RHEL 3/DL360/RAID 6i controller driver install

[Vijayasekar Rajsekar]

I am trying to install RHEL 3 on a new Proliant DL360 G4 server which has a RAID controller version 6i. The server was preinstalled with Windows Server 2003 from HP. While attempting to install RHEL 3, the OS doesn't recognize the hard drives (2x74.5 Gb) and requests a driver. I have the RPM for the RAID controller downloaded from HP and I am not sure how to install it on the controller. Any pointers to resolve this problem will be appreciated...

[Slawomir Gora · Accepted solution]

Hi,
you need to download diskette driver for SA6i from site:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/23096.html

and use this diskette during install RHEL

[James G. Brown III]

You can also download the latest smart start 7.4 to create an array and logical drive. When you boot up to install it will recognize your drive as c0d0.

[Vijayasekar Rajsekar]

Thanks to both of you. I have downloaded the driver file from HP (I also found it in SmartStart CD 7.40). As per the install procedure the driver file has to be written to a floppy and I am unable to do that. I am using "rawrite" from Linux CD to write the file and the DOS prompt complains that the file is not available. The procedure also mentions that the driver file "cpq_cciss_2.4.56-6.rhel3.i686.dd" should be a DOS 8.3 name and it's not. What am I doing incorrectly here?

[Jess Long]

When you access the 'aurorun' of the SS7.40 CD there is an option under the "Software" tab, named "Create Driver Diskettes". Select that option and follow it's instructions. It will build the required floppy. Then when you get ready to install RH, boot the system from the 1st RH CD, and at the prompt, type 'linux dd'. Put the floppy you built, into the floppy drive and press enter. The installation process will prompt you from there.

JL

[Slawomir Gora]

Hi,
if you have linux box you can run command:
dd if=./cpq_cciss_2.4.56-6.rhel3.i686.dd of=/dev/fd0

[Alan_152]

It is highly recommended that you do the install with the latest smartstart CD available.

[Vijayasekar Rajsekar]

I created a diskette using the latest driver from Smart Start CD 7.40 by mounting it on another RHEL 3 system. The diskette creation utility also verified the media. Next I booted the DL360 as "linux updates dd" from RHEL 3 CD and continued to load the controller driver from the diskette. The OS comes back and reports that the required driver is not present in the diskette (/dev/fd0). The diskette has the correct RAID controller driver for RHEL 3. What could be wrong here?

[Vijayasekar Rajsekar]

Recycled power to the server and the update procedure worked fine. Thanks for all your help.

[James G. Brown III]

Vijay, checkout http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_42_4454.shtm

To install Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 3 on this machine you need use Update 2 or higher. You cannot install on an HP Proliant DL360 using the original boxed CD set. You will need to download the ISO images for a later update from Red Hat Network (RHN), burn them to disk, and then install from that media.