ML350 G3 - In place upgrade to Windows Server 2003

[A Worley]

Am posting for info...

In-place upgrade to Windows Server 2003 Standard Ed from Windows 2000 Standard Ed on ML350 G3 (2x Domain Controllers).

Forest Prep and Domain prep completed successfully.

Winnt32.exe /checkupgradeonly did not report any problems.

Ran Winnt32.exe from within Windows 2000 DC.

Installation files copied OK.

Reboot OK.

F6 for SCSI driver update - on one setup the drivers were copied successfully, on another a .txt error was reported from a module on the Windows Server 2003 setup CD. This was ignored as setup does have compatible drivers for SA 532 and 5312 array controllers.

Setup continues, but will prompt you for NC7760 updated NIC drivers - have these to hand (setup will ask for q57xp32.sys).

Setup continues but will ask for "HP Teaming drivers". Only install.exe could be found on HP support, no drivers or unpackaged files. This prompt was safely ignored on one DC and I removed the HP Teaming program on the second DC before upgrading it.

Setup will continue normally until setup reports that 0 minutes are left. Presumably on final re-boot, setup will then hang with a grey screen and mouse pointer. No mouse connectivity is availble. I observed reads/writes to SCSI array for 1.5 hours and then solid read/write lights to array. DC left overnight, no change. Hard power off performed and re-boot was OK to Windows Server 2003 Standard Ed OS. This hang occurred on both my DC's, which are identical apart from their Raid Controllers (532 and 5312).

You will get Service not started errors on successful boot. These were related to the "HP Proliant System Shutdown Service" (which fails to start because of dependancy errors) and "Microsoft Fax".

One DC is reporting its processor as "Processor" whilst the other is reporting correctly as "Intel Xeon".

Both DC's have been up for 24 hours now and there are no major issues. Active Directory, Replication and Site Topologies appear OK.

Good luck!

***********************
Server Spec:
ML350 G3
Intel Xeon 2.4Ghz
1GB RAM
NC7760 NIC (x1 not teamed)
Smart Array 532 or 5312 Raid Controllers
36.4GB Ultra 320 10000rpm SCSI Drives (RAID 5)

[Roger Faucher]

Just out of curiosity, did you install the latest BIOS and firmwares from here:

http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/69_4678.html

before you started?

Make a great day!

Roger

[A Worley]

That would be my main failing here! I obtained all the updated drivers I was going to need, but omitted the BIOS or any firmware updates.

I did do a thorough search of HP for BIOS/firmware issues and couldn't find any, so took the decision to continue.

I am upgrading another identical server today (member server, not DC). Will update BIOS, NIC and array firmware first and see what happens. I could try the "/noreboot" switch on install but that would add another variable into the equation.

Cheers!

[A Worley]

Updated the BIOS on my last ML350 G3 to version 2004.09.15 (on-line flash under W2K Server).

Windows 2003 Server in-place upgraded completed successfully (with F6 SCSI updates and NIC driver update). Final re-boot was OK this time.

Lesson learnt.

(Now having mystery BSoD's on one of my DC's - happy days).

[A Worley]

Update BIOS before performing in-place Windows 2003 Server upgrade.