Upgrading of Netserver LH 3r

[JJ_5]

Hi,

My company is thinking of upgrading our server. The server's model is HP Netserver LH 3r with a single Pentium II 500MHz processor. We would like to upgrade to dual-processor.

My question is :-

1. What is the highest CPU processor can this server accommodate ?
2. We still want WinNT 4.0 to be the OS. We can't afford to reinstall WinNT OS. How can we obtain a patch for the OS in order to support dual-CPU without reinstallation of the entire OS ?
3. Do we need additional cooling unit for the new CPU ?

Thanks for any assistance.

[Marco Hogeveen]

JJ,

The fastest CPU supported in a netserver LH3(r) is a Pentium-III 600MHz 512kb Cache.
HP used to sell a CPU-upgrade kit D9342A, but it??s no longer sold.
If you plan to purchase the CPU elsewhere, don??t forget to buy an additional VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) to support the second CPU.
Also be sure to use the latest BIOS on the netserver for support of the 600 MHz CPU, you can download it from http://www.hp.com/cposupport/servers/software/lh3bios_us.exe.html
The performance gain, when upgrading from 500 to 600 MHz is not very much I think.

There??s a tool UpToMp available at the WIndows NT Resourcekit that assists you in upgrading the HAL from Uniprocessor to multiprocessor.
Read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q124541 & http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q126608 & http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q142660 & http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q197896 for more info.

There is a possibility that the server is already running a multiprocessor HAL.
You can check this by running WINMSD and check the system properties.
Look for UniProcessor or Multiprocessor HAL.

If the new CPU??s are equipped with a Heatsink then no additional cooling equipment is required.

Hope this helps.

Marco.

[JJ_5]

Thanks Marco,

Really appreciate your help.

I've checked the system config using winmsd. Under the System folder, it shows HAL: UP MPS 1.4 - APIC platform. Does it mean that my server is not running in multi-processor mode yet ? Also, which HAL should I use? Should I use halapic.dll (MPS Uniprocessor PC) or halmps.dll (MPS Multiprocessor PC)?

Thanks again.

[Chris Blumenshine]

MPS Multiprocessor PC is the proper hal to use on this server.

[JJ_5]

I found out that my NetServer is still under warranty. So, I called the HP Support Line to ask their expert opinion in this. The engineer who were assigned to my call said that HP does not have the part anymore. When I mentioned that if HP does not provide this part anymore, I would like to purchase it from the "open" market. The engineer advised me not to do so as he could not gurantee that the part will work with the server. He also mentioned that I need to buy a Voltage Regulator that comes along with the CPU supplied with the server. In my opinion, if this CPU is a genuine Intel Processor, definitely the same one obtained elseway will work the same way. And about this Voltage Regulator, can this be obtained in the market? Which type or model?

We really need to update this server. It is where our business database is stored. Data is building up and it has slowed down the processing.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Marco Hogeveen]

You can buy the VRM at HP as a sparepart.
The partnumber is 0950-2848.

[JJ_5]

I bought 2 CPUs - PIII 550MHz with 512KB cache and 100MHz Bus. I am thinking of upgrading my Netserver to be able to run dual-processor. I am planning to use 'uptomp.exe' to accomplish this. However, I could not find 2 perfectly identical CPUs. Both of them are Pentium III, 512KB cache and 100MHz Bus. But, the 'steppings' and other stuffs are different. I know because I run the Intel identification utility. Is this going to be perfectly OK. I hope it will not freeze my WinNT 4.0 and unstabilize it.

Anyone has any comments? Thanks.

[Marco Hogeveen]

JJ,

To check if you can mis this processors, take a look at ftp://download.intel.com/design/PentiumIII/specupdt/24445337.pdf
On page 15 (PDF) is a matrix which shows what processors you can mix.

If you're using UptoMP, then don't forget to carefully read the URL's i've attached before, otherwise you will end up in tears...

Good luck,

Marco.

[Martin Meszaros]

I Highly recommend you do this manually.

the instructions how to do it manually are here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q156358

Read it very carefully. Only replace files from the service pack you are sing and not from the cd rom, make sure to modify your setup.log as per the article etc.

An easier way than this article says is actually to boot with a windows 2000 CD and use recovery console to modify the files in question. (WIn2k recovery console works fine on NT 4)

I recommend makign a folder c:\winnt\mpfiles and dump your SMP files in there while the OS is running, then you will not have a problem navigating there with recovery console once you go offline and arwe ready to rename and replace files.
Good luck!