LPr Startup Configuration

[James Bernard]

I have a LPr 500 without any documentation. The system has 2 18GB Hot Swap Drives (Ultra3 SCSI). I need the initial setup and installation documentation or a friendly word of advice concerning where to begin.

[Alicia White]

What operating system are you going to install?? Are you going to use a RAID controller or are you just going to use the onboard SCSI controller?

Whichever OS you choose, you should make sure that the system is completely before installing anything.

Update:
--firmware on hard drives
--firmware on NetRAID controller (if any)
--BIOS on system board
--download latest drivers for the system

Check out documentation for the LPr online here:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&docIndexId=120929&locale=en_US&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=50457

Check out download page for the LPr (you can sort by OS at the top of the page):
http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix50457en_US.html

On this page, I would highly recommend downloading HP Instant TopTools. It is a handy utility that gives you a quick snap shot of your system (including current drivers, firmware and BIOS revisions). It also is the best way to view the system's onboard Hardware Event Log online without having to reboot the server.

If you do have a NetRAID controller, please download the NetRAID software for your operating system and NetRAID controller. That software provides quick, easy access to the NetRAID config utility, allowing you to trouble-shoot or even change RAID levels without downing the system.

Also, go to the page where you can download the firmware for the hard drives. Download the bootable CD image that contains the firmware update utility and all firmware versions. It's a great way around all the guess work involved in trying to figure out which drives you have and then which firmware you need to have in order to upgrade them. You can get that here:

http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix65146en_US.html

And, if you have any questions about any of these updates, please don't hesitate to call HP Technical Support. They'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

Please, let us know how everything went.

Good luck.

Alicia

[kris rombauts]

Hi James,


The OS was not specified but if you plan to install W2K i.e. then you can boot from the cd and just let it do it's setup, unless you also have additional cards in the LPr that require drivers that Windows 2000 does not have onboard on the standard cd. You can download those first from the URL below and use the F6 key right after you boot from the cdrom to add OEM drivers from floppy.

If you want a assisted setup whereby the drivers which are specific to the LPr and it's possible accesories are all added you will need a Netserver Navigator cdrom which allows you to i.e. create a Utility Partition and perform assisted setups for different OS. It also adds the management agents (TopTools agents) if you want.


All other information about the LPr like Setup/Install and Configure is also available from that same URL, if their is something very specific missing pls post your specific question back here in the forum.

You mentioned you have two U3 drives, the disk hotswap slots in the Netserver LPr are however only U2 capable so you won't be able to benefit from the U3 speed on the SCSI bus but the disks will work, they are backwards compatible with U2.


http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?locale=en_US&prodSeriesId=50457&prodTypeId=15351


HTH

Kris

[James Bernard]

I want to start out by thanking you for the detailed response to my request. I downloaded the documentation and went through it very carefully. The SCSI controller is set to the factory defaults as are the drives. However, I keep getting a message that the disk drives aren't connected to the system. The BIOS and firmware is current according to the NetServer Navigator. The system is using the Internal factory SCSI adapter and I do not have a NETRAID controller installed. I have the SCSI connected to the SCSI repeater and the internal SCSI board. I have tried the setup with and withoput the Passive terminator and it doesn't appear to matter in either case. I also tried a WIN2000 direct install and it does not see the drive either. Any additional advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[kris rombauts]

Hi James,


"The HP Netserver LPr's integrated SCSI controller does not self terminate. The Symbios controller is a single channel controller, both internal and external devices cannot be attached at the same time."

If their is a problem with either the cable, backplane or terminator then you could run into the situation you have now, seeing no disks at all.


At bootup when the Symbios controller runs it BIOS and scans the bus you should see besides the id of the Symbios controller one or two of your disks listed their at scsi id=0 and 1.

Did you tried going into the setup and make sure the BIOS of the SymBIOS controller is enabled ? This is via CTRL C (to enter the SYmBIOS menu) which is separate from the normal F2 server setup.

Did you tried with just one disk at a time ?
If all of this does not help, i am afraid their might be an hardware problem.

HTH

regards, Kris

[James Bernard]

Thanks for the advice. I have not tried the startup with just one disk yet. Where should I terminate the SCSI. I am assuming that the passive terminator that came with the system should not be used on the external SCSI for termination. The SCSI cable has two connector the short connector is attached to the internal SCSI backpane and the end connector is connected to the SCSI repeater. Is this correct? Where should I place the Passive SCSI terminator?

Thanks!

[kris rombauts]

Hi James,

you are right, the passive terminator should not be used if you use the embedded SymBIOS SCSI controller for internal hotswap disks.

The correct cable as you can see from the label that is normally available on the cover is C18 and has partnumber 5183-6820.
(see attached)


Have you checked the CTRL C setup of the embedded SymBIOS controller ?

I would just test with one disk to minimize the config (the less used, the less that can cause trouble)

Are the disks you use supported disks ? what product or partnumber do they have on them ?
Any chance to test with another disk or test these in another server ?

What if you install another SCSI controller like Adaptec and connect the SCSI cable to this PCI plug in card ?

Just throwing up some idea's to localize the problem.


Kris