How do I resolve the error "PhysicalDisk - Test PhysicalDisk API Checking PhysicalDisk has CIM data" in the Azure Stack HCI deployment validator?

Question

I am repurposing a couple of Cisco C220 M4s servers as an Azure Stack HCI PoC lab before we purchase certified Azure Stack HCI hardware for an upcoming project. While attempting to create the cluster using the 23H2 build, the validation keeps failing with the error: PhysicalDisk - Test PhysicalDisk API Checking PhysicalDisk has CIM data. The error is reported 2 times on both nodes in the Cluster Validation error report. All other checks on the server validator pass. I have followed the storage configuration recommendations and have 2 SSDs and 4 HDDs for storage plus another SSD for boot; all are set to JBOD in the storage controller. All disks report healthy and the 6 for cluster data are in RAW state. I have also run a few of the storage spaces direct remediation PowerShell scripts to no avail. I have searched extensively for answers, but the exact error is mentioned nowhere.

I believe I can safely ignore the 3rd error in the image since I am deploying 2 nodes.

Answer 1

Hi,

Before disks can be reused in a new S2D pool, they must be cleaned of all prior pool metadata. You can use the script in the link below to clean the disks and try again.

Deploy Storage Spaces Direct on Windows Server - Step 3.1: Clean drives

If this information resolves your issue, please be sure to accept this as the answer. This benefits others that may be facing a similar issue.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

• NOT SUPPORTED: RAID controller cards that don't support direct pass through of SAS physical storage devices or SAN (Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCoE) storage. Host-bus adapter (HBA) cards must implement simple pass-through mode for any storage devices used for Storage Spaces Direct

Answer 3

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/storage-spaces/storage-spaces-direct-hardware-requirements

Answer 4

Hey,

As mentioned, drives should not be connected via RAID controller. Some RAID controllers do not support HBA mode, they report drives as RAID even in JBOD mode. Might help: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/resolving-enable-clusters2d-bus-type-support-issue-on-some-storage-controllers/

If you want to build a cluster with RAID array in your servers, you can use StarWind VSAN for a shared storage. VSAN create replicated storage between the nodes on top of RAID array.
https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san

Cheers,

Alex Bykovskyi

StarWind Software

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