DL100 rebuild problem

[Neil H-Carpenter]

Hi there

I'm rebuilding a DL100, which I purchased without drives. Having made a search, I notice variations on the same problem appearing - here is my situation:

I am suffering the same issue several others have had; the HP restore DVD saying that it doesn't detect a RAID controller, despite a RAID controller working apparently fine.

I have a ProLiant DL100 Storage Server 1 TB
model 367989-B21. The Adaptec SATA RAID controller is 2410SA firmware Build 7244 (version 4.1-0). I have four identical new 250G drives in place, and have created a Primary and Secondary OS and Data partitions . With or without the partitions the same message is given. I've tried 9G (0,1), 9G (2,3) RAID 1; 12G same. I'm using the HP ProLiant DL100 Quick Restore DVD 4.3 370817-003.

I'm running a DVD drive into an internal IDE port rather than over USB (various comments lead me to belive that the drive is not the problem with DL100s, although I understand that USB drives have been an issue on other servers).

What factors cause this failure? Partions or their lack? Partition numbering? Partitions sizes? Partition naming? Partition status? Other hardware? DVD drivers? Lunar cycles?

Is there a force install? Is there a hardware prep tool (like Compaq SmartStart)?

Things I could try: imaging the DVD on to a USB hardrive. More partition juggling & renaming (the partition numbers start at zero - don't know how to fix that).

The last thread I read that had this problem fixed it with a full replacement (I don't think that is viable in my situation).

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[peyrache]

hi
what are drive manufacturer ?
seagate or maxtor ? are the mixed or this is the same manufacturer for all 4 drives ?
JYP

[Neil Carpenter]

Thanks for your question: They are all identical Seagate Barracudas, purchased together, but not HP parts (the trays for DL100s seem rare, and whilst I have tracked down some original drives in the US it was going to be a long wait). Currently they are set up with three raid partitions; #0 is 12G Primary OS RAID 1; #1 is 12G Secondary OS RAID 1; #2 is 660G+ Data RAID 5. All are Optimum.

I haven't tried to update the RAID controller firmware yet.

I did pull the external SCSI card and put in an Emulex FC HBA, but would expect a different error message if this was causing a problem (it's not loading its BIOS yet, no RAID attached).

[peyrache]

there are an issue with seagate drives and quick restore dvd,drive geometry is different between original maxtor drive who QR dvd has been builded and seagate drive, you need to find maxtor driver or put a larger capaticy in order to have QR working
JYP

[Neil Carpenter]

Thanks, Jean-Yves - that's interesting. So the geometry of the hard disks imapacts the QR, even if it's looking for the controller?

When you talk about size, do you mean Primary OS partition size? I have no problem with increasing that, as 12G is probaly too skimpy these days.

I might be able to find two maxtors, but probably not four. Will that cause problems if I try to initialise two discs only?

Thanks again

[peyrache]

you need 4 drives in order QR works
but you can mix up maxtor and seagate if
you get 250G maxtor you must have 500G seagate in order to fix geometry issue
if you have only 250G seagate so order 160G
maxtor and you can create a 630G raid4 for data
hopes it's clear
JYP

[Darrin Addams_1]

I tried plugging a drive in directly to the IDE interface on the DL100 motherboard and while I can't remember exactly what issues I experienced, I do know that I couldn't restore the system. I had to buy an HP external caddy (the USB one) and plug it in to the front USB socket (it might have been one of the rear ones but I think it was the front one) for the restore to work successfully.

You can find the HP caddy (model PA509A) on eBay or here:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06c/A10-51210-329227-329245-329227-414365-414367-414368.html

Hope that helps :)

[Pierre Christen]

Hi all,

Well I seem to have found a gold line of DL100 power users so I am going to try to put my question... Thanks in advance.

1) I am about to purchase a DL100 (NAS1500) but I am missing the trays for the sata drives. Anyone would know if I can install drives without the trays in this unit ? Or have any ideas on the tray part #, searched HP extensively.. obviously not enough...

2) Can I use larger drives, say 500GB or 1TB hard drives ?

3) Can this device be installed with Linux for example ? There is a Win license sticker but I don't have the media.

4) Is that box "almost" like a normal server, or is it so specific, nothing can be done outside of HP's planned usage ??

Wow, lots of questions ?? I guess I am trying not to get stung by a dead duck that will be collecting dust... yet an other one !!

I really appreciate an response to any or all my questions. Thank you in advance.

