How to check the performance of the RAID controller?

Question

Iron

This morning it was discovered that one of the VMware ESXi servers disconnected from the vCenter host (not responding). Connect does not help, I go into it and see that it cannot boot:
non system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready


Bios

Bios

HP Smart Array Configuration Utility

HP Proliant dl380 G7. System BIOS - P67 (05/05/2011) - the dates somehow coincide strangely, don't you think?
To the question of what was done with it - the day before they changed the settings in vCenter Server (changed the NIC in the load balancing of network interfaces)
How to check the controller for operability?
Is the raid data stored in the BIOS or in the controller itself? what happens if we take it from another server (to save data) for a while?

Answer 1

On most modern raids (and HP is no exception), the raid data is stored first of all on the disk, and only then (in your case it is) inside the controller's memory.
So replacing the controller will not overwrite the data (but of course the world backup day was invented for a reason) - the main thing is to do everything right.
And with this - turn off the disks, reboot the serv, if the BIOS does not see it (and judging by the last screen, it is), then guarantee it.