Cannot boot server with Highpoint Rocket 1520 controller

[Daniel Pedrosa Morillo]

Hi everyone,

I've installed a SerialATA controller (Highpoint Rocket 1520) in a Proliant ML 350 G3 server, but it won't boot :(

The BIOS of the HP Ultra3 SCSI controller first says "BIOS NOT INSTALLED!!!" and then it says: "602-Diskette Boot Record Error"

I want the BIOS of the Ultra3 SCSI controller installed because the HD with the Operating System is connected to it. But the damn Rocket controller always has its BIOS loaded first.

How can I disable the BIOS of the Rocket 1520 controller? Or how can I alter the BIOS loading order??

I've already set the Controller Boot Order so that the HP Ultra3 is first, but it didn't solve my problem :(

Please, I really need help. I've bought a 400 GB SATA drive for the server and we need to use it urgently!!!

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi Daniel,

I can't see anywhere on the Highpoint support site that the Rocket 1520 BIOS can be disabled however I would suggest that you contact their support team for confirmation. The user guide for the Rocket 1520 doesn't mention it either.

If you press CTRL+H when prompted by the controller BIOS at boot time, can you see anything in the menu that would suggest being able to disable BIOS? This would probably be in an "Advanced" section if it exists.

Here is a link to the Rocket 1520 (SATA non-raid)support page at Highpoint.

http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/bios_r1520.htm


Here is the support e-mail address.

support@highpoint-tech.com

If it can't be disabled you may be stuck as the bus scanning mechanism on the Proliant ML350 G3 will place the Highpoint controller before the embedded SCSI devices.

Good luck.

Brian

[Daniel Pedrosa Morillo]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your reply. The HighPoint Rocket 1520 BIOS doesn't seem to have any option to disable the BIOS. In fact, you can only select which drive is marked as bootable, and that's it. There are no other options.

I did email HighPoint technical support, in hope that they would tell me whether there's any hidden trick to disable the BIOS (or, at least, send me a modified BIOS file so I can flash it and get it disabled) But I haven't got any response from them yet :(

The only trick I've found is to unplug the SATA HD drive cable from the HighPoint controller before powering up the server. The rocket card doesn't load its BIOS if the drive detection list is empty. Then, after the server has finished booting, I plug the SATA drive to the controller and use a tool called "HighPoint Hot-Plug Management" to force the detection of the drive.

This method works, but you can imagine that it's REALLY cumbersome and not optimal at all!!

I'd really really like to disable the card's BIOS, it would be the very best solution for me.

By the way, I've called HP technical support and basically they told me that I'm on my own, that they don't support anyone installing third-party controllers in their servers.

Anyway, the question is: who is at fault here?
Is the Proliant ML 350 G3 bios buggy and doesn't obey the controller boot order I specified?
Or is the HighPoint controller bios buggy?

Who should I blame? Who should give me technical support in this case?

Many thanks.
Best regards.

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi Daniel,

It's not the server which is at fault. This is normal behaviour for Proliant servers with multiple internal/external PCI and PCI-X buses.

The same problem would exist if you had an Adaptec raid controller but at least with Adaptec you can disable the BIOS via CTRL-A.

HP can't provide support if the problem lies with a third party card. That's true for every computer manufacturer. If the issue was with a supported device HP would be happy to address the issue with driver/firmware updates for controller/server.

Have you tried the card in other PCI slots to see if the scan order changes at all? I'm not sure if all the slots will be able to take your card but you can check which are the primary/secondary buses by looking at the inside cover of the server which has a diagram of the layout and bus ordering.

Regards,

Brian

[Daniel Pedrosa Morillo]

Hi again,

Problem solved! I have received an email from HighPoint tech support with a modified BIOS for my card and the instructions for flashing it.

Now the integraded HP SCSI controller can load its BIOS peacefully again without any intruder blocking its way! :)

Thank you very much to all.
Best regards.

[Daniel Pedrosa Morillo]

I'm closing the thread because the problem has been solved. Kudos to HighPoint for sending me the modified BIOS file for my card.