ML530 Installation problem

[oltraver]

We are in the process of reinstalling a Compaq Proliant ML530 server with Windows 2003 Server Standard in order to use it as an Exchange 2003 Server.

System is currently running Windows Server 2000.

System specs:

Dual Pentium III XEON 1Ghz Processors (233Mhz with 256k/b cache)
2176 MB Memory
2 â 18.2 GB ULTRA3 SCSI (10K) Hard Drives
2 (Newly purchased and installed) â 36.4 GB ULTRA320 SCSI (10k) Hard Drives
P19 Bios

I have a few problems. This system was initially installed before I took over IT duties at this company and all system documentation and CDs are missing. Also, the System Configuration Utility was not installed on the hard drive system partitions.

I ordered the 2 new SCSI drives listed above and was trying to configure them via ACU, but I cannot access this utility. First, the system complained after hitting F10 that there was no system partition and I needed to insert the proper floppy to install it.

I ordered the SmartStart 5.5 CDs (Includes SmartStart for Servers and the Compaq Management CD) and managed to get the system partition installed on the primary drive. Now when I access it and try to run ACU, it prompts for the floppy for ACU. I made the ACU floppies with the SmartStart CD and they do not work. System asks me to insert ACU floppy and reboot so it can run utility, but it just reboots and says there is no OS on the floppy.

Iâ ve tried to boot from the SmartStart CD, but this causes a whole new set of issues.

First, the original (Compaq) CDROM drive would bring up the splash screen and then just click and click while trying to read and finally gave an I/O error. So I replaced it with a generic IDE CDROM drive, (tried to jumper as both Cable Select and Master) and it doesnâ t click now, but the CDROM still will not boot. It brings up the splash screen, I hit ESC to see whatâ s going on in the background and can see that it tries loading tons of CDROM drivers (failing on each one except ATAPI (Which is what it should be loading) which it loads and then lists with the error â FWS2CD already processed in CONFIG.SYSâ â FWS2CD not installedâ ) and finally times out in about 10 minutes with this:

MSCDEX Version 2.23
Copyright (blahblahblah)
Drive S: = Driver CPQCDROM unit 0.

Then it just sits there for another 5 minutes and goes to a black screen.

When I try to install the SmartStart CD in Windows, the resulting installation log ends up listing almost everything as â not needed on this machineâ . If I try and install the ACU individually from the SmartStart CD in Windows, It says the same thing. I canâ t tell specifically which SCSI controller is in this machine as windows hardware control lists it as â Compaq 64-Bit Ultra2 SCSI Controller /Pâ and opening the case, it looks like itâ s integrated with the motherboard with no identifying chips that I can see. Is that the name of it? If so, which driver does it need?

I also noticed on forums that many people who are installing this machine had an option within the System Configuration Utility to choose which OS to install. You should be able to choose Windows 2000 for the installation OS when using 2003. Well, the System Configuration Utility screen (Version 2.58A) only gives me the options to install MS-DOS; MS OS/2; NetWare; SCO Unix; Windows NT; IBM OS/2; or Other. Whereâ s 2000?

Iâ m starting to feel like I have the wrong SmartStart CDs or Iâ m missing some other major step in the configuration of th

[Roger Faucher]

Hi:

I suggest that you begin by installing the latest BIOS and firmwares from here:

http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/69_1117.html

According the Note 3 on the following link, ther is no Assisted Path OS Installation available for the ML530 (G1). You must manually install software by browsing the SmartStart CD or download from HP website.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/cd_supportinfo/ServerSupportMatrix.pdf

So, I would do the BIOS/firmwares and install/ugrade to WIN2K3, then install Proliant Support Pack (PSP) 7.0 and any other newer 'stuff' from the first link in this message.

HTH

Make a great day!

Roger

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi,

Judging by the CD boot problems, you still appear to have some underlying issue however could you try the following : -

If you insert the Smartstart 5.50 CD and ignore the messages you can use Windows explorer to explore the CD. You should be able to run the ACU directly from the CPQACU folder on the CD. You can also copy the contents of this folder to your system and run it from there if you wish.

It's also worth copying the CPUADU (Array Diagnostic Utility) folder for diagnosis of any disk issues.

Windows 2000 is a sub-choice when you select Windows NT as the OS in the BIOS. With newer BIOS versions Windows 2003 should also appear as the ML530G1 does support Windows 2003, so upgrade the BIOS as suggested to provide proper support.
(See the following link)

http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/69_1117.html

I hope this helps,

Brian

[oltraver]

I have updated the BIOS and am trying to update the firmware.

I tried doing the Lights-Out Management firmware update and the system said it could not find the board. Possible, as I'm not even sure we have this option installed.

I tried to update the Online ROM Flash Component for Windows - Compaq Integrated Smart Array Controller firmware on the SCSI card and it says the software does not need to be installe don this system. There were no devices found that could be loaded with the ROM image. The Array Controller device driver CPQARRY2.SYS may need to be updated. Current version: ?.??, minimum required version: 1.0.0.

I tried to use the Offline ROM Flash for SmartStart Maintenance: ROM Update Utility - Integrated Smart Array Controller in the SYtem Configuration Utility by hitting F10 and then going to Array Configuration. It asks for the floppy I just made, but it won't take it. Just refreshes and asks for it again.

Running the ACU from the SmartStart 5.5 CD (in windows, still can't boot with it) tells me that there is no array controller found.

Running the ADU from the SmartStart 5.5 CD tells me that there is no array controller found.

Can you tell me if I'm trying to update the right controller? I believe I have a Compaq 64-Bit Ultra2 SCSI Controller /P. Is this the Compaq Integrated Smart Array Controller? What do I need to do to make the utilities see this array?

Thanks!

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi,

It doesn't look like your system has any kind of array controller, only the embedded SCSI on the system board.

If you still have Windows 2000 running, locate the file C:\COMPAQ\SURVEY\SURVEY.TXT and attach it to your next reply.

It can then be checked for the current hardware installed. If the C:\COMPAQ folder isn't present your system probably wasn't built using the Smartstart CD.

Regards,

Brian

[oltraver]

I never even considered that there was no configuration available for the onboard SCSI. I suppose I would then be stuck using just software raid if I want to stripe or mirror drives, huh? Can you verify this is the case? Attached is the survey.txt. Thanks!

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi,

According to your survey.txt file, you do not have any kind of raid controller installed on your system. You only have the embedded dual channel SCSI controller on the system board for storage.

There will be a SCSI cable going from the SCSI connector on the system board up to the drive backplane where your disks are installed.

This will limit your possibilities.

Sorry...

Brian