Old Compaq Proliant 800 - Upgradeable & if so how ?

[WP_1]

I inherited an old Proliant 800 server from work. It includes a Smart-2SL SCSI controller and 3x9 GB SCSI Drives in an "external case". There also appears to be another SCSI controller but nothing is connected. It is working fine with NT4 server now but I would like to upgrade it to Windows 2000 workstation. I have no SmartStart CD's or anything...I will be installing from my Win2K CD.

Can anyone help me out with where to start. I have done lots of system upgrades but never with SCSI, let alone a SCSI array so I don't know what to expect. System BIOS is P02 and Smart-2SL is v1.80.

ANY help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[JohnWRuffo · Accepted solution]

Lets start at a good software baseline:

The System bios needs to be dated 04/19/2000:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/8571.html

Here is the bios update for the SMART-2 SL Controller:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/14981.html

When configurung this system without the Smart Start CD, you will need two utilities at a minimum to build this, depending on what you do.

One of these is the System Configuration Utility:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/13227.html
The SCU is used to tell the system about itself. You will need this if you do ANY hardware changes.

The other utility you need for "this" configuration is the Array Configuration Utility:
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/proworkstation/us/download/8605.html
This utility can be used with the SMART-2 array controller you have. Should you change this controller, you WILL need to order SmartStart 5.50.

You will need to use the drivers and software found at this link to build your system with:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/20_1131.html
After you "finish building" the hardware and have loaded your O/S, this will be where you get the driver you are missing or need to update.

Now lets talk about hardware upgrades if you need:

The Maximim RAM you can install in the Pentium Pro version of the ProLiant 800 is 512MB. (i.e., 4 x 128MB)

You can install up to two Pentium Pro 200 Processors in this server (i.e., Pentium Pro 200 with 512KB cache)

As far as adding drives, you need to tell me what model of "enclosure" you have?

Generally, you will have to stick to Wide-Ultra SCSI and Fast-Wide SCSI-2 drives while using the SMART-2SL.

Let me know? -john

[WP_1]

Thank You John!

I am impressed with your thorough response and I think with your help I will get started. You didn't mention upgrading to Win2k WORKSTATION as being an issue so I assume it is ok. I just don't have a need for full server. The machine will be primarily a fileserver and at most a test SQL server machine.

The drive enclosure is a model 3092. It looks like it has room for seven drives. I already have the dual PPro 200 processors installed. The machine only have 192MB of RAM installed. I will be looking at upgrading that. Does it have to be Compaq memory or will any compatible memory work?

Thank You once again

[JohnWRuffo]

Installing Win2K Pro on the ProLiant 800 (though not one of the intended O/S selections from Compaq), it should be no problem. Be sure to select "Windows" in the O/S Selection of the SCU.

One concern installing Win2K Pro is the controller drivers. This will not be a problem for you as the SMART-2 series were deployed in the "Workstation" market as well.

The RAM you need is listed below:

16MB Memory Kit (1 x 16MB EDO ECC unbuffered, 60ns) Spare Part Number: 225481-001
32MB Memory Kit (1 x 32MB EDO ECC unbuffered, 60ns) Spare Part Number: 225482-001
64MB Memory Kit (1 x 64MB EDO ECC unbuffered, 60ns) Spare Part Number: 225483-001
128MB Memory Kit (1 x 128MB EDO ECC unbuffered, 60ns) Spare Part Number: 225484-001

Here is a link to the ProLiant 800:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliant800/index1.html

Hope this helps! -john

[WP_1]

Well, I tried starting the upgrade process today. Starting with SP14127 to upgrade the system BIOS. Boot off floppy and run the utility. Select the new ROM image and when it goes to start, I get the error message "Flash Erasing Failed". I obviously cannot continue. Anyone have suggestions as to why I cannot erase the flash so I can program a new BIOS image?

Thank You!

