Install problem

[Trent Bukowsky]

We have a c-class CAD server running unigraphics which had a harddisk failure. THe problem is that when I boot up from the CD to go into HP UX 10.20 installation menu the machine keeps prompting me that no disks are available for it to proceed and prompts for a re-scan. Even after a scan it is unable to locate the disk. In fact I booted the server using the search command and directly booted from the CD.

Can somebody please tell me what could be wrong and how I can go about reinstalling the OS. I am fairly new to UNIX so please help me out.

Thankx

Trent

[Wodisch]

Hello Trent,

it looks like your "break-down" actually destroyed your
local hard-disk, hence you cannot install to it.
Try to boot to "boot_admin" mode, issue the "SEArch"
for bootable devices, and check, wether there is a
local hard-disk shown at all! If, then try "SEArch ipl",
to check wether there still is the boot information stored
on that disk...
But it looks like you have to do some hardware repair,
installing a new hard-disk, perhaps...

HTH,
Wodisch

[Stefan Schulz]

Hi Trent,

if you do have a new/working harddisk in your server and you are still not able to find it:

-check if you have a SCSI-ID conflict. Jumpuer your CD Drive or your harddisk to a nother ID.

-If you have attached a external CD-Rom drive make sure your termination of the SCSi Bus is correct. Some CD Drives have a internal automatic termination wicht doesn't like an external terminator.

Hope this helps

Regards Stefan

[Trent Bukowsky]

I have a clean hard disk and its fully functional since it was on another machine. I am able to locate on SEArch in BOOT_Admin but it does not get initialized for installation once I give BO P1, It goes upto Hard Booted phase and then generates the error

THERE ARE NO DISK DEVICES FOUND DURING THE SCAN. MAKE SURE THAT THE DESTINATION DISKS ARE CONNECTED AND POWERED ON.

like I said before this disk was already used on anther machine so it has the old os installed and it boots perfectly if I let it boot from the disk.

[Joseph C. Denman]

Is the disk the same size as the last? If you are using the old 1996 core os for 10.20, it may not recognize a new/larger disk drive. Try the april 1999 core os for 10.20.

...jcd...

[Joe Voytovich]

I'm currently working on an upgrade from a 725 to a B180, and I've seen that the 10.20 install disk does not seem to work with a target drive on the FW SCSI bus. I was able to get the install in using the SE bus (I'm still trying to figure this darn thing out). Are you using FW or SE SCSI?

[Trent Bukowsky]

I am using a FW. and by the way as mentioned earlier I am new to unix. what is SE install. and how do you do it.

[Joe Voytovich]

Here's what I've found. It looks like the release of 10.20 that I have (dated 4/98) does NOT have certain drivers needed by later hardware (in my case, the network driver btlan3 for the network adapter in the B180). It also looks like direct support for the fast-wide (FW) SCSI is not provided during installation; therefore, the install CD will only find the hard drive if it is connected to the single-ended (SE) bus. Try plugging the drive into the SE bus cable and see if the install will go further.

To further complicate matters, I had problems when I switched the drive from the SE to the FW bus after 10.20 was installed; the OS refused to boot from drive and crashed. You'll have to try yours and see what happens. You could run from SE, but data will transfer a bit slower - it depends on your application whether or not the speed difference will be a drawback.