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50590
March 7th, 2010 17:00
Poweredge 2850 - RAID key & other RAID components
Hi there,
I've recently bought a secondhand Poweredge 2850. I'm really pleased with it - it was a good price - but unfortunately it came without the RAID key or any of the other RAID hardware components.It's booting fine using a SCSI drive in a non-RAID configuration, but I'd prefer RAID.
I think that in order to have fully functioning hardware RAID on this system you need to have the RAID key, a RAID-dedicated stick of RAM (on the daughterboard, not the mainboard) and also a back-up battery. Is this correct, please?
Also: is it possible to run hardware RAID with only the RAID key, and not the battery or RAM?
I would assume that - if this is possible - it would operate slower than optimally, but the reason I ask is that I have found someone who can supply the RAID key at a good price, but he doesn't seem to have the other parts. I was thinking that buying the RAID key might allow me to test and make sure my system is all ok, and then I could shop around and buy the RAM &/or battery from someone else.
Even if all 3 parts are required before the hardware RAID is activated, does anyone know what kind of RAM is used for the RAID controller, please? Are there any requirements about the amount of RAM fitted? I guess I'm hoping that this is the cheap commodity type of memory, maybe the kind that I can pull from a Pentium 4 that I have kicking around here.
Many thanks for reading,
Stroller.
theflash1932
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March 7th, 2010 18:00
You are correct. You need the RAID key, memory, AND battery. The system will stop with an error if all three are not present. RAID controller memory should be the same specs as the system itself (PC2-3200R - DDR2 400MHz, Registered ECC memory), in 256MB only. The part number is 4D554. It must be Registered ECC memory, so unless you have a workstation with ECC memory in it, it will not work with standard DDR2 400MHz (non-ECC) memory from a regular PC.
Joe70
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March 25th, 2010 01:00
Hello,
You suggest to use the RAID controller memory in 256 MB. Isn't possible to switch with a 1GB memory with the same specs? (PC2-3200R - DDR2 400MHz, Registered ECC memory)
Thanks for your answer
pcmeiners
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March 25th, 2010 07:00
As to memory..
Raid cards can be very finicky about memory. I have purchased the exact spec/manufacturer (not the exact model) memory from outside sources... a number of times it does not work initially or intermittent issues crop up. Last stick (third party) replacement produced an error only once or twice a week .
theflash1932
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March 25th, 2010 09:00
No, it will give you an "Invalid RAID memory installed" message if it is other than 256. There are even cases where it will only take certain "types" of that spec of memory. The "certified" Dell part number to use is 4D554, although I have used other memory in there without errors - may have to do with the layout of the memory on the chip.