[WP_1]

Sorry for all the messages but it's been a long Sunday. I got the system BIOS to update....stupid me I didn't COLD boot.

Next, I went to update the Smart-2SL BIOS using CP002241. I could not use CP002241 because it said the BIOS was too old and I should do it offline. I downloaded SP19677 which allowed me to flash it offline. It was successful. When I cycled power I got the error message:

"1770- Critical Drive Firmware Problem Detected. Upgrade firmware on following drives SCSI port 1, SCSI ID's: 0,2".

I pressed F1 to continue and it booted fine. Thinking I screwed something up I used CP002241 and it successfully completed. When I rebooted I got the same message. I loaded the Array Configuration Utility from SP6263 and it gave the message:

"Smart-2SL has been configured with a more recent version of ACU. At least one logical drive was configured with version 2.40"

I was unable to make any changes or even check anything.

So, my question is: How do I get rid of the Critical Drive Firmware Problem? Everything completed successfully so I'm not sure what to try. Even though it boots I wonder if I should even be using the OS for fear of corrupting it.

Thank You Once Again!!

[JohnWRuffo]

To fix the bios update "error" you are seeing, you need to update the bios on the Hard disks.

There are two things I need you to do...

1. Download the Bios updates for the disks, here:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/17149.html
This bios diskette set "can" require 15 disks. But you do not need to make them all. First, make the first disk. Just the first one; and then boot the server with that first disk. It will go through a detection phase and then tell you which of the other diskettes to make. The other diskettes will update the hard disk bios. If it says you need disks 3, 5 & 9 then make only those diskettes. Once you have booted off of the first diskette, then you can select the other diskettes by "refreshing" the disk. Follow the dialog prompts and update each diskette to the drives.
Once that is complete, re-boot.

The download the make this diskette, here:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/10468.html
This is the Monitoring and Performance patch. You need one diskette and only need to run it once.

This should fix all the errors on the controller.

If the bios error is still reported after using the first set, then give this SoftPAQ a try:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/16132.html

Let us know how it goes? -john

[WP_1]

First, Thank you!

I booted off disk one of SP19682 and I get the message "There are eith no drivers on disk or no upgradeable devices in this system". Hmmm. The drives are Seagate ST19171W or ST19171WC. It's been one of those days. Any other suggestions?

Thank You

[JohnWRuffo]

Ok... these are the other two:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/7702.html

or

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/16998.html

Wow... these usually get them...
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/17149.html
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/16132.html

[WP_1]

Thank you John!! Yet again..

The first link you listed was the one that worked. Now I am booting error free with updated firmware versions. Guess it's time to proceed with the installation of Windows 2000 workstation. With any luck I can quit bugging you with questions, but I can make any promises. :)

People like you are the ones that make forums like this work! Hats off to you!

Thanks again.

[JohnWRuffo]

Thank you for the complement (/smile)

You are not a bother, ever... the only dumb question is the one not asked. Feel free to post any request you need an answer to. (the answer is 42)

I am glad I could help you!

G'luck! -john

[WP_1]

Well, it's been a while but I now have Win 2K running on my machine and all appears to be well. I have loaded the Compaq Array Configuration (cp001954) v2.90a and I have a question. Running from windows, under the controller settings I see the Accelerator Ratio says total memory 6144 kb and 100% of it is allocated to the read cache. Is this typical? The reason I ask is copying files to this server is noticeably slower than copying between my two other machines. All machines are 100 baseT, full duplex. I though the SCSI system would fly but it is slower than my IDE systems. My thought was write caching may help speed it up.

Any suggestions to look at for increasing performance?

Thank You!

[JohnWRuffo]

Take a look at your SMART-2SL Controller. It does not have a battery attached to it.
http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/showphoto?partnumber=242777-001

The write cache priority cannot be set for a SmartArray controller if the battery is discharged or missing. The 2SL does not have a battery, so ACU cannot change the cache ratio.
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/papers/tc020202tb_rev0_us.pdf