HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 - RAID1 Configuration

[Blusion85]

Hi all,

I'm not sure If I post this message in correct topic of this forum, if not, I'm sorry.

I've an HP MicroServer Gen8 and I'm very happy with. But for security reasons I want to mirrored the two 500GB drives to RAID1.

It's for me along time ago to configuring RAID and I forget things quickly. I use this server for private and office use.

I've two hard drives from total diskspace of 500GB (both are original HP disks). I saw that the HP Dynamic Smart Array was not enabled in the first boot sequence when I start the server. So I go to BIOS for setup. I followed this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSQWJCbvpAA (from HP, the uploader is someone else btw)

When I was in the BIOS I go to:

1 System options

2 SATA Controller Options

3 And then Embbed SATA configution

4 I get an warning message pop-up, when I want to enable and I press on enter (I followed exactly the tutorial on youtube)

5 Enable Dynamic HP Smart Array B120i RAID Support -> I press on enter

6 Then I go to Advanced Options and press on Advanced System ROM Options and I enable the Virtual Install Disk

7 I go look back on System Options if I see now that the Dynamic HP Smart Array B120i RAID Support is enabled, but I didn't see it.

In the video is ROM - BASED Setup utility, Version 3.00

Copyright 1982, 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

And in this server is :

ROM - BASED Setup utility, Version 3.00

Copyright 1982, 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

Small info: I see under PCI Device enable/disable that the Dynamic HP Smart Array is enabled. But howcome I cant see it under System Options?

Is this good? I'm a bit stuck at the moment. Via 'provision' on pressing F10 (I'm not sure if I spelled it correctly) I can configure RAID1 settings (local). I know my way in BIOS and other stuff, but it's for me along time with RAID configuration, I feel like an noob/newbie again, haha.

Can someone help me away? :)

Thanks in advance!

Sincerly,

Blusion.

See attachment what for server this is and what I use. Just for information.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Refer to How to Enable or Disable B120i Controller.

If you can configure Raid in F10 "Intelligent Provisioning" then controller is working.

Thank You!
I am a HP employee
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[Jimmy Vance]

In regards to item 7, I think what may be confusing is in that video they talk about both the B120i and the B320i.

The B120i options are:

Enable SATA Legacy

Enable SATA AHCI

Enable Dynamic B120i

You can Enable/Disable the B320i

If you have Enable Dynamic B120i selected under controller options, and PCI options show it as enabled you should be good.  During POST you should see the B120i Firmware message with the option to configure

[Blusion85]

Thank you to both!

Yes, it was a bit confusing in the video.

Okay. Yes, under PCI Options from Dynamic B120i is enabled. Not under 'System options'.  I've also enabled Instal virtual disk. Is this also OK?

The boot order I set on Dynamic B120i :). Via 'Intelligant Provisiong' I configure the RAID1.

If I'm troubled again, I post again for help.

Again; thanks for the information and help me out from confusing!

[Jimmy Vance]

I generally don't enable the VID. if you haven't updated Intelligent Provisioning, the drives in the VID can be old.

[Blusion85]

Okay, I disabled VID.

No, I didn't updated Intelligent Provisioning.

I see in PCI Device Enable/Disable that the hp dynamic smart array b120i raid controller is enabled.

And in standard boot order (ILP) I see that the harddrive C:  at ILP1  (see Boot controller Order)

If I go to Boot controller Order I see: Ctlr:1 PCI Embbed HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID Controller.

I think it's good now.

Can I go now to Intelligent Provisioning?

[Blusion85]

@Jimmy Vance

or

@Suman_1978

Last update:

I'm in Intelligent Provisioning. I've set up an RAID1.

RAID level: 1

Strip size / Full strip size: 265kIB /265 KIB ( is on default)

Sectors/Track

32 (on default)

Size

Maximum Size: 476907MiB (465.7 GiB) (default)

But when I create the logical drive, it ask me with the cache memory and that's at 0 MiB. (it gives an yellow waming).

