CPQACUXE -reset utility (within WinPE)

[blockhead]

I need to overwrite any existing array configuration on my system using the cpqacuxe.exe utility so that I can then lay down a new configuration, all while booted up in a WinPE environment. When I run "cpqacuxe.exe -i" against an existing configured server it will not overwrite it with the new config file. If I run "cpqacuxe -reset" it does not actually reset the controller.

Am I missing a swtch of some sort? Is there anyway to delete the config on the controller so that I can sned a new config down?

thanks in advance.

[Neal Bowman]

You need to modify the captured ini file. Change the word "Configure" to "Reconfigure" to allow it to over-write an existing configuration. Otherwise, you can only create an array from a blank array setup.

Hope this helps,

Neal

[blockhead]

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately that didn't work either. Below is a copy of .ini file. If the "reconfigure" won't work isn't there another utility I can call out to remove the array config from within WinPE? Also, what's the purpose of running "cpqacuxe.exe -reset"?

; Date captured: Thu Feb 08 16:47:00 2007
; Version: 7.70.12.0

Action= Reconfigure
Method= Custom

; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array 5i
Controller= Slot 0
ReadCache= 100
WriteCache= 0
RebuildPriority= Low
ExpandPriority= Low
SurfaceScanDelay= 15

; Array Specifications
Array= A
; Array Drive Type is Parallel SCSI
; 2:0 (18.2 GB),2:1 (18.2 GB)
Drive= 2:0,2:1
OnlineSpare= No

; Logical Drive Specifications
LogicalDrive= 1
RAID= 1
Size= 17350
Sectors= 32
StripeSize= 128
ArrayAccelerator= Enabled

[Neal Bowman]

blockhead-

Create a new ini file, named clearcfg.ini, with the following lines:

Action= Reconfigure
Method= Custom

Controller= Slot 0
ClearConfigurationWithDataLoss= Yes

You can then run cpqacuxe -i clearcfg.ini, followed by cpqacuxe -i yourfile.ini to set the new config.

Neal

[blockhead]

That indeed clears out the drives (got to make sure to change the slot # of controller before it will work). But I still can't overlay the new config. What I'm doing to test is to run the clearconfig as you instructed, then I run a capture to see that it actually cleared it (see below for results of the new .ini). Then I run the previously captured config file and it fails to overwrite and create the new volume.

; Date captured: Thu Feb 08 15:26:24 2007
; Version: 7.70.12.0

Action= Configure
Method= Custom

; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array P400
Controller= Slot 9
ReadCache= 50
WriteCache= 50
RebuildPriority= Medium
ExpandPriority= Medium
SurfaceScanDelay= 15
; Unassigned SAS Drives
; 1I:1:2 (36 GB),1I:1:1 (36 GB)

[blockhead]

According to this link: http://docs.hp.com/en/5991-6250/ch05s02.html

It tells me to do this:

Input with reset: CPQACUXE -i-with-reset FILENAME [-internal | -external] [reset] -E FILENAME

I've tried this six ways to sundown and it don't seem to work as advertised.

[Neal Bowman]

In reading through the link you sent, I believe the correct syntax should be:

cpqacuxe -i-with-reset yourfile.ini

In reviewing your post with the results from the capture, the file indicates you are now working with SAS drives and a P400 controller. You will need two config files to make this work, as SAS drives require a different drive= syntax than regular SCSI drives.

Confirm the version of cpqacuxe you are using, as it may not be new enough to work with the P400 controller.

Create SCSI.ini as follows:

; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array 5i
Controller= Slot 0
ReadCache= 100
WriteCache= 0
RebuildPriority= Low
ExpandPriority= Low
SurfaceScanDelay= 15

; Array Specifications
Array= A
; Array Drive Type is Parallel SCSI
; 2:0 (18.2 GB),2:1 (18.2 GB)
Drive= 2:0,2:1
OnlineSpare= No

; Logical Drive Specifications
LogicalDrive= 1
RAID= 1
; Set your logical drive size below, or
; use MAX to use all available space
Size= 17350
Sectors= 32
StripeSize= 128
ArrayAccelerator= Enabled


To configure a server with SAS drives, use the following for SAS.ini:

; Controller Specifications
; Controller HP Smart Array P400
Controller= Slot 9
ReadCache= 50
WriteCache= 50
RebuildPriority= Medium
ExpandPriority= Medium
SurfaceScanDelay= 15

; Array Specifications
Array= A
; Array Drive Type is SAS
; 1I:1:2 (36 GB),1I:1:1 (36 GB)
Drive= 1I:1:1,1I:1:2
OnlineSpare= No

; Logical Drive Specifications
LogicalDrive= 1
RAID= 1
; Set your logical drive size below, or
; use MAX to use all available space
Size= MAX
Sectors= 32
StripeSize= 128
ArrayAccelerator= Enabled


Now you should be able to run cpqacuxe -i-with-reset SCSI.ini or cpqacuxe -i-with-reset SAS.ini.

You should also find error.ini in the same folder this file is run from.

[blockhead]

I'm using the one off the smartstart 1.6 toolkit, version 7.70.12.0...I believe it to be the latest available.

I'm not sure I agree about the SAS drive thing. The utility works fine if the controller has never been configured. It just refuses to work with a controller that's already been configured. I'm using a capture file taken from a P400 and laying it right back down on a P400 after trying to clear the config.

I have also tried using the -i-with-reset command with no success.

[Neal Bowman]

In doing the copy & paste between screens, it seems as if I left out two lines from each of the ini files I provided earlier. Sorry about that. Please add to the beginning of each file:

Action= Reconfigure
Method= Custom

I did a test with my WinPE disk here, and I was able to clear a config, then push a new config out to the controller. I did have to perform a reboot before DISKPART would recognize the logical drive the array was presenting. I used the Size= MAX parameter in the new config, and it did take it. I am doing this on a DL360G2, as I do not have ready access to a server with SAS drives and controllers.

Neal

[Neal Bowman]

By the way, do you find error.ini? Can you post the results?