Old Compaq 6400R Questions...

[il_ferra]

Hello,
it's 2 days that i'm a Proliant 6400R owner, i'm student and i would use it for some research (yes it's an old machine but i don't care).

It's equipped with:
4x 550MHx Xeon processors
2.3GB RAM
standard SCSI U3 controller (no additional smart array cards)
2x 18Gb HDDs
100Mb NIC (NC3123)

Questions:
-Is it possible to use HDDs bigger than 36GB?
-Do i need a software to use the PCI HotPlug feature or it's enough to push the appropriate button to switch the slot off?

Thanks in advance

[il_ferra]

Sorry, duplicate post...

[KarloChacon]

hi

I'm student too so let me see If I can help you

1. there is no bigger HDDs that 36 supported according to HP

http://h18003.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10047_div/10047_div.html#Options
so let me see tomorrow if I can found any 72 compatible that would up to you try those

2. check this link

Features such as push button PCI Hot Plug
5 - 64 bit PCI Hot Plug Slots with push-button functionality

page 52

http://urlao.com/6400R


regards

[KarloChacon]

hi

unless you install another controller or the U320 72 HDDs work on your U3 SCSI card...

so if you want to give a try

regards

[KarloChacon]

hi again


check the attached file .txt

regards

[il_ferra]

Many thanks Karlo,
you helped me much. I needed that manual. Apoligize my english can you explain me better the thing about 72Gb hdds?
Will (should) 'em works or not? (sorry)

i don't have any 72GB SCSI hdd to test with so i have to buy them and they are not as cheap as SATA 500GB one's

Can you confirm that the standard controller IS NOT an array controller?
Do you know which release of SmartStart should i search for to restore my utility partition? (i got my server with blank disks)

Thanks again!

[KarloChacon · Accepted solution]

hi il_ferra

"can you explain me better the thing about 72Gb hdds? Will (should) 'em works or not? (sorry)
i don't have any 72GB SCSI hdd to test with so i have to buy them and they are not as cheap as SATA 500GB one's"

because you know that is old server I don't think even because 500 SATA HDDs are cheaper you could install a SAS or SATA controller to support those 500 GB HDD.

What I meant with 72 U320 is because you have this controller Integrated Dual Channel Wide-Ultra SCSI-3 Adapter according to spec from the server as far as I knoe u320 is backward compatible with U3 so it should work

"Can you confirm that the standard controller IS NOT an array controller?"

that controller is not a smart array. what you can do is check if the previous owner of that server added any PCI card (like smart array)

Do you know which release of SmartStart
should i search for to restore my utility partition? (i got my server with blank disks)

the smartstart would 5.5
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&mode=3&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-UNITY-I22678

but I'm afraid if you server does not have any smart array you wont be able to use it

to be sure if your server has smart array controller you have pay attention during POST when the server recognize controllers or open the box

regards

[il_ferra]

Thanks your info are very useful to me!
Thanks again