RA4000 storage array and windows 2003

[CA1216363]

Hi ,
Someboby may help me with a document where I can find out the supported fiber channel adapter for that a proliant DL360 G2 can support Windows 2003 attached to and old RA4000 storage array?

Thank you W.S

[Uwe Zessin]

Windows 2003 is not supported on the RA4000 and RA4100 storage arrays, sorry.

[CA1310051 · Accepted solution]

I recently hooked up Compaq RA4000/4100 RAID to my Windows 2003 Server machine. The machine is generic (i.e. not Compaq) based on SuperMicro X5DA8 (i.e. dual P4 Xeon server).

I found a used PCI Fiber Channel Host Bus Adapter card - search 'Compaq 176804' on Google - (i.e. its a 176804-002 and apparently there also an HP equivalent 'DS-KGPSA-CY') and bought a paired SC to SC Fibre cable. I'm not saying this is the only PCI card that will work - its just the one I tried and it was only $80 + shipping.

Windows 2003 has Emulex driver (for PCI card) that it auto-installed and it 'fired right up' and I was able to use Disk manager to convert the the RAID's volumne to a regular windows drive letter.

Since then I've spent about 12hours looking for software configuration utility and the only one I've found so far that works is HP Array Config (COMMAND LINE VERSION) at rev 7.31.1.0. The GUI ones say that they do NOT support the Emulex driver (of PCI card).

I could use help on GUI RAID configuration software!

[CA1216363]

Hi I am sending a link of the card ,

May you gave me more detail about your problem.

I remember that some year ago I can not install the ACU to manage the controller using an IBM equiptment so I do a diskquette to install the ACU in the IBM and after that was possible configure an present the LUNS to the specific HBA

The software was found in the smart array CDs



http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/lpg85176/lpg85176.pdf

[CA1310051]

Yes, the PDF is in the ballpark. Thanks! My specific card is Compaq 176804-002 (HP DS-KGPSA-CY) as far as I can tell so it doesn't quite match numbers in PDF.

I bought the HBA used on internet and it came stand-alone - no CD or anything. Same w/4100 RAID box, I do not have CD or anything.

I'm guessing that the main problem is HP ACU doesn't like Windows Server 2003. When I start ACU it shows the controller in left nav bar as "RA4000/4100 Controller in D947HUQ10298" but main page shows "Error Detected!", ACU has encountered the following critical error... Possible causes ... "A Hardware failure occurred." or "Using an unsupported Driver.".

Since I have a nice 200GB volume that is working I conclude that its a driver issue?

[CA1216363]

Can You install window 2000 using other disk drive to test the compatibity.

My customer and I had a lot of problem with windows 2003,

Uwe also have done some test and seam to be that is not supported.

I say install 2000 in other disk drive in the same machine and see if the some error is reported , if not then you have the same problem that I have ,


W.S

[CA1310051]

Unfortunately I'm not position to try a Windows 2000 experiment. Seems like HP has been dragging its heals on Windows 2003 ever since it came out and 2005 (or 'Vista') is almost here!

[Hans Drolshagen]

I've had this problem repeatedly show up on some Compaq DL760/8500s attached directly to RA4100s as I've applied Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. Of course, I didn't realize I had the problem until after I applied SP1 to a few machines inadvertently breaking the ACU. I just happened to have one machine that didn't see the ACU break when I applied SP1.

I discovered the unbroken ACU on Windows 2003 with SP1 was version 7.50.23 of the ACU which I was able to find in the latest Support Pack for the Compaq/HP DL380 (G1). I applied (overwrote) ACU version 7.50.23 on the DL760/8500s and I'm back in business.

I hope this helps.