virtual Drive.
   
   
   
    
4. Select Advanced.
   
    
5. Choose the desired RAID configuration from the drop-down menu (RAID 6 is recommended).
   
    
6. Select all available hard drives and click Add.
   
   
    
7. Click Create Drive Group to ensure no drives remain under Unconfigured Drives, then click Next.
   
   
   
    
8. Set the following configurations:
   
   Initialization state - Fast Initialization
   Strip size - 64KB
   Read Policy - Always Read Ahead
   Write Policy - Always Write Back
    
9. Click Create Virtual Drive > Yes > Next.
   
   
   
    
10. Click Finish to create the new Virtual Drive.
    
    
     
11. Return to Windows Disk Management and verify that your RAID array is correct. The volume will be displayed as unallocated disk space.
    
     
12. Follow the image below to initialize the disk.
    
    
    
     
13. Right-click the unallocated disk space and select New Simple Volume.
    
    
    
     
14. Click Next to follow the Volume Wizard then click Finish.
    
    
    
     
15. Verify that Windows is now reading the virtual drive correctly through the Windows Disk.

NOTE: To return your existing video archive, see 
WRR-5301/5501: How do I return video archive from Backup to Primary Storage?