Problem with ProLiant DL320 G6

[Thomas Hutter]

Hello-
I purchased 3 identical ProLiant DL320 G6 Servers with 2 146GB 15k SAS Drives and B110i SATA Controller in each. When I first boot up, I needed to go into RBSU setup and enable the Embedded SATA Controller (B110i) and make sure the boot order saw it. That being done, the problems begin. Half the time the Server does not register the card on boot up so ACU cannot see it. The other half of the time, the Card is seen by ACU, but the drives are not. This happens on all three servers. Has anyone else run into this problem, or similar, and can you help me figure out why this is happening? Thanks

[TTr]

> 2 146GB 15k SAS Drives and B110i SATA Controller in each.

SAS disks and SATA controllers?

It is usually the other way around, SAS controllers will work with SATA disks.

From the quickspecs
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13344_na/13344_na.html

"SAS drives require optional SAS Host Bus Adapter (HBA) or Smart Array Controller"

[Thomas Hutter]

So what's the better solution? The Drives I have have SATA connetions, but they're not being seen. So should I get different drives (what kind?) or an extra card for the drives I have (what kind ie. p400i etc.)?

[Erdogan Temur]

Hi Thomas,

Server to use the following cards
462862-B21 : HP Smart Array P410/256MB Controller (RAID 0/1/1+0/5/5+0)

[TarunJain]

Hi Thomas,
Do you have 3.5 inch drives or 2.5 inch drives?

Following controllers can be used with SAS Hot Plug LFF (3.5-inch) Enterprise (ENT) Drives (146GB-600GB):
HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller with RAID 0/1/1+0 support
HP Smart Array P212/Zero Memory Controller
HP Smart Array P212/256 MB Controller
HP Smart Array P410/256 MB Controller
HP Smart Array P410/512 MB with BBWC Controller

Following controllers can be used with SAS Hot Plug SFF (2.5-inch) Enterprise (ENT) Drives (72 GB-300GB):
HP Smart Array P410/256 MB Controller
HP Smart Array P410/512 MB with BBWC Controller

[Erdogan Temur]

TarunJain very nice reponse. :)

[Thomas Hutter]

TarunJain-
They are 3.5" 146GB 15k SAS Dual Port Drives. P/N 454228-001

[TarunJain]

Thanks!!

[TarunJain]

Hi Thomas,

This hard drive is supported on HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller as per quickspecs shared above.

[TarunJain]

The same hp document is giving two totally different statements and the solution is also not working.

I request HP to clarify this situation

[TTr]

You bought SAS disks, they do NOT work with SATA controllers so you can not connect them with the B100i controller.

Did you read my quote in my previous reply from the server specs"

"SAS drives require optional SAS Host Bus Adapter (HBA) or Smart Array Controller"

You need to buy a SAS raid controller. The P410 is the newest and most powerful available. You will need SAS cables as well. Probably the ones you have will work.

[TarunJain]

Hi TTr,
Please check the quickspecs which you have shared.
It lists HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller with RAID 0/1/1+0 against 3.5" SAS Hard Drives.
I used the same information in my first post

[TTr]

> Tarun: It lists HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller with RAID 0/1/1+0 against 3.5" SAS Hard Drives.

Not sure where did you read this.

-----qucikspecs URL cut and paste-----

Entry & High Efficiency Models: HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller (RAID 0/1/1+0)
NOTE: Transfer rate: 1.5Gb/s SATA
...

Storage Controllers Entry Models HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller (RAID 0/1/1+0)
NOTE: Transfer rate: 1.5Gb/s SATA
NOTE: Hot Plug SAS and SATA controllers available via PCI card option.

High Efficiency Models HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller (RAID 0/1/1+0)
NOTE: Transfer rate: 1.5Gb/s SATA
NOTE: Hot Plug SAS and SATA controllers available via PCI card option.

------quickspecs end of cut and paste-------

SATA controllers (B110i) do NOT work with SAS disks.

SAS controllers will work with both SAS and SATA disks.

[TarunJain · Accepted solution]

There is table in quickspecs (format may not be accurate in this post, search for it in quickspecs):

SAS Hot Plug LFF (3.5-inch) Enterprise (ENT) Drives
Quantity
Supported Position
Supported Controller
600GB 6G 15K DP
450GB 6G 15K DP
450GB 3G 15K DP
400GB 3G 10K DP
300GB 6G 15K DP 300GB 3G 15K DP
146GB 3G 15K DP Up to 4 1-4 HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID Controller with RAID 0/1/1+0 support
HP Smart Array P212/Zero Memory Controller
HP Smart Array P212/256 MB Controller
HP Smart Array P410/256 MB Controller
HP Smart Array P410/512 MB with BBWC Controller

[TTr]

I don't see how this is possible. There may be an error in the disk section of this document. SATA controllers do not support SAS drives.

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=SASInstall&vgnextoid=5850f5fcc1a46110VgnVCM100000f5ee0a0aRCRD
(last line of second paragraph)

http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?admit=109447627+1267209175187+28353475&threadId=1299701

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12244_div/12244_div.html

[marcus1234]

sas and sata disks have similar interfaces but the subsystems work differently ,

a sas controller supports both sas and sata disks
but not in the same array
you can have a few working arrays,on a sas controller

feks 2 arrays a sata one and sas one but the disks cannot be mixed..

each type of disk must be on its own array

a sata controller supports only sata disks

[Thomas Hutter]

Tarun, TTr and Mark-
Thanks much for your input and info. I fell into the same trap Tarun fell into reading the quickspecs; that the SAS drives would work with that card. I think the best thing for me to do would be to get SATA drives for the servers and keep the other drives as spares for other servers that I know take those drives. HP is going to have to do something about the ambiguity of their reference sheets, but that's for future debate elsewhere. Once again, thanks for all of the help.