topic Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Rob Lloyd_1 — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 11:16:09 GMT

I have a DL 380 G3 with a Smart Array 5300 Controller and Smart Array 5i and about 120Gb of Ultra 3 disks

I also have a Compaq 3000 with a 3200 RAID controller and 2 arrays of about 10 Ultra 2 Disks each

We want to decommission the 3000 server but utilise the disks (and 3200 controller) in the DL 380

1- is the 3200 controller suitable for intalling in a DL 380

2 - can anyone suggest the best way to go about doing this project !

Cheers

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Oleg Koroz — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 11:50:10 GMT

Hi Rob
You start with Dl380 G3 and after asking DL380 G1?
... Installing in a DL 380 ...
If you use LVD Drives in 3000, that's ok you can use 3200 and Drives in DL380 G1
If Dl380 G3 I wouldn't suggest to utilize 3200 controller in it, performance reason

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

David Orwig — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 11:54:58 GMT

I imagine these drives are in an external cage. Which model is it (are they).

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Rob Lloyd_1 — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:24:02 GMT

Thanks

OK to clarify - I'm not 100% certain which G version of the DL 380 server it is - doesn't say on the front - where can u find out !

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

David Orwig — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:28:00 GMT

The original 380s were beige. The 380G2 G3 G4 are carbon (grey).

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

David Orwig — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:28:52 GMT

Look on the lower left corner if it's carbon.

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Rob Lloyd_1 — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:50:30 GMT

Blimey thats a technical way of method of model definition !

Its grey so I reckon its a G3 - i'll repeat the question now as I have a bit more info !

-----

I have a DL 380 G3 with a Smart Array 5300 Controller and Smart Array 5i and 6 x 36.4 Gb Ultra 3 SCSI internal disks

I also have a Compaq 3000 with a 3200 RAID controller and 2 arrays

- first array 10 x 18.6 Gb Ultra 2 internal disks

- second array going to some sort of Compay (no model identifiable) outboard 14x 36.4 Gb Ultra 3 SCSI

We want to decommission the 3000 server but utilise the disks (and 3200 controller if possible) in the DL 380 G3

1 - is the 3200 Raid controller suitable for putting in a DL 380 G3

2 - if not - do I need to buy an addional RAID controller for the DL 380 G3 - or will it have an existing SCSI channel on its Smart Array 5300 Controller that I can plug a big outboard into

3 - can anyone recommend an outboard unit

4 - can you mix 18.6 Gb Ultra 2 and 36.4 Gb Ultra 3 SCSI in the same outboard unit

Any suggestions welcome !

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

David Orwig — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 13:06:37 GMT

Rob you can mix drives in an external cage but unless you have what they call a dual backplane (with a two channel controller) then the bus will run at the lower spec.

You can most likely connect your external cage to your 5300, check to see how many channles it is. Look on the external connections and see if you have two or four connectors. Make sure the cable is the right type for the controller.

The stuff you have is kind of old to be putting into production (old like in dog years) but I do some stuff like that for my test lab.

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Oleg Koroz — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:01:31 GMT

Use only with DL380 G3 14x 36.4 Gb Ultra 3 SCSI
U2 Drives you can use, however they will downgrade your BUS to U2 all drive with U3 will be downshifted to U2 speed.
5300 / 128 (256) controller recommended

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Rob Lloyd_1 — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 05:25:53 GMT

Thanks for that

Ok Iâ ve checked the back of the DL 380 G3 server and there are 2 free SCSI ports on an internal card showing â and also one built in internal SCSI port that says VHDCI (not sure what that is)

These SCSI ports are small so I guess they are SCSI 3 ??

But the ones on the external cage I want to attach to the server is bigger size port â maybe thatâ s SCSI 2 â so I guess Iâ ll need a converter to attach them together

Reading the documentation of the 5300 controller it says a max of 14 drives per channel - which brings me to the next question about my DL 380 G3

It has a Smart Array 5300 Controller and Smart Array 5i and 6 x 36.4 Gb Ultra 3 SCSI internal disks

- What is the difference between the Smart Array 5300 Controller and Smart Array 5 ?

- the existing internal 6 disks are presumably using up one channel of the Smart Array 5300 Controller â so does that mean I can only use one of the 2 free SCSI ports at the

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Oleg Koroz — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:16:56 GMT

DL 380 G3 standard Model:
Build in 5I Smart Array Controller Dual channel
Port B connected to SCSI Backplane, Port A can be used if SCSI backplane divided by Duplex Internally or as External

With Additional SCSI Array Controller 5300
You have from 5300 either two Internal or Two External Ports

Design of DL380 G3 allow you to use only one Internal SCSI Port from 530X if SCSI Backplane Divided
Or
Both external from 5302 and four with 5304

5300 has more benefits larger size for cache accelerator, PCI card use own bus, ADG, Expansion â ¦

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

David Orwig — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:29:49 GMT

Rob, the 5300 is a add on PCI array adapter, the 5i is integrated on the system board.

The 'built in internal SCSI port that says VHDCI' is a connection to the 5i.

The DL380G3s have the ability to split the SCSI backplane and then attach one channel to the first two drives and the second channel to the remaining four drives. They come from the factory in the simplex backplane mode and in the shipping box there is a terminator to replace the jumper on the back of the scsi backplane. Look on the inside of the server and see if there's a short (3inch) 68 pin SCSI jumper in the center of the backplane (simplex mode). The terminator (sp#289563-001) clips on the backplane onto J3 in place of the jumper to enable the duplex mode.

Watch your system boot and see which controller the drives are attached to. Then you can determine which port to plug the external drive cage to. The hard part may be in locating the proper cable.

The VHDCI (very high density cable interconnect)cables can also support U320 so the size of the connector is not as important as what it connects to (on both ends).

Re: Compatible RAID ARRAY Controllers

Rob Lloyd_1 — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:29:10 GMT

Thanks guys very useful

won't add to this topic here as getting too long - if I have any short questions will re post