Creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD)

The SANmelody Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) should not be confused with the Windows Emergency Repair Disk. The SANmelody ERD is used only to restore the SANmelody configuration. The SANmelody ERD cannot be used to restore the Windows operating system on which SANmelody software runs.

As long as the ERD button is enabled, each Apply action will prompt you to save the configurations file to an external device (floppy disk, thumb drive, network share).  To make changes to the configuration without being prompted to make an ERD, click the ERD toolbar button (SANmelody enabledisableerdicon Creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD))  so it is not enabled.

An Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) contains a copy of your configuration. When you create an ERD, SANmelody copies the SANmapper.dat and SANmapperGen.txt configuration files. These configuration files are vital to your SAN.

When you apply a new configuration, SANmelody software, by default, will not prompt you to save the configuration to a floppy or other location. We recommend that you create an ERD each time you change the configuration, in order to have a restorable copy of your configuration handy. If a hardware (e.g., disk failure) or software failure occurs, it will be easy to recreate your configuration using this ERD. Keep the ERD in a safe place.

For AIM Configurations: AIM configuration files are stored locally. Therefore, it is necessary to make a separate ERD on each storage server running AIM in the partnership. This can be done without an apply using the Create ERD command. AIM source configuration files (DcsAim.cfg and AIMSource.cfg) are stored in the DataCore Software SANmelody AIM subfolder on the AIM source server. AIM destination configuration files (AimDestination.cfg and AimService.cfg) are stored in the AIM destination buffer folder on the AIM destination server.

 

In addition to creating the Emergency Repair Disk, we suggest you keep a detailed record of each storage server in the SAN. You may need this information to modify your existing configuration. Include the following:

  • Storage Server Serial Number (available in the license file).

  • Computer name.

  • Installed options.

 

To create an ERD:

  1. Open the DataCore SANmelody snap-in.

  2. Select the Storage Server component in the snap-in.

  3. Click the ERD toolbar button (SANmelody enabledisableerdicon Creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD)).

  4. Click Apply on the toolbar.

  5. The Create Emergency Repair Disk box will open. Enter or browse to the location to store the files. (We recommend saving the files in a safe location such as network directory, thumb drive, or floppy disk.)

  6. Click OK.

  7. The location is tested to see if it can be written to, and if so, the Apply continues, followed by the ERD update.

  8. At the Apply successful prompt, click OK.

  9. A copy of the SANmelody configuration files are saved to the requested location.  

  10. At the ERD Successful prompt, click OK.

 

Creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD)