HP ProLiant ML100 Servers RAID

[Andrea Cotignoli]

Hi,
how am I supposed to install raid drivers durign OS setup with floppy (...press F6 fo third party drivers...) if there's no floppy "option" on the motherboard?
thanks

[Kristian Andersen]

USB floppy drive.

Kristian

[Ronald Postma]

sometimes USB sticks also work, you have to copy the files in the root. But I also use a USB floppydrive

Regards, Ronald

[Ronald Postma]

forgot to add, if you have a smartstart CD that came with your server, boot from that CD and configure the server, you can choose wich OS you want to install and it will already load the proper drivers.

Regards, Ronald

[Andrea Cotignoli]

ok, first thanks to all for answers.
Now the question:
After long long, i repeat, long time i've found the final solution.
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=82711 here the link where they teach you how to change a config file in order to use whatever USB FLOPPY you prefer.
Another solution would be to use NLITE software to create a brandnew W2K installation cd with SATA RAID drivers inside.
Last one it's to BUY a HP usb floppy o HP usb key <--- this is the HP's suggestion ...
So my question is: HP sell a server with obvious server features like RAID but you cannot use embedded RAID unless you buy their usb floppy ... why don't they sell by default the usb floppy with the server?
In addition the technical assistance told me that this is not their fault but it's OS' fault as it needs a floppy to add a third party drivers .... so i told them if they know a way to use their server without any OS ..:)
I don't know what's wrong with them but of course it's been almost 3 years since they know about this problem and they keep saying they're right.
thanks and I hope this would help someone else in my same condition.
Bye
Andrea Cotignoli

[James ~ Happy Dude]

Hi all,

Above solutions recommend usage of USB FDD or SlipStream CD(Nlite) HOWEVER, Did you know that we can migrate from Jbod to Raid 0/1 on Embedded SATA RAID Controllers.

What does that mean:

1. Install OS with Embedded SATA RAID Disabled(No Drivers or F6 required) on one Harddrive.
2. Once OS is installed, Extract the Embedded SATA RAID Drivers to a folder.
3. Goto Control Panel-> Add New Hardware->Device is connected->New Hardware->Raid Controller->Have Disk->Browse to the folder where the Embedded SATA RAID Drivers were extracted. Select the .inf file->Install Adaptec Raid Driver.
4. Restart the Server goto BIOS enable the Embedded SATA RAID.
5. Press F8 and goto Sata Raid BIOS->Configure the Drives->Create Array->Raid 0/1 A warning message will appear "Warning: Configuring the drives will erase all Array information from the selected drives, if that drive is part of an array. Arrays using any of these drives as members will be affected! Do you want to continue?(Yes/No):". Press "Y" to continue.
6. If Raid 1 is selected it will ask you what is the Source Disk, select the Right Disk in which OS was installed previously. Warning message might appear again. Select "Y".
7. Rebuild will take sometime, once rebuild is complete restart the server.

Once rebooted Raid would be detected and windows would boot up, in windows it would detect new hardware and Adaptec Raid drivers will be installed. Now Server is built migrated to Raid Successfully.

By following the above steps we will not require USB Floppy or Slipstream CD(nLite).

The Above procedure could be performed on all Server where u need to install os on Embedded SATA RAID Controller.

Systems Supported:
HP ProLiant DL320 G5 Server
HP ProLiant DL320 G4 Server
HP ProLiant DL320 G3 Server
HP ProLiant DL140 G3 Server
HP ProLiant ML310 G4 Server
HP ProLiant ML310 G3 Server
HP ProLiant ML150 G3 Server
HP ProLiant ML110 G4 Server
HP ProLiant ML110 G3 Server

Cheers !
James

[James ~ Happy Dude]

duh! Jus read Andrea's last post.

FYI, Proliant 100 series servers are LOW Cost servers. hence there no advance features as in other series of servers we have.

The solution mentioned Above is the best solution to deploy these servers locally; keeping in mind that these servers were specially designed for REMOTE deployment(PXE) ... as far as i know.

Cheers !!

[Ronald Postma]

HI Andrea,
YOu did not mention the Smartstart CD, are the Proliant 100 series not deployed with these CD's, I have a Proliant 110 and it came with one, No floppy, config files change of whatever is needed, Very simple.

Booted the system, configured the raid (if nessesary) continue the wizard, choose OS and I was finished.

Personaly I find this method quite good.

Regards, Ronald

[ibud]

Thanks James,
Your suggestion worked for me.
I had originally configured the RAID and found after re-starting the OS wouldn't load, but I fortunately had taken an image snapshot (saved by ATI).
Once I restored the image and followed your "add h/w" guide, then configured RAID, it booted back into the OS properly.

thanks again !
Brett

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

I hear a lot of people crying about no floppy in 100-series. Ok, did you read before you buy? If they tell there is Floppy and there isn't - you have a reason, else I don't see nothing wrong. These are low-entry server and a lot of people are bying hundreds of them & install through a script(PXE/Network). If you want, you can always buy optional FDD...

[Andrea Cotignoli]

Are You kidding us? So if you buy a cheap car you don't expect to have also four wheels? Here we're not saying we want the best paying few dollars but at list a floppy connection on the motherboard. Or at least write clearly on the box that you need to buy an external usb floppy in order to use the RAID feature.
Whatever i don't buy a Ferrari and then go to other car's owner saying: You can't complain about problems of your car cause you should have bought a Ferrari.
Just my personal opinion
thanks

[markv_1]

I have a DL 140 G3 with SAS , for some reason the NLITE Version with the SAS Driver doesnt
work for me.

I used the Nlite Version 1.1 and 1.4 beta with the SAS Drivers cp007914.

Maybe there are other Drivers necessary for the LSI Logic External Controller, maybe someone can state.

It worked fine on a DL 320 with a SATA onboard controller though

The HP Service in Europe just said that I cant install Windows Server 2003 as they have no working process. I should buy a USB Floppy that should work , they have also seen it work on a HP USB Drive but that is not tested.( normal Floppy is no good as ( of course ) there is no plug avaible on the motherboard )

It seems that my distributor forgot to mention that that dl140 G3 with SAS is only good for REMOTE Setup as mentioned above, and shouldnt be setup normally.

The best part is, that the upper Class server like 360 or 380 suffer the same Problem, so they get a SmartCD , it is also written in the DL140 G3 Manual that there is a SmartCD but it is all false ;(

Why is it so hard, that I start with a SMARTCD , where I can use the USB stick and add manualle the desired Driver.

As the support stated to me they have often such Problems but as they are on the "support" site , no one will listen to them .....

that seems very lame ... and statement they are inexpensive therefor those Problems isn't so much true , as the DL140 G3 with SAS is not CHEAP ... its cheap that the customer has to see how he get windows server on that machine !

[James ~ Happy Dude]

Hello Mark,

I have posted some reference at
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1077023

Please let us know in case u have any specific queries;

I know, this is frustrating; & I also know, I have seen this working for many;

Lets hope this will work for you as well !!

:)

Regards,
James.

[Jeff Toronto]

I tried all solutions, but I won't fork out $75.00 for a USB disk drive to use for 5 seconds. HP goofed, and should admit it.

They (HP) should also have prepared an EasyStart CD like they did for other Proliant models (Dell does it for all servers).

Don't try to do a RAID on the fly. A waste of time. nLite software (free) is the best solution. Just download the Embedded SATA RAID driver "cp007490.exe". Extract it to a folder. Copy MS Server 2003 SB Disk One to a folder (include all hidden files). Start nLite, and point it to that folder. Then select add a driver option and nLite will integrate this (text driver option) into the folder where MS Server 2003 CD disk one is copied to. nLite will then make a bootable ISO for you, and even burn it to a CD.

Boot the Proliant, press F10, and enable SATA RAID. Re boot and press F8 and create an array, I used RAID 1. Add your drives to the array, and then select Clear (not Build, or Quick INIT). Then check the array (Manage Array) and make it bootable (CTRL-B). Reboot for the last time with your new CD, and follow the bouncing ball.........F6 is not required!

