PCI-Express IO backplane upgrade with P800 Raid controller

[Bob Vida]

Hi,

I'm looking to test a P800 raid controller in a rx6600 with the internal drives. I just received loaner equipment for this. They sent me 2 P800s and a PCI-Express IO backplane. I was looking for some help with where my existing pci cards would be placed as well as the P800s in the PCI-Express backplane.

Here's my current PCI-X backplance config:
slot1 - sas controller (8 internal disks)
slot2 - i/o core
slot3 - AB378B (4GB HBA)
slot4 - AB378B (4GB HBA)
slot5 - A7011A (2 port 1000base-SX gigabit)
slot6 - A7011A (2 port 1000base-SX gigabit)

Thanks for any help,
Bob

[Bob Vida]

Forgot to mention I'm running OpenVMS 8.3

[cnb · Accepted solution]

Hi Bob,

Please see this document:

http://docs.hp.com/en/5991-8644/5991-8644.pdf

-and-
Possible F/W updgrades may be required:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3257036&swItem=ux-60996-1&prodNameId=3257037&swEnvOID=54&swLang=13&taskId=135&mode=3

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3257036&swItem=ux-61652-1&prodNameId=3257037&swEnvOID=2082&swLang=13&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=1

HTH,

[cnb]

Hi Bob,

Forgot to post this quick spec link:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12596_div/12596_div.PDF

There's a section that also discusses the configuration using OpenVMS and the PCI-Express b/p.

HTH,

[rick jones]

As the aforementioned quickspecs will show (IIRC) there are no PCI-X 2.0 266 MHz I/O slots in the PCIe/PCI-X "combo" backplane on the rx6600.

In the PCIe config, slots 3 and 4 become a switched pair of x8 slots, and slots 5 and 6 become the independent high-speed slots. Ostensibly you will want to put the P800's there.

Slots 1 & 2 remain the same as before so you don't have to change anything there.

The PCI-X slots remaining will be 7-10.

[Bob Vida]

Thanks for the quick responses
1 more question.

If I wanted to replace my currecnt sas controller with the P800 I could remove the sas controller from slot1 move the other cards down a slot and install the P800 in Slot6. I would then use the cabling that was in the original sas controller on the P800. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Bob

[rick jones]

My _understanding_ is that the "core PCIe slots" in the combo backplace are slots 3 & 4. That being the case, I'm not sure the internal cables are specced to reach from slots any father - I'm assuming that 5&6 are "farther" from the disc bays but I cannot state that with certainty.

Whether it 'requires' the added oomph of slots 5 or 6 to drive the p800 to the levels you desire I cannot say.

[cnb]

Hi Bob,

I found a cabling guide for the SA controllers that _might_ help:

http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00752367/c00752367.pdf

HTH,

[Bob Vida]

Thanks for all the help.
Bob

[Bob Vida]

Closed