Ml150 G2 RAID 5 Arrays

[Julian Doncaster]

I have set up a 150G2 as a data storage server, and it is running 2003 Server fine. It is a SATA machine.

I am a photographer, and this server is mainly for data storage, but maybe for some image processing if needed later.

I am now looking at putting an array of HDs into the machine, and I have a couple of questions.

1 - Am I restricted to the HP controllers for this machine, and the list of HDs recommended on the page below (link), or can I use other manufacturer's kit? Ideally I would like to use HDS bigger than the 250Gb max stated - perhaps 300Gb or 400Gb devices.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12091_div/12091_div.HTML

Are there any technical or warranty implications?

2 - If I start with a RAID-1 setup using the embedded controller, is it difficult to migrate to RAID-5 with a hardware RAID controller later. Or is it just a matter of intalling a 6-port SATA controller and disks, configuring RAID-5, and then restoring the data from a backup? Clearly I would need to stick with a single disk size.

Thanks for your help.

Rgds

Julian Doncaster

[Ruslan]

Hi Julian!

Look here http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12092_div/12092_div.html#Options

1. You MUST use only recommended SATA RAID controller. You can order 500Gb drive model: 500-GB SATA 1.5 Gb 7,200 rpm Hard Drive (395473-B21)

2. As I know RAID migration feature supported only on HP SmartArray SCSI RAID controllers, therefore backup and restore is preffered in your case.

[Julian Doncaster]

Thanks for your reply.

Could you explain whether that is for technical or warranty reasons - and whether it applies to the Hard Disks as well as the controller card.

The reason I ask is that a) Adaptec seem to think that their cards work with the server, and b) that the 500Gb disks are too expensive for me at present to buy 6 - each drive would cost almost as much as I paid for the whole server.

Thanks for your help.

Julian

[Ruslan]

That is for technical reasons - server may not recognized non-HP hardware (different firmware). As I know 500Gb disk it's OEM Maxtor HDD, but with modifided firmware... You can try other Maxtor HDDs byuing with money-back opportunity.

[Brian_Murdoch]

Julian,

The Adaptec 2410SA (4-port) SATA controller works OK in the ML150G2 but is not qualified by HP for this model. This same Adaptec controller is used however in other HP products but with HP firmware.

There is always the risk that using a third party product in your HP server while it is under warranty may lead to HP charging for a maintenance visit, if the problem is identified as the third party device. The same is true for additional network cards etc. This should not affect warranty on the component parts of the server however if a failure occurs on say the motherboard, memory or CPU which are unrelated to any third party devices.

Maxtor drives work well with this controller but your problem may be in obtaining the SATA drive enclosures which are unique to the HP drive backplane. I don't think they are sold seperately which would mean you may be forced to purchase HP drives only......ouch!

For what it's worth, here are some links to products in the UK.

Maxtor 300Gb SATA drive (16Mb cache)
------------------------------------
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=89530

Adaptec 2410SA (4-port) SATA controller
-------------------------------------
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=56246

I hope this helps.

Brian

[Julian Doncaster]

Brian

Thanks for your reply, can I ask a couple of further questions:

So I have a bunch of options:

1 - Swallow hard and buy the official equipment and accept the prices.

2 - Obtain the drive enclosures from somewhere and put in aftermarket drives. Does it actually work to put Maxtor drives bought separately in the HP drive enclosures? I am assuming that I can a) buy them direct b) buy the low end HP drives and swap out the 80Gb drives for 300Gb ones or c) cannibalise a retired server.

3 - Put the server on ebay and start again with a supplier without lock-in of this type. I admit that I am completely flabbergasted that I cannot simply use standard drives of my choice.

Would option 2 actually work, and would I be likely to lose any functionality? For me hot swap is not critical - the key reasons for choosing the server were the extra capacity and dual CPU capability.

Would the extracted HP drives work in another PC? It may be that I need to buy one Maxtor drive and one official 80Gb drive to play with.

I have less of an issue with the HP RAID controller, as that is affordable.

Regards

Julian

If you want to reply off forum, my email is julianduk@yahoo.co.uk.

[Julian Doncaster]

Update:

Initial testing with Seagate SATA drives seems to be fine IN MY SITUATION. I'm sure I'll lose some of the extra functionality (hot-swap?) but this is not essential for me. I may also have to remove the drives before warranty calls - again, not a problem for me.

