Array Controllers

[Ayman Altounji]

I currently have a Proliant 1500 with 2 Raid controllers, an original EISA model SMART Array Controller (firmware 2.26) using five 4.3Gb internal drives, and a DPT PM3224 Raid Controller accessing five 9Gb drives in an external case.

I am currently experiencing issues with both devices and have been considering purchasing one new RAID controller to take over the duties of both. The most likely candidate seems to be a 3200 Controller so I wanted some advice on whether this would indeed be a compatible and acceptable solution.

I wonder if anyone may also be able to clear up another, related, issue. An engineer at Adaptec (who now own DPT) claimed that the reason I may be experiencing issues with the DPT card is because of the IRQ it uses (currently IRQ 9). He suggested that IRQ 11 or higher may be better as they use a faster data bus speed. Is this correct? I've never heard of such an issue before.

Yours

Rich May

[Mark Cloutier]

the 3200 is compatible with this system but you will need to backup your data and reconfigure your array and then restore..the original smart controller and the 3200 are not compatible for upgradablility and this is why you need to do this.
as for the IRQ issue..it isnt..while iRQ 11 is a more readily not used IRQ than 9 is ..irq 9 should work fine

[Ayman Altounji]

Replace adaptec's with any SMART array controller and you'll have no problems.
They're inexpensive.
The disk array on Addaptec's controller must be backed up and restored afte the hw change!. As it was recommended bu COMPAq pro in the previous msg.
uste@hotmail.com
I have extra SMART ctrl.