SOLVED Cannot create volume - gpart: Invalid argument

[meltman]

I'm really struggling here. I have some SAS drives that came from a netapp box. I'm unable to get them to create a volume due to "invalid argument" error.

Any ideas? I've hit them with dd to zero them out but am really struggling.

Code:

Environment:

Software Version: FreeNAS-11.1-U4 (89e3d93bc)
Request Method: POST
Request URL: http://172.25.1.25/storage/volumemanager-zfs/


Traceback:
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/exception.py" in inner
  42.			 response = get_response(request)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/base.py" in _legacy_get_response
  249.			 response = self._get_response(request)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/core/handlers/base.py" in _get_response
  178.			 response = middleware_method(request, callback, callback_args, callback_kwargs)
File "./freenasUI/freeadmin/middleware.py" in process_view
  162.		 return login_required(view_func)(request, *view_args, **view_kwargs)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/contrib/auth/decorators.py" in _wrapped_view
  23.				 return view_func(request, *args, **kwargs)
File "./freenasUI/storage/views.py" in volumemanager_zfs
  268.			 form.done(request, events)
File "./freenasUI/storage/forms.py" in done
  724.				 notifier().create_volume(volume, groups=grouped, init_rand=init_rand)
File "./freenasUI/middleware/notifier.py" in create_volume
  752.			 vdevs = self.__prepare_zfs_vdev(vgrp['disks'], vdev_swapsize, encrypt, volume)
File "./freenasUI/middleware/notifier.py" in __prepare_zfs_vdev
  687.								  swapsize=swapsize)
File "./freenasUI/middleware/notifier.py" in __gpt_labeldisk
  359.				 raise MiddlewareError(f'Unable to GPT format the disk "{devname}": {error}')

Exception Type: MiddlewareError at /storage/volumemanager-zfs/
Exception Value: [MiddlewareError: Unable to GPT format the disk "da11": gpart: Invalid argument
]

 

[Stux]

I’ve seen around the net that NetApp disks use unusual sector sizes. Iirc 520 byte sectors instead of 512 byte sectors.

I suggest searching the servethehome forums to find info on resetting (if possible) the sector sizes to the standard 512 and see if that helps.

 

[meltman]

I figured it out.
Each drive had "Formatted with type 2 protection." listed in smartctl.

Fixed by sg_format --format --size=512 --fmtpinfo=0 /dev/da17

Thanks for the idea Stux - you were bang on.