Preserve Array w/Replacement Controller

[Joe Bova]

I have two Proliant 3000's with bad 3200 array controllers (1783 error - and yes both are bad). We've been unable to locate a replacement 3200 so we have purchased a 5302 contoller. Is is possible to recover the original array configuration using the 5302 without losing data? Here is the bad news - the system partition is part of the inaccessible array and we have no backup from which to restore.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

[Claude Boileau]

Hi Joe,
In normal circumstances you can upgrade to the 5300 since the information of the raid is keep on the hard drive and the 5300 will pick up on the hardware raid (and you would also need to do the system board firmware and run the SCU utility). BUT IT DOES NOT take the same OS driver and since the system is down you cannot run the CSP to put the 5300 array controller driver. For that reason YOU CANNOT just use the 5300, it will NOT pick up on the OS because it will not use the 3200 driver. So it will not work.

claude

[Joe Bova]

You are correct that the incorrect OS driver will not be loaded. As long as the array can be preserved, I can try to bring the system up from another partition (built on the fly on another drive) and at least recover data from the array.

I was hoping that the 5300 controller might also respond to the 3200 controller enough to bring up the old OS.

Thanks for your speedy response.

Thanks,
Joe

[Frank Kaufman]

Joe,

Your best bet is to steal, beg or borrow a 3200 for a few hours (maybe from anoher server), bring the unit up, add the drivers for the 5302, shut down, swap controllers and boot up.

We just did the same thing and worked fine.