topic Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel in Rapid Storage Technology

RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 03:51:45 GMT

To start, here's my build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GLshPs https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GLshPs -- NOTE it has parts in it for the NAS I put together as well.

The basic setup is a 500GB SSD for OS, and a 6TB (3x3TB 7200 Seagate Constellation drives w/128MB cache) RAID5 array.

The long and the short of it is that I noticed my whole computer locking up when steam tried to update some of my games. I thought it was steam, but I've now seen it on other platforms that try to update large quantities of data at a time. I'm not sure what's kicking it off, but basically, when the issue happens, disk usage goes to 100% (though very little disk *activity* takes place), and I look at my resource monitor, I notice HUGE (25,000 ms+) response times for various disk activity.

I've done many things to try to diagnose and fix this, including a full surface test, and installing the latest drivers from Intel, but that actually made RST go kaput. It will not run, and when I try to bring up the application, it says, "An unknown error occurred while running this application. If the problem persists, please restart your computer or try reinstalling the application." Of course, I've tried both options multiple times.

I meant to get a thread up much sooner, but ran into some issues recovering my account/pw here, and forgot about it for awhile, but it's starting to become quite a nuisance.

I had a thread going on steam for quite a while (because I thought that's what the issue was), which you can see here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/135507403159637853/ HDD usage at 100% after adding new location [raid5] :: Hardware and Operating Systems

Now, since then, I still haven't been able to fix the problem, but I the more I think about it, the more I think it has to do w/the cache on the hard disks. It seems that when it switches data out of the cache is when it's triggering this issue (this is a COMPLETE guess, btw). For instance, starting up a game that has to load a lot of files will take FOREVER, but once I do that, I'm good to go, until I load a different game, which will take forever if it loads a lot of files.

If you want links to the pictures i posted w/out having to deal w/those silly warnings, I'll compile them below.

Surface test: http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170124_surfacetest.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170124_surfacetest.png

Updating via steam showing nothing going on, but disk at 100%: http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170203_steam.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170203_steam.png

2 GB update on battlefield 1 that did not show this issue: http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_origin.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_origin.png

60 GB dl on Uplay that started smooth... : http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay.png

Then got ugly: http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay-01.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay-01.png

Got better after the "stuck" files got cleared out: http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay-02.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_uplay-02.png

Screenshots of bad response times

http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime.png

http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime-01.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime-01.png

http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime-02.png http://phroztnet.org/screen/ts/20170207_responsetime-02.png

Looking back at these response times, these are nothing compared to what I see now... I can hit 14k response times with ease, and I've even seen 25k response times.

I would be more than happy to run more tests/diagnostics/whatever. I got burned out for a while trying to fight this, but I'm willing to try again.

Thanks

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:33:36 GMT

Phrozt, Thank you very much for joining the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology communities.

In order to better assist you to try to fix this problem, we just need to gather a few details from your system configuration, please provide the information requested on the link below:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000006351.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000006351.html

Also, Please install the SSU tool (System Support Utility):

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility

Once you do that, the tool will allow you to save the information as a file, so, once you save it, please attach it to this thread, in order for us to see it.

Any further questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:30:36 GMT

Thanks for replying, Alberto. As I mentioned in my initial post, RST will not open, and gives me the error, "An unknown error occurred while running this application. If the problem persists, please restart your computer or try reinstalling the application." I have restarted/reinstalled multiple times. This was after the last time I updated the RST software with software from intel.com

I have attached the SSU scan.

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:30:03 GMT

Hi, Phrozt, You are welcome. Yes, let me apologize for that. Thank you very much for providing the SSU report, we really appreciate it.

At this point we can try to install the Intel® RST version provided by ASUS, please uninstall the current version from "Programs and Features" in Control Panel, restart the computer, and then re-install the following:

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/sata/IRST_15211028.zip http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/sata/IRST_15211028.zip

Please let me know the results of trying the steps above.

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 15:43:41 GMT

Alberto, I was able to successfully uninstall the old version and install the new one that you provided the link to.

Upon reinstalling and checking out RST again, I noticed that there are now 6 blocks on my raid5 volume w/media errors. I did not previously see this when RST was working before.

I've attached the system report

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Mon, 01 May 2017 19:36:38 GMT

Phrozt, Thank you very much for letting us know that information and for providing the system report. It is great to hear you were able to install the RST.

