Smart Start for ML570 with 5300 Controller

[Keith Romberg]

Got a couple of questions:

- Which is the correct version of of the Smart Start CD should I use for a Proliant ML570 with a 5300 Smart Array Controller?

- Can Windows XP run on it?

- 900mhz CPUs can be used to upgrade the 700mhz ones right? If so, do I just swap the processors or is there more to do?

Keith

[Keith Romberg]

OK, after looking around for a bit, it looks like I need version 5.5 for Smart Start, correct? What about the management and firmware CDs, do I ned them?

Lastly, is the cache model of the 5300 controller upgradeable? If so, what type of memory does it use?

Keith

[Igor Karasik · Accepted solution]

Keith,
1) yes, you need SmartStart 5.50 CD
2) Use Firmware Maintenance CD 7.40
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/23331.html
to update your server firmware
2) Xp not supported on ML 570 server, but you can try :-)
3) In ML 570 QuickSpecs you can find part numbers for 900 Mhz CPU and memory modules for SmartArray 5300
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10633_div/10633_div.html

[Keith Romberg]

Well, I got Windows XP up and running on the ML570 server with the SmartArray 5300 controller. The Windows 2000 driver from the SmartStart 5.5 CD worked just fine.

One question though.... why does Windows only see two CPUs?

Keith

[Igor Karasik]

Keith,
Windows XP Pro supports up to two CPU, (Home Edition supports only one).

[Igor Karasik]

See also question 4 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx#E1B
"Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor."

[Keith Romberg]

Well that pretty much makes no sense. If the 'os' can handle two CPUs, there is no reason for it not to be able to handle 4, 8, 16, etc. Is the reason for only two CPU support a marketing/sales angle from Microsoft?

Keith

[Igor Karasik]

I think it is marketing reason too, but generally speaking standard Windows XP user don't need more than two CPU.
The "server version" of Windows XP - windows 2003 - supports more than two CPU.
Windows XP 64-bit version still support up to two CPU.