I wasted 2 days trying to create a RAID 1 array on the fly. But this method (nLite or slipstreaming) worked twice in a row, I bought 2 Proliants with Server 2003SB as a bundle.

And don't listen to anyone who might suggest we bought sub-standard HP hardware, so we are on our own, and this mess is our fault because Microsoft Server installation for RAID needs a disk drive. b.s., HP screwed up, but why they are inflicting so much pain on us (customers), is beyond me ! HP is taking credit for their customer work-arounds. They could make an EasyStart CD in a minute for the Proliant ML110 G4, there is one for the ML and BL 300,500 etc.

Good luck.

[Jeremy Thomas]

ML100?

ML110 or DL100 more likely. G1? G2? G3?

(This goes back a bit - it's a while since I've buggered about with one of these)

If it's a DL100, it comes with Windows 2003 Storage Server OEM. As you've got BS, it is most likely an ML110.

That means that they are not supported by SmartStart, and are configured via the on-board RBSU (Rom based setup utility)

The SATA RAID is not a proper RAID - it's 1/2 managed by the driver, 1/2 by the hardware. But as the process seems to differ each time they bring out a new server.

OK - Scratch that - looking it up, I see that there's quite a lot that may have changed HW wise since I was last cursed with a 100 series server issue, so you really need to talk to someone who has up-to-date information on the HW and can (probably) email you a procedure to install the server how you want it. Tey the Prolian forum for that - not a MS problem.

[Jeazor]

Where do i get a Raid driver for my ML310? I want to do a fresh install of W2K and it doesnt see hard drive when trying to install W2K, so I was going to do a F6 but dont have a raid driver floppy, but do have a drive connected. Any help would be great, thanks.

James

[James ~ Happy Dude]

James,
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=uk&prodNameId=3279699&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=327415&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=181#7813

You could use SmartStart to deploy win2k;

Regards.

[Jeremy Thomas]

Jeazor - I have a procedure that might help you.

[markbagus]

Hi all,

Just got a ML110 server.

Have installed a second HDD and enabled Embedded SATA RAID in the BIOS.

During bootup, I press F8 when prompted to enter the RAID setup and, after displaying details about the 2 HDD's, it ends up saying:

Utility found, loading wait...

However, it just sits there forever.

Is this normal? How do I acually get into the setup utility?

I have read about drivers etc. above, and have these ready for when I install my OS (SBS 2003) - but this problem is even before boot options etc.

Please help.

Thanks.

[James ~ Happy Dude]

Thats not Normal, But seen Many a times.
Check the BIOS Version, you may have to update it to the latest.

Regards,

[Jeremy Thomas]

> Just got a ML110 server.

You should really start a new thread...

> Have installed a second HDD and enabled
> Embedded SATA RAID in the BIOS.

Are the 2 HDDs IDENTICAL in size? Is the 2nd HDD an official HP part?

> During bootup, I press F8 when prompted to
> enter the RAID setup and, after displaying
> details about the 2 HDD's, it ends up
> saying:
>
> Utility found, loading wait...
>
> However, it just sits there forever.

Have you checked and updated the BIOS?

[markbagus]

I already have the latest BIOS (v1.11 - 01/11/08)

The second HDD is identical to the first, which came with the server.

Do I need to fiddle with the jumpers (at the back) on one of the HDD's? I know all about IDE but am quite new to the finer points of SATA.

The HDD's are on SATA ports 1 & 2, with the CDROM on port 5.

[markbagus]

Fixed !!!

Don't know how or why, but now goes into the RAID utility.

All I did was disable the Embedded NIC in the Boot list in the BIOS.

Afterwards, I re-enabled it to check and it still worked - when it would not before.

Dunno - strange. Hopefully it's not a dodgy motherboard/bios that will re-offend later on.

Thanks for your help anyway.

All the best.

[Eme Iheanacho]

Hello James,

I am having a similar problem installing Windows 2000 on DL 160 server. It appears your method might work but how do I disable the SC40Ge controller that shipped with my server