ML150G3 Initial Setup

[Adam Chiarotto]

I've recently received a ML150G3, I installed 4 of the SATA Hot-swap drives into the bays, however when I enter the BIOS, none of them are recognized.
Is their something that needs to be configured before the drives will be recognized by the BIOS?
If someone can help direct me on how to setup the 4 drives and how to configure a RAID setup that would be appreciated.
Thanks,

[Rajashekar Chintakunta]

Hi Adam,

To enable SATA RAID on ML150 G3

a. Press the F10 key to launch BIOS Setup Utility (American Megatrends, Inc).

b. In the Advanced menu screen, select IDE Configuration

c. Set ATA/IDE Configuration to [Enhanced]

d. Set the Configure SATA as to [RAID]

e. Press Esc, F10, and then select Yes to save the changes and close BIOS Setup Utility

Even though if Raid is not enabled Sata drives should be detected. Open the system box and check if the Sata/SAS cable is seated firmly.

Regards,
Raj.

[ramesh_naik_]

Hi Adam,


Wondering if you tried options here:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00260539/c00260539.pdf

Hope this document helps!!!!

Regards,
rmn

[Adam Chiarotto]

I've tried that document but it doesn't help.
I have the BIOS settings correct,
There is an LSI Utility that pops up after the boot to lan option which recognizes the drives and can create a RAID array, but it does me no good because the BIOS doesn't recognize them and I can't install my OS to them. There is also an HP embedded SATA RAID utility that pops up but it doesn't detect the drives either. Would it be possible to set the BIOS to AHCI and then set the RAID using the HP utility, or is their some hardware config that is suppose to be run from the cd that came with the server.
Any help is appreciated

[Rajashekar Chintakunta]

Hi Adam,

What I would suggest is, remove all disks expect 1 and use 1-to-1 cable to connect the disk to the system board and check if the disk gets detected in the BIOS. If it is not getting detected then could be some issue with the onboard SATA port.

In that case try using a PCI Sata controller and check if the HDD is detected on PCI sata controller card.

Regards,
Raj.

[sandeep_raman]

Hello Adam,

1.Afaik,the server BIOS is not same as the desktop BIOS where it sees the disks.
2.If the LSI(SATA Bios) sees the disks and you are able to configure raid,then it seems to be fine.
3.Generally the base OS media,either linux or windows will not have the device driver for the sata controller.
4.Let me know if this is the case,will try to find driver link.
5.Whats the OS you plan to install?

SRH

[Adam Chiarotto]

Win Server 2003 R2
The HDD cage is plugged into a PCIE card through two cables, not the onboard SATA ports.
So the proper way to configure the drives is through the LSI utility? I have 4 250GB drives and would ideally like to have a RAID 0+1 setup, but the options are only for 0 or 1, is their a way to make 2 arrays and have then act like a 0+1?
I will check the disk that came with the server for drivers, however it does not have a floppy drive, I will try to use a usb drive.
Anyways thanks for the help.

[Rajashekar Chintakunta]

Hi Adam,

I feel the server has HP 8 Internal Port SAS Host Bus Adapter with RAID which supports only 2 logical drives with Raid 0 and 1 support:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12332_na/12332_na.HTML

We will not be able to setup 0+1. For that you might need to use:
The HP 6-Port SATA RAID Controller does not has this limitation and it supports Raid 0, 1, 1+0, 5:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12091_div/12091_div.HTML

Regards,
Raj.

[Adam Chiarotto]

It has a 6-port hot-swap SAS/SATA drive cage that is plugged into a PCIE card.
There are four on-board SATA ports, but none of them will be used as all 4 drives I have are hot-swappable.

[sandeep_raman]

1.Confirm if the pci card inside has this part # 372953-B21.If yes,its a 6-port sata controller.Else post the part #,i will check.

2.Are you pressing Ctrl + A to go into the LSI bios?

3.http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00285315/c00285315.pdf
Pg 7 onwards might be handy incase you don't have it.

4.Driver diskette which i referred to earlier http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/storage/us/download/22908.html
I have seen instances where USB floppy drive may act wierd with the proLiant 100's.
To avoid this,enable USB legacy option in BIOS.

5.Last but not the least,do this first only after you are 100% sure its a 6-port sata controller,
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/storage/us/download/23556.html
Firmware upgrade.

Good luck,

SRH

[Adam Chiarotto]

here is a link to the server
http://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/specs.aspx?EDC=1017870
hopefully this will help as I don't know the product number, only the s/n which is P019101806
hopefully this will help

[Adam Chiarotto]

also i don't press ctrl-A to get to the LSI utility, after the POST, it says press F8 to enter HP embedded SATA setup, then it will say press ctrl-s to boot from lan, then it will say press F8 to enter the LSI utility

[Adam Chiarotto]

this is the HP link
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/ss/WF06a/15351-241434-241477-241477-f82-1163831.html
It says "optional 8-port SAS/SATA w/RAID", which I assume is what I have, it is just hooked up to a hot-swap cage that supports 6 drives.
So to setup I would go into the LSI utility and set all 4 drives in one array to RAID 0, then install windows using the driver from the HP CD, and everything should be fine?
Just so I'm clear, the drives are not suppose to be visible to the BIOS correct?
Because they are not, only in the LSI utility.
Thanks,

[sandeep_raman]

I checked using the Mfg.Part:399155-001 in the quickspecs link,

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12527_div/12527_div.HTML

Search for (399155-) and look at the Storage controller,its a HP 8 Internal Port SAS Host Bus Adapter with RAID which supports Raid 0 and 1.

Also check Storage Controller in http://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/specs.aspx?EDC=1017870

it clearly documents the details.

Additional information,

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00503629/c00503629.pdf

SRH

[sandeep_raman · Accepted solution]

Ahh well,i was still typing and you posted :-)

Since its either Raid 0 or 1,better choose Raid 1,its atleast fault tolerant.
Hopefully the driver from the HP Cd works,then it should be ok.
And yes only the SATA Bios will see the disks,F8 LSI Logic.
The pdf guide is quite handy incase you want to refer.

Good luck

SRH

[Adam Chiarotto]

Wouldn't RAID 0 be better incase a disk fails, then at least their is a mirrored copy on another disk?

[sandeep_raman]

Raid 0 is not a mirrored set.
Raid 1 is a mirrored set and thats why i mentioned its fault tolerant which means one disk fails,you can still work.

SRH

[Adam Chiarotto]

Yeah,
I realized that as soon as I posted
Thanks