Based on that report, on the status it says "normal" which means the RAID 5 seems to be working fine, however, in order to try to remove the media errors we can try the "verify and repair" option:

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Mon, 01 May 2017 21:02:48 GMT

Alberto,

I have already corrected those few errors with no issues. I have not seen any come up since. This has not fixed my issue though. Also, I'd like to note that I had 0 blocks when I was initially experiencing the issue.

Thanks,

-Phrozt

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Tue, 02 May 2017 19:11:57 GMT

Phrozt, Perfect, thank you very much for letting us know that information.

You mentioned on the first post that RST was not working at all, but you also mentioned that you were able to install the RST version provided by the OEM successfully, so just to make sure:

RST is working now, but still the PC gets locked?

RST still is not working at all?

You mentioned you did a driver update from Intel, could you please explain what was that update, it was a driver or an RST update?

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:15:02 GMT

RST now works, but the issue where my disk usage goes up to 100% with little activity, and where the response time of reading files goes up to several *seconds* still exists (Just verified this).

This is the utility I used:

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Wed, 03 May 2017 18:28:20 GMT

Phrozt, Thank you very much for sharing those details and the picture, it is great to hear that RST is working fine.

Now, we will do further research on this matter in order to confirm why the disk usage goes up to 100% with little activity and why the response time of reading files goes up to several seconds, but most importantly, to try to find a possible way to fix it, even though based on the information we verified previously it does not seemed to be related to RST.

As soon as I get any updates, I will post all the details on this thread.

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Wed, 03 May 2017 19:58:56 GMT

Thank you, also, please feel free to consult the thread I posted in my initial post here. It contains a lot more information.

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Wed, 17 May 2017 21:27:38 GMT

Phrozt: I just wanted to let you know that I just received some updates from the research we are doing on this case. Based on that information, the 15.x driver is only meant for few SKL skus and above.

Could you please install the following RST version and let us know the results, it is version 14.8:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26759/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST- https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26759/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto R

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:49:58 GMT

Phrozt: I just wanted to check if you were able to install the RST version 14.8 and if you need further assistance on this matter?

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto R

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:45:36 GMT

Sorry, was visiting the site daily, but waned after a while. I'll check that out as soon as I get a break to where I can restart my machine.

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Fri, 26 May 2017 18:32:53 GMT

Phrozt: No problem at all, perfect, once you get the chance please test that RST version and let us know the results.

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto R

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Wed, 31 May 2017 23:38:37 GMT

Phrozt: I just wanted to check if you were able to install the RST version 14.8 and if you need further assistance on this matter?

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto R

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:17:51 GMT

Alberto,

I was able to successfully install 14.8. It is running on my computer with no errors. It sees 0 blocks with media errors.

Unfortunately, I'm still seeing 100% disk activity on my RAID volume with very low disk usage, and very high response times...

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

idata — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:26:01 GMT

Phrozt: Thank you very much for letting us know that information.

It is great to hear that you were able to install IRST version 14.8 and the computer is running with no errors and it sees 0 blocks with media errors.

In regard to the problem about the disk activity and high response times, we will continue with our research on this subject in order to try to find a possible solution. As soon as I get any details, I will post them on this thread.

Any questions, please let me know.

Regards,

Alberto R

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

Ronny_G_Intel — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 20:54:15 GMT

Hi Phrozt:

I am glad to hear that you were able to install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software and that the issue is partially resolved at least.

In regards to the disk activity and high response times, I have not tested this version of RST and I haven't checked if these options are still available but could you go under Performance and disable "Link Power Management"

You could also try going at Control Panel, then Power Options, make sure you are using "High Performance"

Click "Change Plan Settings" then press "Change Advanced Power Settings", under PCI Express you will find "Link State Power Management". Set "Link State Power Management" to "OFF"

Please let me know if this helps.

Regards,

Ronny G

Re: RAID5 locking entire computer up, RST no longer runs after driver update from Intel

ZGods — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 12:26:00 GMT

Hi Ronny,

Link Power Management was already disabled. I believe this might be a fix I have previously tried when researching this issue.

As for Power Options, technically I was running the balanced profile, but I had basically already tweaked it to the high performance profile - Turn off disk: never; everything at max performance; sleep: never; Min/Max processor states: 100%

Thank you for your reply,

-Z