Turning on the (undocumented?) SATA port on a ML350 G5 mother board

[Raoul Ross]

Topic says it all... I'd like to hook up a removable HDD for back-up purposes but I cannot find anywhere how to turn it on (nothing in the BIOS). It's a stand-alone port (silk-screened as SATA on the board itself)

HP tech supports left me hanging on the phone for 30 minutes and never called me back.

[Richard Torgeson · Accepted solution]

I think what you are looking at is the sata optical connector
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00709040/c00709040.pdf?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
#12

this is the hp notice for the 350

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01277123&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
hope this helps, just be carefull this doesnt change the boot sequence

[Raoul Ross]

Thanx, this answered my question!

[Raoul Ross]

Well you called it, I cannot boot now that I've installed a SATA card and the removable HDD. If I remove the drive connector it shows the card and will boot. If I leave the drive connected it won't.

I can't find in the BIOS setup where to change the boot sequence (except for IDE/Floppy/USB/CD-ROM) Do I need to get into the Array controller and change something?

[Richard Torgeson]

sorry to here that, first check to see if you have the current rom, there are a few important fixes. then boot priority is sata over ide if bootable meidia is detected on sata, looking into the bios settings to bypass this will let you know


Version: 2008.01.24 (A) (30 Jan 2008)

[Raoul Ross]

Hey Richard, thanx for replying so soon...

It's using the Onboard SATA Array to boot, but that option doesn't show up in the BIOS.... only IDE/Floppy/USB/CD-ROM (Optical I assume) That's why I asked about going into the Array setup to see if there's anything in there.

I'll re-boot it tonite and get the BIOS version and then look in the array controller and let you know what I find tomorrow.

[Jonathan Rengifo]

Hi,

I think I am facing the same problem, I am trying to plug a standard SATA disk (Western Digital 400GB) on the undocumented SATA port, but my server (HP Proliant ML350 G5) does not detect it. I even changed the boot sequence and nothing happened.

Can you please help me too?

Thanks and best regards,
Jonathan

[Raoul Ross]

Hey Jonathan, read the links that Richard posted... that port supports an Optical Drive only.