The driver works with RSO

[JR Nielsen]

I have 2 compaq proliant RSO storage systems which I'm trying to get up and running under 2000. I loaded the windows 2000 softpaq as advised but still unable to switch over automatically. Works ok by pressing F8 then the letter Y. Any suggestions

[Doug de Werd]

which storage system? Is it the SmartArray Cluster Storage (aka MSA500). How are you testing for the automatic failover?

Thanks,
Doug

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi,

On the older RSO configurations there was a heartbeat cable (serial I believe) which went between the systems, is this installed?

The F8 procedure should work OK because the BIOS is configured for a RSO Master/Slave setup, one system being nominated as the primary server (You can check this using F10 at POST) I'm sure the Operating system side relies on some other things however. I will try and locate further documentation and post it here later.

Hope this helps,

Brian

[Doug de Werd]

There are 2 versions of RSO. The older one used Smart Controllers and a JBOD that had to have a specific RSO circuit board in it, and it also used a special serial cable (not a standard serial cable) for the heartbeat. The new one uses the Smart Array Cluster Storage aka MSA500) conencted via Smart 5i or SA 532 controllers, and does not use a serial cable (heartbeat goes over SCSI cables).

So it would be helpful to know which version of RSO and which storage system is being used.

Thanks,
Doug

[JR Nielsen]

First let me say Thank You for your help
I have the older version of the RSO storage. I've installed the latest Win 2000 drivers from HP's site. The heartbeat cable is attached as required. I have one server as a master and another server as the slave. With the primary server running I boot up the slave and at post it says " Standy by server configuration not ready. Attempting to establish link with primary server. Press F* to switch now."
Prior to my upgrading to win 2000 if I turned the master off or if it blue screened the switch would occurr automatically after about 20 seconds. Currently I still have to force the switch. What do I need to do to get back to the automatic failover. It seems the slave isn't aware of the master.

[Mark Slaughter]

The RSO/U Storage unit is not supported in Windows 2000. It is only supported in NT4. There no drivers for the RSO board in Windows 2000.
There is a new RSO option. It is software based and is used in conjunction with the MSA500. It is supported in Windows 2000. It is not supported Windows 2003.

[Doug de Werd]

Mark is correct - the storage system and version of RSO you have is not supported under Windows 2000. It works at the F8 prompt because that is "underneath" the OS. The old RSO driver only works under NT4, and not Windows 2000, so that's why it won't do a normal failover.

Your easy option is to stay at NT 4. If you have to move to Windows 2000, then you have a couple of options, but both of them require purchase of a new storage system (MSA500), and possibly new servers (if your old servers are not supported witht he MSA500). One option wouldbe to get the new RSO option for the MSA500, and the other would be to use Windows 2000 clustering with the MSA500.

I wish I had better news.

Thanks,
Doug