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Re: Proliant 850R issues

 
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Simon Greener
Occasional Advisor

Proliant 850R issues

Folks,

Can anyone point me to the links for bios upgrades etc for a Proliant 850R?

I use mine for database testing. It has 2 x Pentium Pro CPUs + 512M Ram, 3 x 4G Ultra Wide SCSI 2 drives. My view is that if I can get queries to run fast on the Proliant then they will run fast and scalably on far newer machines!

Anyway, three issues other than the bios question above:

1. I want to trial CentOS or one of the Linux Distros, I know there is a graphics card issue but I have a different card I can use. I currently run Windows 2000 Pro on the machine. I have set the bios boot order to CD,C,A but it will not boot from the Linux CD I have. I have checked that it is bootable by using it in another Compaq machine. So, any tips on this greatly welcome.

2. I have 2 x 2G UltraWide Scsi2 drives with cable but I don't know how to connect them up on the machine so that I have 5 drives. I think I have run out of slots on the motherboard. Any tips about how to do this greatly welcome as well.

3. The fan in the machine + drives are very noisy. Any tips on how to quieten the machine down?

Thanking you in advance.

regards
S
7 REPLIES 7
Daniel Leblanc
Honored Contributor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

I'll give you're answer when you apply you points,you have to question and no points applied:

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Simon Greener
Occasional Advisor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

As I understand the points assignment you have to give me your suggestions and I then assign points to them.

I cannot find any method whereby I the total number of possible points to my question before you reply. If I am wrong, please give me the URL to where I can assign points before you answer.

I will give points for all answers provided when they work as requested.

regards
Simon
Brian_Murdoch
Honored Contributor
Solution

Re: Proliant 850R issues

Hi Simon,

Never mind the points - I'm happy to help.

BIOS Upgrades and drivers for 850R running Windows 2000.....
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/20_1130.html

or for any other O/S go to http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/ and select your server model and O/S.

1) The original CD-ROM drive on the 850R was an 8-speed drive and probably showing it's age now. If you burned the CentOS disk yourself, you may have burned it at a much higher speed. Try burning at 4X and it should be read OK. Alternatively change the original drive for a more modern desktop IDE model. Set the jumper to CS (Cable Select) not Master or Slave for a Compaq server.

2) You don't say if you are using a Smart Array raid controller for the disks or just the embedded SCSI. Since the hot-plug bay has only 3 slots and is terminated within the backplane, you can't daisy-chain more drives to it unfortunately as it only has one SCSI connector at the top.
http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/showphoto?partnumber=167229-001

If you had a Smart Array 2DH or 2P, you could add external drives and make them part of the same array.

3) Sorry - The G1's don't have fan speed control through management agents like the G2's and above so you will have to live with it or place it in a cabinet which drowns out the racket.

I hope this helps.

Brian
Simon Greener
Occasional Advisor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

Brian,

A. Thanks for the BIOS link. Excellent. So much to download!

>1) Set the jumper to CS (Cable Select) not Master or Slave for a Compaq server.

This was the trick. I had a much newer IDE CD ROM in the machine. Also, I had burned the CentOS disk at 2x and, after testing on another machine, was confident it was OK. Thanks! It is now recognising the CD and booting the CentOS CD.

> 2) You don't say if you are using a Smart Array raid controller for the disks or just the embedded SCSI. Since the hot-plug bay has only 3 slots and is terminated within the backplane, you can't daisy-chain more drives to it unfortunately as it only has one SCSI connector at the top.

I am not using the Smart Array RAID controller. I have 2 additional disks (in a caddy) + the cable (with 5 connectors on it plus the terminator). Can I simply mount them via the SCSI connector at the back of the machinem, power them up via cable from the internal power supply?

>http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/showphoto?partnumber=167229-001

Doesn't look familiar.

> If you had a Smart Array 2DH or 2P, you could add external drives and make them part of the same array.

If not, where can one get a cheap, second hand Smart RAID Array 2DK or 2P container or external drive container for this old a machine?

> 3) Sorry - The G1's don't have fan speed control through management agents like the G2's and above so you will have to live with it or place it in a cabinet which drowns out the racket.

Groan. I will keep working on trying to quieten it down. What I find is that the fan at the front of the machine is mainly to blame. The volume of air going through the grill is so large that it makes quite I noise. I have even tried to get a slow speed fan to replace it but no one locally has one. I keep the machine in a very open area with lots of cool air around it.

But, thanks for all your help. You have been great!

regards
S
Brian_Murdoch
Honored Contributor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

Hi Simon,

That image I provided was for the 3-bay hot-plug backplane. If this isn't fitted (optional) I'm guessing that your hard drives are not hot-plug models, in which case you should be able to fit them internally/externally and have them all be seen by the port on the back of the server.

If you do want to go for a Smart Array controller, the Smart 2P should do. Here is one advertised on Ebay in Australia.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Compaq-Smart-Array-Channel-Wide-SCSI-Card-194754-001_W0QQitemZ160054119889QQihZ006QQcategoryZ11182QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

I have the Maintenance and Service guide for the 850R but it's too large to attach as a reply since the forum limits attachments to 1Mb. E-mail me your e-mail address to brian.murdoch@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send it on.

Regards,

Brian


Simon Greener
Occasional Advisor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

> If this isn't fitted (optional)

It is not.

> I'm guessing that your hard drives are not hot-plug models, in which case you should be able to fit them internally/externally and have them all be seen by the port on the back of the server.

Did Compaq sell an external drive-caddy (with power) for use with the external SCSI port?

> If you do want to go for a Smart Array controller, the Smart 2P should do. Here is one advertised on Ebay in Australia.

Thanks. I might just buy one. However if I do I will have to buy some drives for it. How does one know if a drive is hot-pluggable and capable of being used in just such a controller? I presume fitting the Smart 2P would mean my existing drives would have to be removed?

> I have the Maintenance and Service guide for the 850R ... . E-mail me your e-mail address to brian.murdoch@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send it on.

Done.

Thanks

Simon
Jimbo!
Occasional Advisor

Re: Proliant 850R issues

I realise this is an old thread, but just in case it's still being used. I'd be tempted to ditch that drive fan altogether, it was mounted right next to a solid piece of chasis and did absolutely nothing as a result!