HP Netserver LPr * RAID problem

[HypNoTic]

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...

Thanks,

-HypNoTic

 

[Woodie]

I've used a few of the Mylex DAC960 cards (IBM branded).

Using DACCF (I always boot to DOS to configure the arrays:

I would suggest creating two "system drives", one w/ the 9gs, and one w/ the 18gs. I don't worry about the drives being "different", they're all almost identical in size, and there's not much you can do about the speed (RPM) anyway. Besides, the controller is slow enough that you won't notice the drive speed difference (if there is one) much.

When you install the OS, don't touch the two data drives until W2K is fully installed. Then, from disk manager, create a volume set across both "drives" (arrays). That way the OS sees a single logical drive/letter. and you get the most space (4x18+3x9)=90g vs (7x9g)=63g.

I'm not familiar w/ HPs software, but I've found DACCF to be reliable (if slow). Which exact version of the firmware do you have on the controller, and is it HP or Mylex?

If you can, add more cache. I've had a 16MB ECC DRAM installed (at an angle) for a while now. The SIMM slot only leaves room for a SIMM w/ all the chips on the front, but I've had mine fall out only once, even though it's not all the way seated.

 

[HypNoTic]

Right now, the firmware is 2.73 from Mylex (latest version supported on this specific controller with only 128kb of flash). The latest firmware from HP is a rebranded Mylex version 2.47 and have problem with 18gig drives, it give error when reading disk size. I have 4 meg RAM installed on this board.

To be more specific, I'd like to create 1 array with 5*18 but DACCF can only create system drive up to 32gig and no more. The GAM tool from Mylex (for Windows) allow me to create the size of array i want with differents drives but it cannot save the configuration.

 

[Woodie]

I see the problem. I'm running the newer firmware w/ the additional chip. Cost me ~$20 to get someone to provide a second chip and flash both chips to the latest (Mylex) bios levels. IIRC, it was Jack at badflash.com. I still have the binaries, if you need them.

I have the newer firmware, and I've only done 4 gig drives, up to 28G partition. I don't think the size will be an issue w/ the newer firmware.