Smart Array Drivers

[Ayman Altounji]

Installing NT4 onto this server it prompts for additional storage devices. It recognises the driver (Integrated Smart Array 42xx/43xx Controller) but at the next screen fails to identify any hard drives. Smart Start diagnostics shows that the drive array is working fine. Any ideas how to get it to recognise the hdds?

[Ayman Altounji]

Did you run the Array Configuration Utility and configured the drives on the controller ?

Is the Integrated Smart Array listed as " Controller Order First " in the System Configuration Utility .

[Ayman Altounji]

What I didn't make clear was that NT has been previously installed on this server. The server goes through the kernel load phase of the boot sequence then into the kernel initialization sequence (where the screen is painted blue), it completes counting dots as normal then briefly displays a message "DISPLAY_DRIVER.DLL BAD OR MISSING" before restarting the whole boot sequence.

Attempts to load a second version of NT (to access the servers drive) and to perform an Emergency Repair Process have been unsuccesfull as the installation process cannot get past the "SPECIFYING MASS STORAGE DEVICES" that is required in order to recognize the Compaq drive array despite extensive attempts with drivers from the Compaq web site and SSD etc.

There is a suspicion that a failed installation of PC Anywhere may have broken things and a reboot has totally trashed NT, but his cannot be reliably confirmed.

The only option I am faced with, since I cannot install a second copy of NT because of the array driver issue, is to install Windows 2000, butcher the registry of the failing NT4 installation to stop it rebooting, and copy the missing file off another NT Server.

The snag is that, although I would like to install a second NT version on this hardware, the previous NT had SP6a installed and I believe that the NTFS drives will not be readable by a non-SPed copy of NT?

[Ayman Altounji]

I have exactly the same problem on a DL360. I'm doing test with 2 different servers (DL36), and both have the same problem.

[Ayman Altounji]

I have exactly the same problem!!

[Ayman Altounji]

Sorted it. What you need to do is load the driver for the Compaq Integrated Smart Array/42xx/43x Controllers AND the Compaq Drive Array for Windows NT 4.0 at the point were you specify additional drivers. Things will work from then on.

[Ayman Altounji]

To the dude who said load the 42xx/43xx controllers AND the compaq drive array....

nada..that was a no-go on 2 DL380's.

[Ayman Altounji]

Yes, run through the Assisted Integration. Its long , but it works for this problem. Unfortunately I have Terminal Server so I think I have to install NT 40 server and then UPgrade to TS.

Compaq dudes, please put an option in there for NT 4.0 Terminal server.

[Ayman Altounji]

Well Im hosed now, Assisted integration doesnt have an option for installing winnt Terminal server. AND there are no drivers that work during NT setup off the cd.
Time to call 1-800-OK-Compaq and pay 200 dollars.

[Ayman Altounji]

Same problem with 2 DL380's purchased recently... awesome quality control on behalf of Compaq. I have wasted a whole weekend trying to integrate these 2 new systems into my TS Farm to find that it cannot be done *%!@!

thanks Compaq

[Ayman Altounji]

Wow! it only cost you a weekend!

[Ayman Altounji]

I think whats going to have to happen for us Terminal Server people -
Were going to have to disable the onboard integrated controller and install a smart array controller 2 or 3 or whatever. Thats a bad thing because of the additional cost. Now here's on thing I noticed and maybe somebody has an answer...
When I use the assisted install and get NT server setup, I look at the drivers for the array and it says StorageWorks ARray controller....All the drivers I've been loading haven't came up with that name for my drivers.

[Ayman Altounji]

Add another customer to the list, I've wasted one day trying to install ST on a DL380. Mine is right out of the box, if the problem can't be corrected, please send RMA for returning the defective system.

If the SHORT TERM work around is to load NT 4.0, then load TS over top, let us know. I plan on trying it myself....

[Ayman Altounji]

Nope. Installing TS over an NT install does not work. You will end up at the same place.

