Drivers for Windows Server 2008 R2

Question

PE1950, 2950 and MD3000i MPIO on Windows Server 2008 R2 We're trying to nail some dates down to migrate our W2K8 platform to R2, and plan the project.  We have most of our technical plans in place, and we have the code.  We have no drivers from Dell though, and there are several questionable communications coming from Dell on this topic..... Case #1: http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/insideit/archive/2009/08/10/ready-for-the-transition-dell-provides-support-for-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx Note: Our engineers have missed countless dinners, piano recitals and episodes of American Idol while spending thousands of hours of testing and validation to make sure Dell products running Windows Server 2008 R2 are business-ready. We have complete driver support for Windows Server 2008 R2 for Dell hardware so you can deploy it, run it and manage easily. You can go here to download drivers. If you view the service tags in our related product support groups, you find an R2 option for servers...but only utilities, on the PowerVault MD3000i you find no reference to R2 at all. Case #2:  http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Supportted+Dell+PowerEdge+Systems+for+Microsoft+Windows+Server+2008+R2+Beta This is a Beta list for compatible PE servers obviously, however it would make sense if Microsoft has natively included the correct drivers for Dell hardware in the Microsoft R2 RTM distribution as well, just can't find any documentation to support that, and not sure if the network drivers are compatible with MD3000i. Case #3:  There are a few hacks to get legacy Windows 2008 MPIO drivers working with the RC R2 & MD3000i on this forum, however...no reference to R2 in the MD3000i matrix, and nothing on the site...therefore we are left wondering again where are the correct drivers for R2 RTM? Can someone from Dell and or this forum please post information concerning these questions? #1: Driver matrix compatibility for Windows Server 2008 R2 running on PE1950's and PE2950's connected to an MD3000i is this a supported configuration?  (RTM R2 code has been released to Microsoft's volume licensed customers) #2: Are the network drivers for the Host machines included in the Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM media?  If this is true, are the MPIO drivers for MD3000i and other Dell iSCSI platforms included in the Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Media as well then? #3: If any answers are no to questions #1 and #2....could someone PLEASE contact the driver certification folks over at Dell to see if they are even in QA at this point, if they intend to update them and post an estimated date for release?  We have contacted tech support, but have recieved very vague responses on anything with R2 at this point.  There is a company directory and an escelation path for support tickets, but mediums like this make it much easier to share the information to the masses, we just haven't found it yet.  Thanks for your information, comments and support! OptimalState

OptimalState · Accepted Answer

I finally was routed to someone who could give me some information on this within Dell, here is what they said:

PE 1950/2950 drivers:

The driver should be natively included in Windows Server 2008 R2 media, and if so, would those drivers would be supported by Dell in a production scenario.

MD3000i:

I know we will not release a new MDSM that will support 2008 R2 until sometime in October. The MD3000i requires the Dell Drivers and MPIO drivers for the MD3000i be installed to work correctly. I will see if there is any other information I can find. I understand your frustration and I was told by a senior engineer that this has been corrected in the next MDSM and MD3000i firmware release due in October.

So it looks like October before MD3000i will be supported.

OptimalState

festuc · Answer

What happens with MD1000 ? Since it's connected to a Perc 6/E I suppose it don't need any extra driver except the one of the PERC that it's already compatible with R2.

cjtompsett · Answer

With Windows 2008 R2 the PERC 6/E driver is native. To manage the MD1000 you will want to use Dell OpenManage 6.1 -cjtompsett

mrokkam · Answer

The new firmware and MD storage manager supporting windows 2008 R2 is now available on the web. Make sure that you download both the firmware and the new Resource CD and follow the correct upgrade procedure:

- Take a backup of your data / "gather support information" using your MD Storage manager or CLI.

- upgrade the MD Storage Manager on all systems connecting to the array (management stations as well as hosts in order to update any drivers etc)

- Upgrade firmware on your array.

-Mohan

http://support.dell.com

Deacons11 · Answer

I have followed these steps but Windows 2008 R2 does not recognise the MD3000 disks on either of my cluster nodes - the ports on the HBA cards are not lit up on A or rapidly flashing on B. I previously had this configuration working under Server 2008 so I know it is valid - just the new OS version and new MDSM/firmware has changed. MDSM reports the Array to be optimal and other than Windows not seeing the virtual disks the only other indication of an issue is the following system event log entries:

Log Name:      System
Source:        LSI_SAS
Date:          12/10/2009 2:34:27 PM
Event ID:      129
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      VS04B.deacons.com.au
Description:
Reset to device, \Device\RaidPort0, was issued.
Event Xml:
http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">


    129
    3
    0
    0x80000000000000

    2754
    System
    VS04B.deacons.com.au


    \Device\RaidPort0
    0F001800010000000000000081000480040000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000810004800000000000000000

Log Name:      System
Source:        LSI_SAS
Date:          12/10/2009 2:34:13 PM
Event ID:      129
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      VS04B.deacons.com.au
Description:
Reset to device, \Device\RaidPort0, was issued.
Event Xml:
http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">


    129
    3
    0
    0x80000000000000

    2753
    System
    VS04B.deacons.com.au


    \Device\RaidPort0
    0F001800010000000000000081000480040000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000810004800000000000000000

Any suggestions to troubleshoot the cause?

Thanks

mrokkam · Answer

Did you try to delete and recreate the host after updating the OS/firmware (I am assuming it is the same system with the same HBAs..but just might want to refresh things.

You could also try going to Program Files\DSMdrivers\dsmutil.exe and try running dsmutil -a and see if the connections show up there.

-Mohan

Deacons11 · Answer

Thanks Mohan! Recreating the hosts followed by a reboot fixed this issue.

sbha · Answer

Thanks to every one i need dell inspiron n5050 drivers for windows server 2008 r2 64 bit

minhtu · Answer

Hi.Can you help me ? i want to install window server 2008 on my laptop .But i can not look for drivers .My laptop is N5110 . Can you show me where N5110's driver is ? thanks you

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