Windows 2003 doesn't recognize 2nd CPU on Proliant 3000

[Sailen]

I've installed Windows Server 2003 Standard edition on a Proliant 3000 with dual P3 500's. Windows is not recognizing the second CPU. I've tried to change the HAL but I guess you can't in 2003 like you could in 2000. I also installed XP and the 2nd CPU isn't recognized either. Anyone else having similar issues? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Oleg Koroz]

How about MPS from F10, had you looked there ?

[Sailen]

I've tried using the System Partition Utilities ti install Windows 2003 but still get the same issue.

[Kai-Uwe Schurig]

Hi,

i have the same issue on a good old PL 5500 with four PII 400 Mhz CPU's.
Only one CPU is recognized with Windows 2003 and i'm unable to change the settings to multiprocessor computer in the device manager.
I have found three documents in the microsoft knowledgebase regarding this issue:

Windows 2000 Setup Detects Only One CPU on Some Compaq Servers:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;252326

Checked this settings, APIC (not ACPI) was already set to Full Table and The OS Setting "Windows 2000" was not available (was set to NT 4.0).

HOW TO: Add Support for Multiple Processors in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234558/EN-US/

No luck with this, i was simply unable to select anything other then "Standard computer" in the device manager.

How to Troubleshoot Windows 2000 Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237556

I will try this method i have some time (the last suggestion using the recovery console).

I suppose that the PL 5500 does not support ACPI (i have the latest available System ROM installed), therefore i will try the HAL for MPS Multiprocessor PC.

I'll keep you updated when i have finished this last test.

Regards,

Kai-Uwe

[Sailen]

I think it's an issue with 2003. I remember reading on Micorsoft's webiste that older Pnetuim Pro's and some Pentium II's are not supported in a dual CPU config.

[Kai-Uwe Schurig]

Just found two other links:

ITRC-Posting with similar question:
4 processor Proliant 6400R
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=718956

Within this thread there is a link to another MS document:

Windows Server 2003 May Not Use Multiple Processors with Some Pentium Pro or Pentium II Processors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319091/EN-US/

So maybe i have no chance to get all CPU's in my PL5500 working with Windows Server 2003 :-(

Regards,

Kai-Uwe

[Kai-Uwe Schurig]

Hi,

i'm back an the good news are: my PL 5500 runs now Windows Server 2003 with all 4 CPU's ;-)
The solution is a mixture of the documents i have posted previosly.
A short summery:

- Make sure you have the latest available System ROM installed
- Read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;252326
- Boot to the systempartition and press CTRL-A in the main menu for advanced options
(this did not work if you boot from a SmartStart CD, you must have the system partition on your hard drive).
-change the setting that specifies the operating system to Windows 2000 (be sure to use version 2.48a or later of the system config tool)
- Change the APIC Mode to Full Table (should be done automaticly when choosing Windows 2000)
- Save Settings
- Read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237556
- Reboot with the Windows Server 2003 CD
- Start the recovery console and login to your Windows Installation
- Follow the instruction from MS an copy and rename the required files for MPS multiprocessor PC from the CD i386\driver.cab to %systemroot%\system32 directory
Important: Use the kernel for MPS multiprocessor PC and NOT for ACPI Multiprocessor PC (this did not work for my PL 5500, the server rebootet instantly with this kernel)
I have extracted the files before i booted in the revovery console and placed an renamed them in a folder %sytemroot%\system32\smpkernel. So the only thing i had to do in the console was to copy the files from this folder to %systemroot%\system32 and overwrite the existing (uniprocessor) kernel files. You had only to rename and copy three files: hall.dll, ntkrnlpa.exe and ntoskrnl.exe.
- Leave the revovery console and reboot
- Pray ;-)
- Windows is starting ...
- Maybe windows will find new hardware (you have now funny interrupts available)
- Have a look at the device manager: Computer: MPS-Multiprocessor-PC ;-)
- Look in the taskmanager: Wow, 4 CPU's ;-)
- Go tot Windows update an reinstall the latest patches
(there was a kernel update for windows 2003 last year, an we have copied some older kernels from the CD)
- final reboot
- Enjoy your SMP server ;-)

Good Luck and regards,

Kai-Uwe