Symptom:
After a restart or power outage, the Dell PERC controller reports a “foreign configuration” — and prompts to import or clear it.
What It Means:
The controller no longer recognizes your RAID configuration as the one it previously managed. This is usually caused by:
- Controller replacement or firmware update
- Array reordering from a power spike
- Disk timing mismatch during reboot
It doesn’t always mean the array is bad — but it does mean the controller is confused about its layout.
What NOT to Do:
- Don’t clear the foreign config unless you know the array was intentionally rebuilt or replaced.
- Don’t import immediately without confirming drive order, health, and parity layout.
- Don’t remove and reinsert drives randomly — this can trigger a destructive overwrite.
What To Do Instead:
✅ Use JeannieLite to non-destructively inspect your PERC metadata layout.
✅ Check for drive mismatches, serial shifts, or BIOS changes.
✅ If the array was functional before reboot, recovery is likely — but needs a plan.
Escalate When:
- Importing the foreign config removes your volume
- RAID is now “Ready” but shows no file system
- Virtual disk status changes from “degraded” to “ready” with zero data