[Darrin Addams_1]

Microgluf, you're best off starting a new thread for your questions so that people can be assigned points when they answer you :)

[peyrache]

reponses with >>>
JYP
1) I am about to purchase a DL100 (NAS1500) but I am missing the trays for the sata drives. Anyone would know if I can install drives without the trays in this unit ? Or have any ideas on the tray part #, searched HP extensively.. obviously not enough...
>>>normally drives come with trays so i do >>>not know , but if correcly installed it >>>should work
2) Can I use larger drives, say 500GB or 1TB hard drives ?
>>>500GB max

3) Can this device be installed with Linux for example ? There is a Win license sticker but I don't have the media.
>>>you can take free DVD for Restore on >>>pointer below
http://h20293.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=397649-002

4) Is that box "almost" like a normal server, or is it so specific, nothing can be done outside of HP's planned usage ??
>>>this hardware has been optimzed to run >>>Windows Storage Server Software

[Pierre Christen]

Thanks phykell for your advice, I didn't realise that.

JYP, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions..
Seems I will also have to buy a proper HP USB DVD-Rom.
I will follow your advice.

Encore merci !
Pierre

[peyrache]

yes you need to get HP DVD drive in order to restore
JYP

[Neil Carpenter]

We come full circle :-) I got mine running a month or so ago.

You can put SATA drives directly into the unit without caddies (which seem next to impossible to find economically), and a little bit of wedging will hold them there - but don't obstruct the airflow!

The HP W2k03 restore disc is free, and does the job. *However* the unit and software is really finicky - it will not play nicely (in my experience) unless you have purchased or borrowed the kosher HP USP carrier and DVD drive.

Having spent some months assembling the various bists, I was so glad that 4 250G drives worked I didn't try larger combinations - however, I can tell you that the unit is happily supporting a further ten FC 140G drives as JBOD, so it's a 2.5T server (and supports HD video over 1G ethernet) - so it's not a white elephant by any means.

[Darrin Addams_1]

Neil, rather than wedge your drives in, the HP DL100 is almost identical to the Dell 745n NAS unit and the caddies are certainly interchangeable. I bought some for mine and they are the same part other than the HP ones having a purple sticker on the left hand side! The Dell caddies are a lot easier to source than the HP equivalents - I got mine from eBay but you can buy them elsewhere I believe.

Hope that helps, and please assign points if it does :)

[Lord Pit]

Dell 745n and NP HAS1500s (DL 100) are identical i case shape so U can use Dell parts as spare, the differance is that DELL has CERC6 (6x SATA) raid inside.

[Lord Pit]

Can U give me your hdd geometry i;m trying to recover WSS on NAS1500 but after making RAID 0 with 4x250GB drives my Volumin has only 966GB. Please tell me what kind of wrives you used to recover from QR.

[Darrin Addams_1]

Probably worth adding that the HP and Dell cases sides are different so, for example, the mounting rails are not interchangeable which is a shame as the Dell ones are easy to find, unlike the ones for the HP.

[Darrin Addams_1]

Another thing worth mentioning is that I've got a Dell 745n and after having to go through the restore process for one of those (very difficult to source the correct setup disks and then find a suitable USB key and prepare it correctly), the HP restore process is relatively painless!

[Lord Pit]

I had Dell 745n but coudn't find any recovery disks, so i exchanged it for NAS 1500. The process will be easy if i get all parts wright.

[peyrache]

seems for me correct size of Data disk after complete rebuild with 4X250G disk
what are you looking for
JYP

[Lord Pit]

I still have a problem with QR and I have two possibilities
1. My NAS1500 raid has been upgraded - so it wont work
2. My disks are with wrong geometry - 250GB isn't allways the same

That's why I'm asking :)

[Darrin Addams_1]

Can you be more specific?

What do you mean by "geometry"? The disks should probably be all identical - size, model, firmware and manufacturer. I wouldn't attempt to build one of these units unless that was the case.

I'd then ensure that I use the QR disk to initialise the array size - there's no way I know of to specify the array size if you're using the QR disk.

When you say the "RAID" has been upgraded, what do you mean? You haven't tried to update the RAID card's firmware have you?

As for the Dell 745n, once you get the right disks and USB key, it's not so bad.

[peyrache]

did QR failed during Raid Creation ?
JYP

[Lord Pit]

I didn't know that QR makes raid himself, I made raid manualy. I must check your info, it might solve everything.

[peyrache]

well QR do all jobs for you including
raid creation
JYP