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Does Raid Controllers support Tape Devices?
I'm trying to help my customer hook up their HP ML360 G3 server running on Redhat Linux ES 3.0 to a SLR100 tape device. I have all the SCSI options enabled in my kernel but still could not detect the tape device; "cat /proc/scsi/scsi" does not show tape device.
A call to the tech support guy told me that RAID controllers normally have difficulty connecting to tape devices. And i'm using the "Smart Array 6402/128" which is built into the server. However, my customer claims that his HP DL760 G2 server running on Win2k with the same built-in SCSI card could detect the SLR100. I'm wondering whether what the tech guy said is true? Or does Win2k allow RAID Controllers to function differently? Can anyone help me please?
A call to the tech support guy told me that RAID controllers normally have difficulty connecting to tape devices. And i'm using the "Smart Array 6402/128" which is built into the server. However, my customer claims that his HP DL760 G2 server running on Win2k with the same built-in SCSI card could detect the SLR100. I'm wondering whether what the tech guy said is true? Or does Win2k allow RAID Controllers to function differently? Can anyone help me please?
Normally RAID controllers will only support HDs. That is why you will see more that one SCSI controller in a server. A SCSI RAID controller for your HDs and a standard controller for CDROM drives, tape drives, etc.
I don't know Linux. But we have a couple HP servers with tape drives on the RAID Controller that work just fine. We generally try to put it on a different controller for performance reasons, but I've never had a problem getting one to work on a SmartArray controller.
I have numerous servers with tape drives hanging off a RAID controller. They are on a separate channel from the array, however.. (dual channel cards) Never tried this with linux, however...
HTH,
exx
HTH,
exx
There isn't a ML360 but the ML350 and ML370 both have onboard SCSI to run your tape off anyway. There's an internal cable supplied as well - it's not connected to anything and hidden near the removable media bays.
Only time you put a tape on the RAID controller in a Proliant is with the DL servers where it goes in one of the hotswap disk drive bays or if it's the only device on that scsi channel for external drives.
http://priede.bf.lu.lv/ftp/PUB/Win/OS/datori/Compaq/Proliant350/linux/Compaq-Proliant-Howto-mar.pdf says cpqarray under linux doesn't support tape drives on the integrated smart array controller.
Only time you put a tape on the RAID controller in a Proliant is with the DL servers where it goes in one of the hotswap disk drive bays or if it's the only device on that scsi channel for external drives.
http://priede.bf.lu.lv/ftp/PUB/Win/OS/datori/Compaq/Proliant350/linux/Compaq-Proliant-Howto-mar.pdf says cpqarray under linux doesn't support tape drives on the integrated smart array controller.
ASKER
From what i found out about the DL760G2 server, the on-board SCSI is actually Smart Array 5i and it is using the CCISS driver which require special instructions to get it working on Linux. Does anyone know whether ML370G3 using Smart Array 6402/128 requires special settings to work in Linux?
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