NetServer LPr - RAID array problem

[Jerome Pelland]

We have bought some used stuff on the net and i need to create a server from all that stuff. The server is a HP NetServer LPr P3/700mhz. The raid controller is a HPDA PCI dual channel (rebranded Mylex DAC960PL). The drives are in an external IBM EXP15 exclosure. The OS is installed on 1 internal SCSI drive and the data would be on the external array. I have 4x9.1gig Seagate on channel 0 in the external enclosure that work fine. The problem is that i also have 5x18gig on channel 1 but they are dissimilar.
1x IBM 18.2gig
2x HP 18.2gig
2x Seagate 18.2gig
all drives have slightly different disk space (few meg more or less).

The Mylex tool for array configuration (GAM under W2K and DACCF under DOS) found the drives but give me an error when it try to save the configuration. The HP tool (jetset) tell me i just cannot create an array with dissimilar drives. I've try with the latest firmware from HP and from Mylex for the RAID controller but i always have the problem. From what i know, a RAID 5 array can be made from dissimilar size disk but the array size will be adapted to the smallest drive in the array. Any hints or any help would be welcome...

[CA660377]

The mylex controller is the oldest controller available from HP. I don't think it is supported on the LPr. Newer controllers will allow different sized discs to be added to arrays, but this one does not. I would suggest upgrading the controller.

[Alicia White]

I totally agree with Theo.

The Mylex controller is the only HP RAID controller that requires all drives be the same size. For this reason, the Mylex controller is the sole exception to HP's policy of replacing 4GB, 9GB & 18GB U2 drives with 18GB U3 drives.

A quote from HP's policy document:
"...HP supports the use of the 18GB 10K RPM hard disk drives to replace defective 4GB and 9GB hard disk drives, except for array configurations based on the original HP Disk Array Controllers (HP Mylex DAC Product numbers C3609A and C3610A)."

See the original document at:
http://www.hp.com/cposupport/information_storage/support_doc/lpn12968.html

Now, to clarify:
this policy doesn't apply to all 4Gb, 9GB and 18GB U2 drives. This policy only applies to the drives compatible with the LH3, LH4, LC2000, LH3000, etc.
Read the document at the link above for more details on the effect Hard drive part numbers and servers.

[Jerome Pelland]

It seem you didnt really understood what i needed. Finally, i bought a second flash chip to upgrade the board to 2x128k. With 256k of flash, i upgraded the BIOS to version 3.xx from Mylex and now, i can create array with dissimilar disk size AND create system drives bigger than 32gb. Thx anyway...