DVD Writer Support?

[Mark Matthews]

I have a very simple question which I hope someone (preferably from HP) can answer.

Are DVD-R/RW drives supported on HP Proliant servers?

I ask because Im having trouble installing a Sony one in a brand new Proliant ML350 G3.

Any info would be great...

Thanks
Mark...

[JohnWRuffo]

Mark:

The ProLaint server natively supports CD-RW so it can't be too far from the support needed for this device.

This could just be a driver issue.

I do not see any issues in the bios, but now would be a good time to make sure you are up to date:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/21272.html

[Mark Matthews]

Thanks John,

Much more than a driver issue Im afraid, as it causes the server to not boot!
The Internal Health LED lights up on the front, and the CPU Health LED lights up on the sys board!

As soon as the DVD Writer is disconnected all the LEDs go out/back to green and the server boots up fine!

Tried the drive in another server (ML370 G3) and an old Deskpro and they were fine too...

The server in question is only 1 week old so should have the latest Bios installed...

Thanks
Mark...

[JohnWRuffo]

Do you have the drive jumpered to Cable Select?

[Mark Matthews]

Yep, tried that already!
Used Cable select and Master/Slave config with the existing CDRom drive.
Also tried the DVD-RW on its own on the Secondary IDE channel and the exact same thing happens.

[JohnWRuffo]

OK... Enter the RBSU
Check your (IPL) Standard Boot Order and make sure that the DVD is the last one, or better yet, disabled if you can.
Then, select Advanced... then Secondary IDE Channel and "Enable". Does this fix it?

I can't think there is that much different between the IDE controller in the ML350 G3 from the ML370 G3. They are both based on the ServerWorks Grand Champion LE chipset.

Maybe the IDE controller on the ML350 is goofed. This server is still under warranty...

[Mark Matthews]

Hmm thanks John,

I cant even get into the RBSU when the DVD drive is plugged in because the server doesnt boot. It powers on but lights up the aforementioned LEDs and doesnt POST at all.

Yes Ive a feeling the IDE controller may be goofed myself.
Thanks for your suggestions anyway, I'll keep plugging away at it!

Cheers
Mark...

[JohnWRuffo]

pull the DVD and then set the second IDE channel enabled... then try to boot?

[Matthew Delaney]

Stupid question probably, but are you using RAID or any other SCSI Boot device...

I've installed a DVDRW in my ML330 G3 server and it boots ok through my RAID or SCSI adapter but if I go through on board IDE it does give startup issues.

I have found also that IMAPI cd burning service is sometimes dodgy on my server. Not sure if this is hardware or Server2003.

If you're using on board IDE and it is giving you this trouble I would get HP or your supplier to look at it. If it's just a week old it's simpler to just replace under warranty or have HP come out...

[Mark Matthews]

Hehe, I am HP! (kind of...)
Im a qualified HP ASE on Proliant servers, but Ive never seen or installed a DVD-RW in a Proliant before...

I'd be interested to know how you installed an IDE DVD-RW on a Raid controller or SCSI controller though?!

Cheers
Mark...

[Matthew Delaney]

Sorry I should have wrote that a bit clearer. The DVDRW is IDE and that is on the main board. I boot my server through my RAID. It boots fine this way, or through the second SCSI controller card(my DAT is on this). When I disable or remove these I then get a boot up issue with my IDE HDDs. Is that any clearer? (I've tried multiple configuration options because of trouble with my DAT drive)

Matthew

[JohnWRuffo]

Mark:

Have you tried installing a PCI based IDE controller? These will have the bios code to handle the DVD burner. (unlike the stripped down version onboard the ProLiant)

[Mark Matthews]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...

I cant do anything else with it at the moment as its in the hands of our sales department now. I recommended that we try an HP DVD-RW instead, so I think theyre trying to sort one out as we speak.
I'll update this thread if and when Im asked to do any further work on it...

Thanks
Mark...