topic How to identify Universal U320 drives in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:27:22 GMT

I have a DL360 G4P server that says to only use "HP branded universal U320, hot-pluggable drives". Well, this unit had all the drives pulled and placed in a large pile of spare drives. I'm trying to re-use this server but so far no drives are being detected so I'm thinking those drives have been used in another server. Is there a quick way to tell by the label or other method, if drive X is a "universal U320"? So far I haven't seen anything on the label or drive tray to indicate this.

Bill

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

cnb — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:32:02 GMT

Bill,

Supported drive models can be found here:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12166_div/12166_div.HTML

Look on the drive label for the model numbers:

HP 300GB U320 10K Universal HDD 350964-B22
HP 146GB U320 10K Universal HDD 286716-B22
HP 72GB U320 10K Universal HDD 286714-B22
HP 300GB U320 15K Universal HDD 411089-B22
HP 146GB U320 15K Universal HDD 347708-B22
HP 72GB U320 15K Universal HDD 286778-B22
HP 36GB U320 15K Universal HDD 286776-B22

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/drives-enclosures/hotplug-ultra3/index.html

HTH,

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:09:01 GMT

You can tell from the label
Read these q&a's
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/drives-enclosures/hotplug-ultra3/questionsanswers.html

The reason, why you must use U320 drives for the DL360G4, is that they have moved the CD/DVD and the floppy drive, to be above the Hard drives. That require the hard drive to be thinner.
And the U320 drives is thinner than the U3 and U2 drives.

The universal drives is certified for use on Alpha's and Proliants.
Non-Universal is for Proliants only.
Question is, if U320 come in Universal only?

cheers
/jag

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:26:45 GMT

Are those model numbers "HP Model" numbers or "HP Spare" numbers? I'm looking at several HP branded drives and I don't see similar numbers. On the underside of the carrier, I see a single label that states, "Replace with Spare 72gb, U320, 10K, HP, Drive/Carrier [289042-001]". Then there is a barcode with another number, 289099-002. All the numbers on the large label directly on the drive are vastly different and appear to be standard HD "numbers".

Bill

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:47:30 GMT

Yes Compaq / HP operates with 3 part numbers.

An assembly p/n, used in manufactoring.
An option p/n, used for sale
A spare p/n, used for repair.
The spare p/n used to be on the bottom, as you have found, later it was printed on the fron label
spare p/n 289042-001 is used for the DL360G4p

When you got a spare p/n you can use part surfer, to find on wich models that p/n is used.

I will claim, that if the front label say U320, then it's a go.

cheers
/jag

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

David Claypool — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:54:48 GMT

See the attached image. It should state the interface (Ultra2, Ultra3, Ultra320) on the front directly below the capacity.

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:23:56 GMT

Hmmm..I have x2 72GB U320 drives (289042-001) and when the array fires up it doesnt' see any physical disks attached. Smart Start 8 doesn't see anything either. I have checked BIOS to make sure that the controller is set and it just won't recognize anything. All diagnostic & test tools from the SmartStart cd test out just fine.

Bill

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:17:41 GMT

Have You hit F8, when promptet by the Smart Arry?
Or have you opened the ACU from the Smart Start?

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:08:54 GMT

I've tried both ways...neither one recognizes that any physical drives are attached.

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:41:43 GMT

hmmm. i think you have got a HW failure, or you haven't fully seated the drives.

Does the LED's light? then they should be seated.

Check the Hard drive backplane, If it's fully seated (The vertical backplane).

If everything is correctly seated you will see the disk's physically in the ORCA (F8) or the ACU, even defective drives.

Are you sure it's not a SATA model?
I don't know if it would be possible to insert a SCSI drive then.

Cheers
/jag

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:50:36 GMT

I just don't think these are the correct drives for that server. I just popped them into a DL380 server and it recognized them right away. I just don't think those are the "universal" drives. I'm going to scrounge around and see if I can find the original drives for that server or maybe order a couple in that are labeled the "universal".

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:31:04 GMT

It's not a big deal if it's a universal drive or non universal, it's a matter of "certifcation"

Universal isn't printet on the label.
But the universal drives got a blue stripe, on the middel of the label, see question 8, in the faq I linked to earlier.
The non-universal don't got a stripe.

cheers
/jag

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

BillClark22 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:07:40 GMT

Isn't the universal designator what the whole certification is all about? I have 12 drives that have the blue strip..not a single one is recognized. They are all labeled 72GB, 10k, Ultra320 SCSI on the front tab, with a blue stripe. I've checked internal connectors and cables and the diagnostics don't report anything wrong. I've loaded the lastest BIOS and it doesn't help.

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

Oleg VB — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:04:01 GMT

Have the same issue here...
HP ProLiant DL360 G4 and trying to use 36.4GB 15K Ultra320 hard drives (have about 6 of them here) and server refuses to recognize them at all...
Server part #354571-001
Drive part #306641-002

I guess these drives are not all that universal :-(

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

Dmitry_75 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:45:19 GMT

Hi! There is old problem with DL360 SCSI models. Remove hard drives,access panel, and reseat scsi backplane in MB socket. Good luck.

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

Oleg VB — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:16:51 GMT

Yup I already figured it out. I did just that last night -- removed and reinserted the backplane SCSI connector board, and it worked fine after that. Thanks for the tip Dmitry, it was very helpful.

Oleg.

Re: How to identify Universal U320 drives

gregersenj — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:13:21 GMT

Yes, the old backplane problem. I didn't know that the G4 also got that weakness.
Odd, on the G1 it was secured with a brackett.

But as I have been trying to explain, Don't focus on Universal or not. Correct carrier and it will work.

Only on the Dl360 you must obay the U320 rule. (On models with FDD / CD / DVD above the HDD's)