It appears to be good old fashioned supply-side lock-in.

What I need now is the HP or after-market drive carriers.

Julian
julianduk@yahoo.co.uk

[Brian_Murdoch · Accepted solution]

Well Julian,

After a bit of digging I have found that the SATA Hotplug drive enclosures are orderable from HP Partsurfer.

Part number is 373211-001

9 GB Pounds each (You must order a minimum of 4).

Here is the Partsurfer link. Enter your location from the drop-down box and then enter 373211-001 in the "By part number" area.

http://partsurfer.hp.com

I have attached an image stating that they can be ordered (Not in stock in the UK).

I hope this helps.

Brian

[Julian Doncaster]

Brian

Moving forward, and the system seems to talk OK to a Maxtor HD I have to play with.

Still waiting for HP to get back to me on the enclosures, however.

Julian

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi Julian,

The only complication I can foresee is that you may have to purchase these through an approved HP reseller but that should not be too difficult to achieve I hope and you already know the part number to order.

Regards,

Brian

[Julian Doncaster]

Just tried to order via the HP Parts website, and it went away and timed out .

I'll try a local reseller and see what happens.

Julian

[Julian Doncaster]

The site has now accepted the order, so I will see what happens now.

Julian

[Brian_Murdoch]

Julian,

Please update the call if possible and let us all know how things turned out.

That's certainly a MUCH cheaper option than purchasing the HP disks. Good luck.

Brian

[Julian Doncaster]

HP have accepted the order electronically, so it should now just be a matter of waiting. Will let you know what happens.

Rgds

Julian

[Julian Doncaster]

Update:

My drive carriers just arrived - 12 of them rather than 6. They look to be the right thing, but the order appears to have been processed twice.

I will update the thread finally when I have done the things I have to do and had time to experiment some more.

Julian

[Julian Doncaster]

The drive carriers mentioned above from HP work successfully, and the hard disk LEDs work. Overall, easy to install. The only thing not tested is hot swap, but there is no reason why this should fail.

Julian

[Julian Doncaster]

This is what I did to install third party hard disks in a Proliant ML150 G2. Note that I used SATA drives, but I think the approach SHOULD work for SCSI also.

Order part number 373211-001 direct from HP online. More detail in the thread above, but I had problems with HP phone ordering due to the unusual order. I ordered directly at a cost of £9.00 per carrier including delivery but not VAT, and they arrived within 10 days from Holland. I am in the UK.

Use hard disks of your choice. I used Maxtor DiamondMax 10 300Gb drives. The HP system drive is a Maxtor DiamondMax 9 80Gb. Make sure you are comparing like with like - the Diamond Max 10 drives I used are not in the same league as the Diamond Max 9 drives, and would therefore be cheaper. You need to make a decision based on the workload of your server. I went for desktop level drives as my use is as an image server and potentially an editing workstation.

Actually fitting the drives in the carriers is a piece of cake.

I suggest that you check your warrantly position before taking this course of action.

Thank-you to everyone who advised me on this thread.

Regards

Julian Doncaster

[Brian_Murdoch]

Good for you Julian.

Regards,

Brian

[Julian Doncaster]

OK. Now closing this thread.

Julian

[Julian Doncaster]

This is what I did to install third party hard disks in a Proliant ML150 G2. Note that I used SATA drives, but I think the approach SHOULD work for SCSI also.

Order part number 373211-001 direct from HP online. More detail in the thread above, but I had problems with HP phone ordering due to the unusual order. I ordered directly at a cost of £9.00 per carrier including delivery but not VAT, and they arrived within 10 days from Holland. I am in the UK.

Use hard disks of your choice. I used Maxtor DiamondMax 10 300Gb drives. The HP system drive is a Maxtor DiamondMax 9 80Gb. Make sure you are comparing like with like - the Diamond Max 10 drives I used are not in the same league as the Diamond Max 9 drives, and would therefore be cheaper. You need to make a decision based on the workload of your server. I went for desktop level drives as my use is as an image server and potentially an editing workstation.

Actually fitting the drives in the carriers is a piece of cake.

I suggest that you check your warrantly position before taking this course of action.

Thank-you to everyone who advised me on this thread.

Regards

Julian Doncaster