topic Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives in ONTAP Hardware

FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

jtejada — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:52:41 GMT

Hi all,

I thought all Netapp systems work in 520 blocksize but I have just encountered a FAS8060 that is requiring 512 blocksize drives so I can't use it with other Netapp drives I have in stock because are in 520 blocksize.

I am just checking that it shelves comes with drives model X306A-R6 and X306A-R5 but I don't find any information about the blocksize.

Is FAS8060 only ready for 512 blocksize drives? Could it be set up to work with 520 blocksize instead of 512? How I could find information about what is the blocksize searching for the model of drive?

Regards,

Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

Ontapforrum — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:37:00 GMT

If you go to hwu.netapp.com, this drive (X306A-R5) will show checksum as 'BCS' which means it uses 520 byte sectors.
https://hwu.netapp.com/Drives/Index?partno=X306A-R5

You mentioned - I have just encountered a FAS8060 that is requiring 512 blocksize, where do you encounter this error/issue ?

Check these kb:
https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Systems/FAS_Systems/Drive_reporting_failed_or_broken_due_to_disk_format_being_set_to_512B
https://kb.netapp.com/Support_Bulletins/Customer_Bulletins/SU89

Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

jtejada — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 08:13:03 GMT

Please see this screenshot where controller says that have unexpected sector size drives. I am testing it with 512 blocks size and initializes properly. I have also attached some photos of the drives X306A-R5 you says taht should come with 520 block size but not at this case.

I have a tool to reformat drives to 520 blocksize but don't work with these drives.

Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

jtejada — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:17:40 GMT

Any thougths about screenshots I added in my last post?

Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

Ontapforrum — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 12:28:30 GMT

No idea why is it not taking 520BCS, if you look up FAS8060 in HWU, you can see the disk model X306A-R5 which clearly says BCS. Is this system under NetApp support ? Have you configured this system originally, has there been any changes done, in terms of hardware(disks format) etc .

I found this kb, take a look. Also, ensure the DQP is up-2-date on your Flier before adding any disks to the existing system.

How to change the checksum type for disks with different types (block, zone or advanced zone) in ONTAP

https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Systems/FAS_Systems/How_to_change_the_checksum_value_for_disks_with_different_types_(block%2C_zone_or_advanced_zone)_ONTAP

Re: FAS8060 with 512 blocksize drives

jtejada — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:03:22 GMT

No, is not under support. That unit came from a customer that wants to reuse with more drives and we have found can't be set with standard netapp drives.