StorageWork Enclosure Cabling

[James D. Stallard]

I have a dual bus disk shelf enclosure, not sure which one (how do I tell?). I would like to create a single array of all 14 disks and manage them using hardware RAID.

At the moment I have two cables connecting the enclosure to a pair of Smart 2/p controllers. Is it possible to connect one controller to both buses on the enclosure and if so what is the cable I need to do it?
Thanks
JamesDS

[JohnWRuffo · Accepted solution]

James:

You should not daisy chain the two channels of the enclosure. They are each terminated internally. What you should do is purchase a SmartArray Controller that has two external channels.

Smart Array 3200 Controller:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10262_na/10262_na.HTML

Smart Array 4200 Controller:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10368_na/10368_na.HTML

...or current model controller depending on what system you are going to install the card in?
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/arraycontrollers/index.html

[James D. Stallard]

John

Thanks for the reply. Can you recommed an upgrade for the Smart 2/p that will enable me to create a single hardware RAID set and fit into an old dual processor 933Mhz ML370?
Cheers

JamesDS

[Steven Clementi]

You definitely would not want to daisy chain the 2 buses...

It sounds to me like you have a 4354R or similar. WHat color is it? WHats the serial number? Model number? YOu can take that info and look up the device on HP's site and they should be able to tell you exactly what it is.

It also sounds to me like you have 2 options...

1. Swap out the dual bus card on the shelf for a single bus card. (if it is a 4354R(dual bus), you can make it a 4314R(sinbgle bus)). Contact Hp for the replacement part/upgrade part.

2. Swap your 2 Smart 2/p's for a single card with 2 bus's. You can create an array across buses on the same card, not different cards.

Now, I can't quickly and easily find any detailed specso n the Smart 2/p otherwise I would say more. But it sounds like a single bus card. Or, it may be a dual card with only one external bus and one internal bus. If so, you can propbably find an adaptor to extend the internal bus to an expansion slot of scsi slot already built into the server.


Steven

[JohnWRuffo]

James:

Depending on your budget, you can install just about any controller in the ML370 series. If it were me, and the server was not going to run too much more than a small app or file/print server, I would use a Smart Array 532 or the 5i add on controller.

If you have bigger plans for the server, you could look at the 5300 series controller. It will have a greater cache.

[James D. Stallard]

John/Steven

Thanks for your help so far.

As to the shelf it isn't marked up with anything other than on the front 8A04CZJ1J031. It has a dual bus controller in the back on the right and a connector on the left for RG45, which I assume to be the monitoring port. There are two PSUs in the back but only one actually has a power connector.

I am told that the shelf has been upgraded from standard to take the dual bus controller, but other than that I know nothing about it.

I have found a 5302 controller for sale, which seems to provide the secondary bus I need and I am hoping will git in the server.

Picture of the Shelf and Server is attached.

Any last thoughts, before I commit?
Cheers

James

[Steven Clementi]

Looks like a 4254R.

Steven

[Uwe Zessin]

To me it looks like a M4214R or M4314R where the single-bus I/O module was swapped against a dual-bus one. An M4x54R comes with two power supplies, but it looks like this one has only one PS.

The green LED on the left fan is lit, too. It won't do it when there is a real power supply that does not get fed.

[Steven Clementi]

Looks like I jumped into the street without looking.

Uwe is right, AND I forgot you mentioned that the shelf was originally single bus.

Indeed it does look like a 4214R as it only has one power supply.


Steven

[James D. Stallard]

Thanks all for the shelf identification!

Any thoughts on the proposed Smart Array Controller 5302 as the way forward?

I am looking to drive both busses on on the shelf as a single array of all 14 disks and need it to work with the old ML370 shown in the piccy.

Cheers

JamesDS

[Steven Clementi]

I don't recal if the 5302 has 2 external adaptors. If it does, you shold have no problems using it with a dual bus shelf nor with the creation of a 14 disk array.

The Smart Array supports cross bus utilization of disks in a single (or multiple) array(s).

Steven

[James D. Stallard]

Thanks all, appreciated.

Cheers

JamesDS

[JohnWRuffo]

The 5302 has two external "or" two internal SCSI ports so it would be a great controller to run the StorageWorks Enclosure.