Using Ghost Enteprise 8.2 with ML110 (RAID1)

[Louis Vézina]

I'm trying to take a Ghost image from a mirror array on a ML110 but when I want to select source drive in Ghost, the computer freeze. Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn't work, nothing else than press the power button work. If I use the version 1.00 BIOS that include an older version of the RAID controller firmware, it work but I get something like 20% of the normal speed. When I use a newer BIOS, nothing to do, it doesn't work. Anyone as a trick to make Ghost work in this situation?

Thank you!

[Stussy]

Its possible to take an image with ghost even with the latest bios.
You have to start the server with ide turned on in the bios and then you can take only a working ghost that is the exact size of you're harddrive.
With this command ghost -id -fis
so the array information is also in the image
Don't forget to change in the bios back to raid before you start windows!

[Louis Vézina]

And how can I push the image on a RAID 1 volume? If I create the array after pushing the image on the first disk, all data is erased...

Thank you!

[Stussy]

You have to start with only you're disk with the image on, the array is recognized (its in you're image) Start windows and restart. (new hardware detected).
Then you have too put in the second disk, be certain its formatted (so there is no array information on it).
And know you can create a hot spare in you're storage manager and it will start rebuilding.

[Louis Vézina]

And there is no way to do this operation without making tweak like that? I have 50 ML110 installed each week by technician on the road. The server already have the second hard disk installed. I'm thinking about returning to IBM, I've never had difficult with the Adaptec RRAID Controller.

Thank you again for your support.

[David Godbold]

We are just evaluating a ML110 and have found the same problem, we have been unable to load a gost image on this box when the using SATA RAID 1. We have use SATA RAID on other Hardware and have had no issues in loading a Ghost Image. We are conducting a 3 year tender to purchase over a 1000 units so HP needs to resolve this issue or we will be looking for another vendors product that works with Ghost.

[Peter Malakhov]

Same problem but with HP Proliant ML310 G3 and HP Embedded SATA RAID controller.

When SATA RAID is enabled in BIOS and I boot from a DOS floppy, Ghost 8.0 does not see the hard drives or freezes when selecting source drive.

I can ghost the drive after disabling SATA RAID, but then I cannot re-enable RAID on the cloned server. I get a warning that all my data will be erased.

previous poster said to enable IDE in BIOS instead of SATA, how do I do that? provided instructions are not clear. Please be more specific or detailed.

Thank you!

[wahyudi]

I experience the same problem with ML110G4, I'm using Acronis true image server. The symtom is exactly the same as mentioned above.
After booting with acronis boot CD then freeze after the main menu displayed.

[Peter Malakhov]

An update on the resolution:

- Build ML310 G3 server chassis with a single SATA HDD; do not enable SATA RAID in BIOS.

- Boot from a network bootable floppy (I used Bart's MODBOOT floppy with Broadcom NIC drivers), use Ghost 8.0 to load Disk > From Image, located on a network share.

- Boot into Windows, run through the mini-setup, restart.

- Install software that is not currently in the image (these are deficiencies):
* Uninstall Adaptec Storage manager, install HP Storage Manager
* Install Microsoft Update client
* Install MDAC 2.8

- Add second hot-swap SATA HDD, restart.

- Upon restart, enable SATA RAID in BIOS Advanced Options, and press F8 to start BIOS SATA RAID Config Utility.

- Use "Configure Drives" menu to select both HDDs. There will be a warning:

"One or more selected devices has a valid partition. There is a risk of losing data if configured. Continue? (Yes/No)"

- Ignore the warning and press Yes.

- Use "Create Array" menu to create a RAID 1 array using Build method (THIS IS IMPORTANT!). There will be a warning:

"A member drive contains valid partition table or boot block. When a RAID array is created, this info will be destroyed. Continue? (Yes/No)"

- Ignore the warning and press Yes to create the array.
IMPORTANT: Select Drive 00 as Source Drive. This is the original drive that sits in the lowest hot-swap slot.

- Array will be rebuilt, it takes more than 6 hrs with 80 GB SATA drives, so do it overnight.

- After array is completed, mark it as Bootable by pressing Ctrl-B and quit the BIOS Array Config Utility.

- Voila! The system boots to Windows, and array is recognized in HP Storage Manager.

[Cesar C. Cheng]

I tried the updated solution from Peter M. and was unsuccessful. After the last step, it boots into the Windows 2003 splash screen and goes into a rebooting loop.

The only difference I can think of is that I'm using HP ML310 G4 with a Windows 2003 image. Also, I am using the latest BIOS and RAID SATA firmware.

Does anyone have a fix or a working solution in which we can ghost an image to and from a RAID 1 drive using the embedded HP SATA RAID? Can any HP moderator help me?

[Rafael Pedrosa]

I have the same problem with ML150 G3. I cannot use Ghost, the speed of copying files is very slow. Are these server some kind of junk?

[Mark Wilf Lawrence]

Has anyone got a fix for this yet? I have a ML110 G4 and using Ghost 8.
I need to Ghost the system partition regularly in a test lab and going through the steps decsribed is just too painful (if they work at all).
HP, can you provide an elegant solution please ?

regards,
Mark

[Joshua Small_2]

I gave up on ghost some time back.
Try using this free product (did I mention it's free? why pay for Ghost)
http://clonezilla.sourceforge.net/gparted-clonezilla/

[ramesh75]

I have 2TB drive on external storage. Ghost can see it but we are not able to select that drive when we try to take image. please help

[adishu]

Anestis Margaritis hi
Have same problem but i manage to fix it.
Its long, But at least its work.
1.The image that you make have to be connected to a different controller then the LSI RAID Adapter.(on IDE or usb Storage,** Dont use sata disk on the HP Integral adapter or the LSI **)
2.You need to make BurtPE disk with the Acronis true image plug-in.(information about it in Acronis website)
3.Make Floppy disk with the LSI RAID drivers(use the win2k drivers).
you will need to put this drivers when the BurtPE loading up with F6 key (install all the 5 drivers from the floppy).
4.Make a Disk-on-key (or other storage device that u can connect to the server)with the win2003/your operation system LSI RAID driver.
5. Connect all the above to the server and launch the BartPE from the cd.(dont forget!!
F6 key to install the raid drivers)
6. Launch Acronis true image & restore the Image with the Universal Restore,Place the LSI RAID driver to the "Additional Drivers"
& proceed with it.
You have just finish the Process.

*** After its finish Boot up the server,you have to wait a long time until you can work with mouse/keyboard (like 20~ min.)
*** after the server is up he will ask you to restart him because he finish to install new hardware. !!!DONT DO IT!!!!
Before you do that install the lan driver
& place the ip of the server ( IP,SM,DG, and the important one DNS). if you dont do that you will need to wait a long time until the your operation system will be up again (at least one hour).

I learn all of that in the hard Way.

Good Luck

Adi