StorCLI is the command-line tool for HPE MR controllers, such as the MR216i, MR408i and MR416i Gen11. It replaces ssacli for this controller family: ssacli and SSA manage SR (Smart Array) controllers only. This guide covers installation, the command syntax and the commands an administrator uses most: status checks, rebuild progress, hot spares, locate LEDs, the energy pack and log collection. All syntax is taken from the HPE StorCLI User Guide; controller, enclosure and slot numbers are examples.
Before you start
- Confirm the controller is an MR model. The HPE StorCLI guide lists MR416i-p, MR416i-o, MR216i-p, MR216i-o and MR408i-o Gen11; MR416i-p, MR416i-a, MR216i-p and MR216i-a Gen10 Plus; and the Smart Array P824i-p MR Gen10.
- Get StorCLI from the Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP), as the MR Gen11 guide recommends, and use the latest SPP for your server.
- Run it as Administrator (Windows) or root (Linux).
- In large configurations, HPE advises against running two StorCLI instances at the same time.
Install and run StorCLI
- Windows: the binary needs no installation; copy it to a folder and run it with administrator privileges. PowerShell is not fully supported, so enclose commands in double quotes, for example
storcli64 "/cx show", or run them from a Command Prompt. - Linux: unzip the package and install it with
rpm -ivh <StorCLI-x.xx-x.noarch.rpm>(upgrade withrpm -Uvh), or on Ubuntu withdpkg -i <storcli_xx.xx.xx.xx_all.deb>. The binary is installed in/opt/MegaRAID/. - VMware ESXi: install the VIB with
esxcli software vib install -v=<path-to-vib-package>.
storcli64 -v
storcli64 -hStorCLI writes a default log, storcli.log (up to four files of 3 MB each) and needs at least 20 MB free for it. Add nolog to a command to skip logging.
How the syntax works
The general format is <[object identifier]> <verb> <[adverb | attributes | properties]> <[key=value]>. StorCLI is not case sensitive, but options must be given in the order shown in the guide or the command can fail.
| Object | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (none) | System command |
/cx, /call | Controller x, or all controllers |
/cx/vx, /cx/vall | Volume (virtual drive) x, or all volumes, on controller x |
/cx/ex/sx, /cx/eall/sall | Drive in slot x of enclosure x, or all drives |
/cx/sx | Drive attached directly to the controller (no enclosure) |
/cx/dx, /cx/fall | Array x; all foreign configurations |
If drives are not connected through an enclosure, leave out the /ex part.
Step 1 — Check the system and controller
storcli64 show
storcli64 show ctrlcount
storcli64 /c0 show
storcli64 /c0 show all
storcli64 /c0 show freespacestorcli64 show summarises all controllers, the host and the existing configuration; use the controller index it reports. /c0 show summarises controller 0 with its drive groups, virtual drives, physical drives and enclosures. /c0 show all adds status, policies, capabilities and scheduled tasks; append logfile=abc.txt to save it to a file.
Step 2 — Check volumes and drives
storcli64 /c0/vall show
storcli64 /c0/v0 show all
storcli64 /c0/eall/sall show
storcli64 /c0/e3/s0-3 show all
storcli64 /c0/e5/s1 show smart
storcli64 /c0/e5/s1 show errorcounters/vall show lists every volume; /v0 show all adds the member drives and properties. /eall/sall show summarises all drives; show all on a slot gives full detail, including estimated life remaining where the drive supports wear metrics. show smart is for SATA drives. show errorcounters helps separate a bad cable from a bad drive.
Step 3 — Follow a rebuild and set the rebuild rate
storcli64 /c0/s5 show rebuild
storcli64 /c0/s4 pause rebuild
storcli64 /c0/s4 resume rebuild
storcli64 /c0 show rebuildrate
storcli64 /c0 set rebuildrate=30show rebuild reports progress in percent and the estimated minutes left. The rebuild rate is a percentage; HPE notes that a high rebuild rate slows I/O. If copyback is used, storcli64 /c0/e25/s4 show copyback shows its progress the same way. To find drives the controller reports as missing, run storcli64 /c0/dall. For the risks during a rebuild, see RAID rebuild time and risks.
Note: stop rebuild exists, but the guide states that a stopped rebuild cannot be resumed. Use pause rebuild if you only need to reduce load for a while.
Step 4 — Add or remove hot spares
storcli64 /c0/e3/s4,5 add hotsparedrive
storcli64 /c0/e3/s6,8 add hotsparedrive dgs=0,1
storcli64 /c0/e3/s4,5 delete hotsparedriveWithout dgs, the drives become global spares. With dgs=0,1, they become dedicated spares for disk groups 0 and 1. The optional enclaffinity setting ties a spare to an enclosure and cannot be removed once set. See global vs dedicated spares.
Step 5 — Locate a drive and check the energy pack
storcli64 /c0/e56/s1 start locate
storcli64 /c0/e56/s1 stop locate
storcli64 /c0 show Energypackshow Energypack reports the HPE Smart Storage Energy Pack status. The guide lists messages such as MCELL_BBU_STATUS_GOOD (good), MCELL_BBU_STATUS_NOT_PRESENT, MCELL_BBU_STATUS_CHARGING, MCELL_BBU_STATUS_BAD and MCELL_BBU_STATUS_CABLE_FAILURE.
Step 6 — Collect logs for HPE support
The MR Gen11 guide recommends these commands when MR Storage Administrator is not available:
storcli64 /c0 show events file=events.log
storcli64 /c0 show events type=sincereboot file=SBevents.log
storcli64 /c0 show all > show_all.log
storcli64 /c0 show termlog > show_termlog.logCreating volumes and other destructive commands
The add-volume syntax starts storcli64 /cx add vd r[0|1|5|6|10|50|60] [Size=...] [name=...] drives=[e:]s|[e:]s-x|[e:]s-x,y followed by optional cache, strip and spare settings. The guide's example creates three RAID 10 volumes:
storcli64 /c0 add vd raid10 size=2gb,3gb,4gb names=tmp1,tmp2,tmp3 drives=252:2-3,5,7 pdperarray=2Warning: These commands delete data or configuration. Back up first and double-check the controller, volume and slot numbers.
storcli64 /c0/v2 deldeletes a volume;del forceis required if it holds user data, and also deletes a volume holding the OS.storcli64 /c0 delete configclears the whole configuration.storcli64 /c0/fall deletedeletes foreign configurations instead of importing them.set good force,set offline,set missing,start eraseandsecureerasechange drive state or erase data.
For the GUI and UEFI methods, see Configure RAID on HPE MR Gen11 controllers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ssacli on an MR controller?
No. ssacli manages SR controllers. MR controllers use StorCLI, MR Storage Administrator or UEFI System Utilities; see ssacli commands for SR.
Why does a command fail even though the syntax looks right?
Check the option order against the guide, add or remove the enclosure part (/ex) to match your cabling, and remember some commands depend on the controller model and enabled features.
Checklist
- Controller confirmed as MR and StorCLI installed from the current SPP.
- Controller index taken from
storcli64 show. - Volume and drive status checked with
/vall showand/eall/sall show. - Rebuild progress and rebuild rate reviewed.
- Hot spares assigned and energy pack status good.
- Backup confirmed before any delete, clear, erase or drive-state command.
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