Under tools with Cache manager I can edit the cache memory.

Thanks for helping me out. If you want :).

Best regards,

Blusion.

[Jimmy Vance]

The B120i doesn't have a cache module like the 'P' series Smart Array controllers. What little cache it can access is actually system memory. HP SSA will show a yellow warning, but it isn't something you can change or fix

[Blusion85]

Thanks for the information @Jimmy Vance!

So I can leave it alone and I can ignore the yellow warning? Because I can't fix or change? (I'm now again in the HP SSA).

[Jimmy Vance]

Yes, just leave it as is and everything will function as it should

[Blusion85]

Okay, thank you :).

I can now finally install Windows Server haha :).

Can I do this also in Intelligant Provisioning "Configure & install" or on the oldschool way?

(Oldschool: DVD in ROM and starting up in boot menu from DVD-ROM for installation? )

[Jimmy Vance]

You can install either way. Using IP, HP tools get installed along with the OS

[Blusion85]

Ok, thank you.

When I do Configure and Install, need I use the DVD from Windows server to install it?

Perhaps a stupid question from me....

[Torsten.]

If you have a current version of intelligent provisioning, you should use it for installation. Otherwise you can install from a normal install media. to be up to date, you should install the current SPP 2015.06 finally.

In either case you need the OS install media.

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/home

[Blusion85]

OK. Maybe it's the oldschool way starting up from DVD-ROM a better call for me.

Under below  (in HP Provisioning) I see that I'm using the following version: 

HP Intelligent Provisioning v1.61 Copyright 2013-2014.

[Torsten.]

1.62 is the current version.

However, install the OS and run SPP 2015.06.

[Blusion85]

Thank you, Torsten!

I'm now looking for firmware update via Intelligent Provisioning. Maybe I can update to v1.62.

I will install the OS.

[Torsten.]

Better use SPP for firmware. Download the ISO, create an USB thumb drive and boot from.

[Blusion85]

I can't obtain/download the ISO of SPP.

When I press on obtain download, I was logged in and I try to download, but it doens't work.

I try to hard today, so I think I do a step back.

[Torsten.]

If your server has still warranty, register the serial to your profile, then you can access SPP and BIOS downloads.

[Blusion85]

Hi,

My server is still in warranty. But the funny thing is, that I can't download the SPP.

But I will register the serial.

Can I install the OS on the server?

Thanks,

Blusion.

[Torsten.]

Try to go to

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/home

and click

Manage my contracts & warranties

then you should be able to get the SPP from here

https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?idx=&action=driverDocument&itemLocale=&swItemId=MTX_cd2a06e0e3984d8fac09731197&lang=en-us&cc=us&mode=

[Admin: the above link is no longer valid. You can refer the below link instead]

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/km/search#q=Proliant%20microserver%20SPP&t=All&sort=relevancy&numberOfResults=25

[Blusion85]

So far so good, I followed below.

I checked the contracts and warranties. And than I click on the link bottom below. But I can't still download the SPP.

I'm sorry..

I see an menu with following:

Link support agreements

Link HP Care Packs

Link warrenties

Batch link tool

View my contracts and warranties

Manage contract & warranty shares

Edit my contracts and warranties

Transfer ownership

Unlink contracts and warranties

Help

[Torsten.]

Once you are in "Edit my contracts and warranties" you should add the servers serial, then (still signed-in) go to the download page I linked above to download SPP. Once the OS is installed, mount the SPP and run hpsum.bat in hp\swpackages.

[Blusion85]

My results:

Linked support agreements

No entitlements found.

Linked HP Care Packs

No entitlements found.

Linked warranties

No entitlements found.

Once I put the serial number from the HP MicroServer Gen8, I get nothing.

I'm thankful that you're helping me, but what I do doesn't work. Maybe it is that I've no contract at HP, and that's why I can't download SPP.