ML370G1 SCSI and SATA

[Chris Flynn_1]

Hi,
I have added to SATA controller to my Proliant ML370 G1 to add a couple of large capacity SATA drives.

I installed the contoller and the server booted fine, allowing my to install the drivers.

As soon as shut down the server and connected the drives the server won't boot, it won't even allow me to access the system configuration files.

I think that once the disks have been attached the server is trying to boot from the SATA disks first.

Does anyone have any hints on how to ensure the Server boots from the SCSI controller first?? (I have ensured that the SCSI controller is set to first)

Cheers,
Chris

[chongkan]

Hi Chris,

Go to RBSU by PRessing F9 when finishing POST, check the Boot Controller Order

The SCSI controller should be the first one.

[Chris Flynn_1]

Thanks for the reply chongkan.

When I had installed the card I was able to enter the system files by pressing F10 at the end of post.

The SCSI contoller was set as First controller but there was no option for controller order for the sata controller.

Once drives are connected to the SATA controller, I no longer have the option to press F10 does not happen as the server is trying to boot from the SATA controller.

Is there any way to force the server to boot from the CD rom???

Regards,
Chris

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi Chris,

With the disks removed, can you enter the setup for your SATA card?

If so, see if there is a setting to disable BIOS (Sometimes referred to as INT13). If the sata controller has disks attached and BIOS enabled (INT 13) then it will be the boot device by default. It doesn't matter what your ML370g1 boot order is.

The key should be to disable this setting. You can still access the disks and set them up it's just that they are not selected as bootable.

I hope this helps.

Brian

[Chris Flynn_1]

Hi Brian,
Thanks for the reply.

There is no option to access the SATA controller's BIOS during boot when there are no drives connected.

When I connect the drives I can access the RAID utility and configure drives but I am unable to access and change any of the BIOS settings for the card.

The card I have installed is a silicon image 3114 4 port card.

Regards,
Chris

[Leander_1]

I have run into the same problem. I have an ML370 G1 with a SmartArray 431 PCI-X controller. I installed a 32-bit PCI SATA card and now it won't do anything after post. When I disconnect the drives from the SATA card the machine boots fine to the OS (Linux on the SCSI array). But with the SATA drives attached it just sits there at a blank screen after everything POSTs.

It POSTs in this order: Machine BIOS, SmartArray BIOS, SATA BIOS.

I've booted from the SmartStart CD (v 5.50) and ensured the SmartArray controller is the primary boot device and still nothing. I have the latest version of the machine's BIOS (2002.12.18).

I've tried two SATA cards, an ACARD and a Promise with the same results.

Anyone find a fix for this or is it unresolved?

[Paul Craven]

Hi,

This seems to be a growing problem, trying to upgrade older kit on a budget...
I've been trying to get a SATA II card running on a pre-install ML370 G1, windows 2000 server.
It appears that the SATA card takes control of the boot process, as it's not multi-raid aware!
Apparently some, more expensive, sata cards are multi aware and can operate in a server env

I've configured a small 100MB 'boot' partition on the SATA disks, then re-installed W2k Server onto the normal raid array.
That has given the desired result, W2k on the raid, big SATA disks (1.5TB!!) for lots of storage!!
I'm afraid I couldn't get it working without a reinstall of W2K...

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

the ML370 G1 don't officialy support SATA. You can check the Quickspecs

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10493_div/10493_div.HTML

There are only 2-3 SCSI controllers which can be used as an option...
The technical explanaton can be that this cards/HBAS you add, are in conflict with the System ROM...Since they are not in the Quickspecs it means that HP can't guarantee that they will ever function.
This is not an answer to make you happy, but you can't put the truck's wheels on a car... :)

Reagrds,
Pac

[Paul Craven]

Hi Pac,

I'm pleased to say that everything is running fine, W2K Server on the compaq array and 1.5TB on a SATA disks. :)

Thanks for your reply!!

Paul