Creating SCSI Raid on ML350 G3 Server

[Jaime Solorzano_1]

Hello,

I need to create RAID-5 but I don't know how to do it.
When I enter to Adaptec SCSI Bios Utility pressing Ctrl-A I don't see some Container/Raid option to create RAIDs.
I just see 2 options:
- Configure/View SCSI Controller Settings
- SCSI Disk Utilities

I have reviewed HP manuals (Setup and Installation Guide / Maintenance and Service Guide) at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual〈=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179911&taskId=115&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316537#2
but I didn't find something to do RAIDs.

Any response will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jaime

[Igor Karasik]

Jaime,
Do you have SmartArray controller on this server?
If you don't have - you only can create software RAID (not recommended) from OS.
If you have SmartArray controller you need to use Array configuration utilitity (ACU) from SmartStart CD (and not Adaptec SCSI Bios Utility ).

[Jaime Solorzano_1]

Igor,

How can I detect if server have SmartArray Controller?

Does HP have some tool-utility to detect all devices attached to server?

For now I'm downloading SmartStart 7.4 CD.

I`m attaching screen shot of SCSI devices recognized from Windows 2K OS.

Thanks again,
Jaime

[Igor Karasik]

If you have SmartArray controller you will have message something like "SmartArray initialization..." during POST process.
HP have HP Insight Diagnostics Online utility to detect all system devices.
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/22903.html
(you can run it from SmartStart CD as well)
I suggest you install all Proliant support pack (if you don't install it yet)
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/23836.html
P.S. if you already have OS installed you probably don't need SmartStart CD....

[Jaime Solorzano_1]

Well.

I think server have not SmartArray.
Please review below info to confirm that.

I have restarted from SmartStar CD and below are the devices:
0: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge
1: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge
2: ServerWorks CNB20-HE Host Bridge
3: Davicom Ethernet 100/10 MBit
4: 64-bit-66 MHz-Dual-Channel-Wide Ultra3 SCSI Host Bus Adapter
5: 64-bit-66 MHz-Dual-Channel-Wide Ultra3 SCSI Host Bus Adapter
6: ATI Rage XL Video Controller
7: NC7760 Gigabit Server Adapter
8: Advanced System Management Controller
9: ServerWorks CSB5 South Bridge
10: Embedded ATA Controller
11: ServerWorks OSB4/CSB5 OHCI USB Controller
12: ServerWorks GCLE Host Bridge
13: Adaptec AIC_7892A U160/m

When I launchs to ACU I get:
ACU did not detect any supported controllers in your system.

With above info is enough to say have or not have SmartArray?

Thanks again,
Jaime

[Igor Karasik]

Yes, based on your last post I think your ML350 server doesn't have SmartArray controller.
ML servers don't have SmartArray controller in default configuration (of course you can buy and install SmartArray controller in any ML server), DL servers have integrated SmartArray in default configuration.

[Shameer.V.A]

Hi Jaime,
In Adaptec, after pressing Ctrl+A, you will get the menu for configure/view & scsi disk utilities.

SCSI Disk Utility, you can do disk utilities like formatting.

other menu you can view /configure the array.

1) Once you selected it will prompt a menu for create/ view/manage the array.

2) If you are doing fresh array, you have to select create array

3) it will give option to choose the disk.

4) select the array type ( RAID0,1 or 5), RAID 1 will be enabled if you select atleast two drives & 5 if you select atleast 3 disks.

5) select stripe size (default 64K)

6) Write Policy ( Write back / Write through)

7) Read Ahead ( Enabled/Disabled)

8) Init mode - quick init/rebuild


Regards,

Shameer

[Jaime Solorzano_1]

Reviewing parts number of ML350 G3 333373-001 server at http://h20141.www2.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Product.asp?mscssid=G7JL01FWFM849JUMR9ELMUN7N3SU9LUB&Smethod=0&SearchCriteria=333373-001 I found Smart Array 5300 series with p/n 171383-001 (http://h30125.www3.hp.com/csnOther/SPICatalog/photos/171383-001.jpg or see attachment).

Is this SmartArray recommended to do RAIDs on this server? or should we purchase other (wich one)?

Thanks again,
Jaime

[Igor Karasik]

Jaime,
I think SmartArray 5300 (p/n 171383-001) not suitable for ML350 G3. I think your link is for ML350 G2.
See this link
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c00400156#N10654
for list of SmartArray controllers for ML350 G3.
Controller recommendation depends on many factors, but for basic configuration Smart Array 532 Controller (low price) will be enough for you. This controller have 32 Mb of cache memory without battery backed cache. Smart Array 5312 Controller (high price) have 128 MB battery-backed write cache.

[Basil Vizgin]

The most powerfull controller is Smart Array 6402 (Ultra320). It can be deployed with up to 512MB of cache memory (with 512 MB Battery-Backed Cache Upgrade 372538-B21).