ML310: how to use onboard AHCI?

[NilsE]

Is there an AHCI option for onboard SATA somewhere in the RBSU?

Does Windows Server 2008 x64 automatically load an AHCI driver for the ICH9R, or will I need to specify one?

[KarloChacon]

hi Nilse

ML310 generation 5?

regards

[NilsE]

Sorry, yes. ML310 G5.

[KarloChacon]

hi

go to RBSU -> Advance options -> enable RAID if it is not enabled and use this driver to when W2008 x64 shows the screen to load the driver using an USB key

by the way when you enable RAID you will have an option F8 to configure your Embedded SATA Controller (during POST) create your RAID and ready to go

driver for W2008x64
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3577708&prodNameId=3577715&swEnvOID=1113&swLang=8&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-4810d57f44f74d8cbe18413697&mode=3

manual to configure SATA RAID
www.jraf.ru/books/embedded_sata_raid_manual.pdf

regards

[NilsE]

I've enabled "RAID" as you suggested, and I think it's now treating that disk as a single-disk JBOD. (I didn't add the disk to an array.)

I'm installing Windows Server 2008 x64 now, but the installer doesn't see the disk. The driver you linked to appeared to be for onboard Adaptec RAID, but I think this onboard RAID would be handled by the Intel ICH9R. The RAID driver from Intel (iaStor) is recognized, but it doesn't make the drive show up. The AHCI driver from Intel (iaAHCI) is not recognized as compatible.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[KarloChacon]

hi

other idea...

I did this few days ago like I told you

Enable RAID
Configured a RAID 1 during POST pressing F8
I used driver above and I installed W2008 x64 with no issue on course with the Embedded controller

did you configured a RAID during POST? pressing F8?

regards

[NilsE]

Interesting. I went ahead and installed the OS on another drive, then booted into the OS. In the device manager, the Intel ICH9R SATA RAID controller (I forgot the exact name) was loaded, but "could not start". When I deleted the device and redetected, it was replaced with "Adaptec Processor Device (Pseudo)" and "Adaptec Serial ATA HostRAID" with no reported problems.

However, the ATA controller and connected drive still don't show up.

Are you recommending that I create a RAID 1 with a single drive? Is that possible? (I only want AHCI, not RAID.)

[KarloChacon]

RAID 1 with 1 HDD - No not possible.

when you say AHCI you mean you did not enable RAID in POST?

regards

[NilsE]

No, I did not enable an array, but yes, I did enable RAID capability. So right now, the disks are detected as JBOD disks.

I DON'T want a RAID array, I ONLY want AHCI capability.

With the cp008698 loaded it's actually kind of a step backwards: when I hot plug a second drive, all drives connected to the controller disappear! At least when I had RAID disabled, I could manually scan for hardware changes and detect the second drive. :-)

I emailed an HP tech who suggested cp008695 (appears to be an older version of cp008698) and cp009033 (which appears to be for completely unrelated HP Smart Array products). Neither helped.

Again: I am installing Windows Server 2008 x64 with a hard drive connected to the embedded HBA. If onboard RAID is disabled in the BIOS, I can see the drive, but AHCI functions are not available. If onboard RAID is enabled in the BIOS, then I cannot see the drive during Windows installation. I have tried loading the latest HP embedded RAID drivers and the latest Intel Matrix Storage drivers during Windows installation, but neither makes the drive visible.

By the way, you said that you had done this successfully, but you mention pressing F6 to load these drivers. I think F6 is only used on Windows Server 2003 and earlier. Server 2008 has a GUI for loading additional storage drivers. Are you sure you loaded Server 2008?


Thanks for your help. I'm still working on it.

[NilsE]

(I'm sorry, you were talking about F8 in RBSU, not F6 during Windows installation. Disregard that comment. :-p)

[NilsE]

Hm. This is interesting. The RBSU reports that the PCI devices are Intel 82801GR, but that's an ICH7R. ML310 G5 Quickspecs specify an Intel 3210 chipset, which includes an ICH9R. Any idea why that's happening?

[NilsE]

When onboard RAID is disabled, RBSU PCI devices lists two controllers:
Intel(R) 82801GR SATA Controller #1
Intel(R) 82801GR SATA Controller #2

(I guess the second controller handles the optical drive ports? Why does the RBSU call the 82801IR an 82801GR?)

When onboard RAID is enabled, they change:
Intel(R) 82801GR SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) 82801GR SATA Controller #2

But according to the Intel Matrix Storage readme (http://downloadmirror.intel.com/16012/ENG/readme.txt), the ICH9R supports another "AHCI only" mode that I presume would look something like this:

Intel(R) 82801GR SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801GR SATA Controller #2

From HP documentation, there is/was an AHCI switch in the RBSU for some ML models. (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00909814)

Why does this switch not exist in the ML310 G5? And how can I enable AHCI mode but not RAID?

[NilsE]

Well, here's the rub. HP told me to update my BIOS, so now it's "Proliant System BIOS - W05 (04/03/2008)" with "ROM-Based Setup Utility, Version 2.10". Then, so they emailed:

1. Power on the server.
2. Press F10 [sic] when prompted to enter the BIOS Setup Utility.
3. Select "Advanced" [sic] ==> "Advanced Chipset Control" ==> "SATA AHCI Disable:" and change the setting to [enable].
4. Press F10 to exit and save the changes.

I informed them that this sounded promising, but was impossible, as the menu options they specify are not present.

Their response:

"The serial number provided (XXXXXXXXXX) indicates that your server is a HP ProLiant ML310 G5 Special Tower Server.

"The AHCI enable/disable option is only available in few proliant servers. It seems like the option is removed from the BIOS, leaving only IDE and RAID."

Seems like it, huh?

I see.

[NilsE]

HP has verified that enabling AHCI only is not possible in this environment.

Feel free to ask them why this option "has been removed". :(