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HP ProLiant server config using ACR utilityon Intelligent Provisioning

Dear Experts,

I just got a new HP ProLiant server and I'm trying to configure the RAID array using the ACR utility in Intelligent Provisioning. Problem is that every time I try to set the read cache for the RAID controller, it doesn't take upon reboot and I keep getting the same issue message. Also, the controller is not recognizing ANY of the 4 SAS drives I've mounted into the enclosure. HP documentation sends you in circles, and there are no unsupported media devices attached. Any ideas on how to get around this?

Thanks,
ORBIS user

Member_2_231077

Need to know what server it is, exact part number would help. Is there more than one controller listed in the drop down list in the ACU, what model controller does it list?

Read cache settings are automatic, do you mean write cache?

orbisuser

ASKER

Hi,andyalder,

The server is an ML350e Gen 8. The only controller is a Dynamic Smart Array B120i. The drives are 600GB 15k SAS, part number for the drives is 653952 I think.

I've researched some solutions and I flashed the firmware for the B120i and the Intelligent Provisioning software. But I also think that SAS functionality may not be supported on the B120i unless an optional license key is installed. See page 9 on this linked .pdf:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/14343_div/14343_div.pdf

I'm guessing my vendor just forgot to mention this when we said SAS was a requirement?

Also, ACU only offers option to set read cache at this point, not write cache. I'm getting two error codes:

347 Cache for B120i is not configured
267 There are no configurable physical drives attached the current controller

I've enabled the B120i in BIOS. I don't know what' causing error 347. For error 267, I'm thinking that the SAS support license key is missing and that's why it can't see the drives. The drives are currently all showing solid amber LEDs, but they're brand new so I know they're not broken.

Member_2_231077

B120i is the Intel chipset RAID with a BIOS tweak as far as I understand, it doesn't support SAS at all. It says no SAS support on page 10 of that PDF in blue writing to make it stand out. Sounds like you should have got a ML350p. I think you'll have to buy a real Smart Array controller and put it into a PCIe slot but have to go to bed now so can't confirm until tomorrow.

347 Cache for B120i is not configured can be ignored, it's because it can't see any disks so no array to set cache for.

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Member_2_231077

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orbisuser

ASKER

Hey, I just talked to the vendor and he did confirm that the B120i does NOT support SAS, so you were correct. He said he's shipping me a P222 Smart Array free because they screwed up. I think this will be okay.

Thank you very much for your help with this. Your advice made it easy for me to ID the core issue and fix it.

Regards,

ORBISuser

Member_2_231077

Sounds reasonable, P222 supports 4 internal SAS/SATA disks and 100 more in external enclosures. You may have to disable the B120i Vis:

For systems with the B120i SATA controller:
1. Boot the server into System Options.
2. Navigate to SATA Controller Options -> Embedded SATA Configuration
3. Change it to ENABLE SATA AHCI SUPPORT (from RAID support).