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HP ProLiant DL380 G7 not seeing second drive cage

I have two HP ProLiant DL380 G7 servers with the optional second drive cage installed and connected to the HP SAS Expander Card. On both servers when I go to configure the raid by booting off the CD that came with the server I do not see any of the drives in the second cage. When I power on the servers I do see the light on the drives flash, but that soon goes away.

I have a HP Smart Array P410i Controller

Am I missing something?

Thanks

Randy Downs

Maybe this install procedure for the expander card will help - http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01703837/c01703837.pdf

Installation requirements
For the HP SAS Expander to function properly and fully, observe the
following requirements:
• Cache availability—A cache module must be installed on the
Smart Array P410 or P410i Controller.
For more information, see the HP Smart Array Controllers for HP
ProLiant Servers User Guide on the HP website
(http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Prod
uctRoot.jsp?).
• Latest firmware—Confirm that you have the latest firmware
installed. To download the latest firmware, see the HP website
(http://www.hp.com/go/support).

Biofilminc

ASKER

When my boss bought the extra cage she was told that our raid card needs 256mb of cache and it does have 256. We were never told that we needed to buy more cache. If I get the HP 256MB P-series Cache Upgrade will this allow me to use the cage?

http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.asp?mfg_partno=462968-B21&pagemode=ca&jumpid=in_r3924%2Fkc

Randy Downs

That appears to be the case. You might give them a call before you order Hewlett Packard Technical: 800.334.5144

Also ensure that you have the latest firmware.

Biofilminc

ASKER

I just talked to CDW and they are sending me out 2 512mb cache upgrades for free. So I hope that solves it.

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IT-Monkey-Dave

Cache isn't the problem unless it's not functioning at all. Are you sure the cabling is done correctly. Enough HP users have had cabling issues with the SAS Expander that HP issued this support doc:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=115&prodSeriesId=3884082&prodTypeId=15351&objectID=c02034113

Biofilminc

ASKER

The instructions say that each pair has to be the same cable length and that the length can vary between pairs. So I had a pair using one length and another using another. So I made sure all 4 cables were the same and also installed the cache. Running faster than ever.

Member_2_231077

Hmm, instructions contradict this article which says they must all be the same length.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01734863&lang=en&cc=us&taskId=&prodSeriesId=3923500&prodTypeId=329290

Problem I had was needing first aid after touching the heatsink on the expander chip!