[Ayman Altounji]

Just in case you don't see my posting.... I called OK Compaq and was given a quick and easy workaround. 1) Complete a manual install from the Smart Start CD. 2) Complete the Array Configuration. 3) Start a fresh install of TS by booting from NT 4.0 TS CD. 4) when the POST completes and the screen switches to "Detecting Hardware", Press the F6 key. 5) Add the Int Smart Array driver from disk 2 of the SSD 2.20 reva. 6) Continue with the normal TS setup. This process loads the driver "before" Setup begins.
The system was still unstable (three blue screens) untill I loaded SP-5 and ran the SSD on the working OS. Strange thing was the SSD app saw the Array driver as out of date (came from the same disk???). I let the SSD app update the driver and everything seems fine at this point!
Now if I could get the NIC to work..... Oh well, one step at a time!

[Ayman Altounji]

Guys-

I hope this information helps out. We came across the same errors encountered in this forum. The compaq AUS helpdesk advised us that TSE installation on the DL380 was not possible. After much testing, including removing the integrated array controller an replacing the 3200 controller (from an 6400R) - we have had success installing TSE unattented natively with the integrated controller on the DL380. We performed the following:

1. Manual build with Smart Start 4.80
2. For the array, use the drivers from SP10445.exe (also on SS 4.80 CD).
3. Don't use the NIC that gets autodetected by TSE (Intel based), select "have disk" and point to the SmartStart CD cpqsupsw\ntssd\net\intelnic folder

This only worked in unattented mode, not in attended mode. We have built a couple of DL380s numerous times using this method and have been sucessful each time. For more information on the array, you can refer to the "Unattended Install Support for the Compaq Integrated Smart Array Controller" White Paper.

Regards,

Clayton

[Ayman Altounji]

I am sorry to hear that so many of you are having issues with the DL380. I have over 100 DL380 in production running MS Terminal server 4.0 and 2K. What you need to do is:

First set up your raid array via the smart start CD (RAID 0,1, 0+1, etc).

Then reboot the server with the MS TSE CD. When you see "Inspecting your system........" press the F6 key a couple of times. This will put you into the manual driver install mode. Follow the screen prompts as you would normally

When you get to the driver screen manually add the Integrated Smart Array 42xx/43xx Controller (use the drivers off the smart start CD. Use the CPQARRY2.SYS not the cpqarry.sys) then add the MS IDE/cd-rom driver via the list provided in this section.

The only other thing you have to worry about is the NIC driver during the Network set up. Choose have disk and use the intelnic from the smart start CD.

Do not install IE of IIS during your install of the OS. Causes headaches trust me.
Install those apps if necessary after you are up and running.

hope that helps..

If anyone would like an unattend.txt for this server just post a message and I will email it to you. As a reference I would suggest any book by Mathers on TSE and the Citrix Best Practices PDF www.citrix.com or www.thethin.net.

Sam

[Ayman Altounji]

Not sure where this stands now (extremely long). All - please remember that NT is VERY old now. It does NOT support a lot of current controllers. Including the array controllers we currently sell.

Anytime you need to install an unsuppported controller it's VERY important that you do NT setup in "custom" mode. This means either creating the install diskettes (WINNT/OX from the NT CD) or using the CD and pressing "F6" during NT Detect (when first starts). Then SKIP mass storage detection (critical) and specify the first controller using our drivers for the one you intend to boot from. Then specify a second controller using the IDE/ATAPI driver in NT. This is for the CD-ROM. That's as much as you can setup during the install of NT. If you have other controllers - they MUST wait until NT is running.

[Ayman Altounji]

Can I have this unattentent.txt as well as citrix pdf document ???
Thank you

[Ayman Altounji]

Averyone who has problems with smart array on DL380 !!!!!!
1.) Upgrade CDROM BIOS. From ftp://ftp.compaq.com download file 143777.exe, unpack it.
2.) From boot disk run flashe3 df90c.bin /pm
3.) Now your system will't hang while copying file to the system partition.

[Ayman Altounji]

Averyone who has problems with smart array on DL380 !!!!!!
1.) Upgrade CDROM BIOS. From ftp://ftp.compaq.com download file 143777.exe, unpack it.
2.) From boot disk run flashe3 df90c.bin /pm
3.) Now your system will't hang while copying file to the system partition.

[Ayman Altounji]

THANKS......I love you all :))) Having spent a week trying to get TSE installed on 3 DL380's and not being able to pick up the disk drives from a 5300 Array controller, I tried the above and it worked... thanks once again !!