CR3500 Array prep

[Joey Albert]

I have a CL380 cluster with a CR3500 shared storage. I purchased an upgrade to my current 6 x 36 Gig drives (I bought 6 x 72s). I know it takes about 4 hours to build the array.

I have a spare/identical CL380 with a CR3500 shared storage server.

I do not want to take down my production server building the array for 4 hours and then another 5 hours to restore from tape (yes, it takes that long!).

My questions are:

1. Are there pitfalls for me to build the array on the spare/identical server?

2. Should I make sure that the CR3500 firmware on both is identical?

3. Once I create the array on the spare/identical server, should I copy the ARRAY configuration to a floppy and then, once I plug in the drives to the production server, restore the configuration from floppy?

I know that I should plug in the drives, when I create the array, in the exact same way in the destination/production server.

I've done this before BUT I had problems (posted earlier) on drive failures. I found out that the drives I was using were the wrong (Ultra320 72gigs) drives when it should have been the Ultra3 72gig drives (HP is sending me a swap on the drives). Assuming the Ultra3s have no problems, what are the possible problems in doing it this way?

[JohnWRuffo]

Hello again, Joey:

Let me see if I can answer your questions (and I hope I understand what you are asking):

Answer to Question 1:
Potentially, yes and no. You can build the arrays on the identical server and then "move" them to the other server after build so long as you keep the disks in the same order. The array controller should pick up the array signature without any problems. Be sure you do a gracefull shutdown of the system. You do not want any data left in the CR3500 cache prior to the move.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?locale=en_US&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=374803&prodTypeId=329290&objectID=PSD_EX000818_CW01

Answer to Question 2:
Yes. Make sure the bios is the same on both systems. I would install the latest available bios for the system as well as the array controller. (see below)

Answer to Question 3:
The array being built is a signature on the disks themselves. When you move the disks, you have the array.

ok... now the suplements (I am sure you have them, this is just FYI):

Here is the system bios (12/18/02):
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/17425.html

Here is the bios for the CR3500 RAID Controller (03/05/02):
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/13739.html

Here is the CR3500 Config Util:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/13740.html

Here is the link to the rest of the system drivers and firmware for Win2k:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/20_1125.html

[Joey Albert]

Thanks John.

Your understanding is correct and my questions were all answered by you.

Our array does not contain any bootable drives do we are safe.

Yes, I will make sure that the drives are seated in the exact same order.

Just in case, HP sent me the power supply and the interconnect board for the CR3500 shared storage cage.

In the UNLIKELY (Murphy be damned) event that the drives fail again, I go to plan C and implement/install what HP sent me above.

Stay tuned.

I'll keep you posted.

[JohnWRuffo]

I am here "waiting by the phone" for your call... Yes, damn Murphey and his law!

seriously, let me know if I can be of help.

[JohnWRuffo]

Any luck?

[Joey Albert]

You'll never believed what happened, John.

HP sent me six drives, supposedly the Ultra3s to replace the Ultra320s. The correct part is 233349-001 (Ultra3s). The wrong part (Ultra320) is 289042-001. On the box of the drives HP sent me, it did indeed say 233349-001, the correct part. I opened it up and LO AND BEHOLD, the sticker said exactly the same thing: 72.8 GB, 10,000 RPM Wide ULTRA320 (the wrong one). I checked the REPLACE WITH HP SPARES part number but it indicated the correct part (233349-001). I called HP and read them the model numbers and HP said we were sent the wrong drives again (the Ultra320s). When asked why it had the REPLACE WITH HP SPARES part number (233349-001):the correct part, I noticed the sticker was on top of another sticker. I slowly peeled the sticker and LO AND BEHOLD, the sticker underneath said REPLACE WITH HP SPARES part number 289042-001.

HP is investigating as to what went wrong in Q CONTROL.

Now, since the Ultra3s are not really available, the suggest trying to upgrade the FIRMWARE to the 2002 firmware (ours is 2000) because it states: "Enhancements
Updated the firmware to optimize the negotiation transfer parameters for certain drives." but when asked of the top engineers on what those 'certain drives' were, they did not know since the person who wrote the firmware in 2002 is no longer with HP.

So it's a crap shoot.

I am going to upgrade the firmware at 5 AM tomorrow (before anyone gets in) and try to build the array with the U320s again. Then, I'll put a load on it and hope it does not crash again.

I'll keep you posted.

[JohnWRuffo]

Joey:

I wish you the best of luck in the install and re-build.

p.s., in the back of my mind I had a feeling that they would send U320 drives. The Ultra3 are getting hard to come by. Though, you can still get them from the Spare Parts Store...

[Joey Albert]

Actually HP sent the drives directly from them (HP).

All the individual boxes say it came from
Hewlett Packard Company
Solectron, USA
4500 Commerce Crossing Drive
Dock Door #18
Louisville, KY 40229

Looks like it DID come from Spare Parts.

[Joey Albert]

By the way, John, upgrading the firmware on the CR3500 should not put my current 36 gig drives in possible peril, should it?

[JohnWRuffo]

I shouldn't think so... The system bios mostly contends with the system functions (APIC and processor updates) and fixes to O/S needs like Win2003.

Here is the link to the revision history of the bios:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/revision/2515.html
nothing I saw looks like it will change the HDD's function.