Netserver LH Plus & RAID

[Mike Burnie]

HELP !!

I've recently aquired an old HP Netserver LH Plus 5/166 (Product Number D4253-60200/D4253A).

It has 3 internal 2gig scsii hard drives in it which I would like to set up on RAID 5 but can't find how to do it.

HP were wonderful enough to be able to supply me with a Netserver Navigator disk which allows me into the bios etc but not at the RAID settings.

I must point out at this point that it the server is not using HP Netraid. It seems to have an adaptec AIC 7880 scsii card in it.

The usual CTRL + A you usually find with adaptec cards doesn't seem to work.

I've spent many days searching for software/drivers etc. that will let me RAID my 3 disks together and I have to admit it has finally beaten me.

All I want to do is RAID the 3 disks together and then install Win2000 server on it while I self-study for my MCSE.

Can anyone point me in the right direction... please ?

[Greg Carlson]

Mike,

First if you only have a SCSI controller and not a NetRaid or Mylex card you will have to do a software raid level. Next is the LH plus SCSI functionality is in the ECU. All utilities, fw, bios and ECU (Eisa Config Utility) are here: http://h20004.www2.hp.com/keeper_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix50453.html

Note that 2000 was never tested or supported on this legacy box so drivers are not provided by HP.

Ciao,
Greg

[Terri Harris]

Documentation on "ECU" = BIOS setup program is available at the HP Knowledgebase here:

http://isupport2.hp.com/SearchKB.asp?NewSearch=true

SEE IS7618: Which Servers Use F2 Setup or EISA Configuration Utility

There is no hot key, such as F2, to access the BIOS on a LH Plus. Same with the integrated Adaptec controller. You must boot off the ECU diskette to access these settings.

[Mike Burnie]

Thanks for the reply guys, I'm a bit stumped now though.

Has this box actually got a RAID controller in it ?

The scsii connections are actually on the main motherboard and the controller chips seem to be Adaptec AIC 7880P of which there are two - one for each channel I guess.

The ECU utility you both talk about is already on the HP Netserver Navigator CD which they were kind enough to post to me.

I have updated the BIOS already and ran the ECU utility but still dont appear to be able to find anything that will allow be to set up a hardware RAID.

It's looking more likely that I'm going to have to setup the OS on the first 2Gig HD and then with the other 2 disks just extend the partition to make a 4gig drive.

Unless of course...you guys know better.

Thanks

Mike Burnie

[Greg Carlson]

Mike,

It is only a SCSI Controller for JBOD on the LHPlus. You need a Mylex or NetRaid Controller (preferably a netraid) for a hardware raid level. Otherwise you can only do a software mirror in 2000.

Ciao,
Greg

[Mike Burnie]

Cheers Greg...Trust my company to always go for the cheap option !

Mike

[Greg Carlson]

Mike,

Here is a cheap raid controller on e-bay that would work with your server.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2033105938

Ciao,
Greg