Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
3 Posts
0
10067
March 4th, 2006 18:00
Hardware RAID1 on SC430?
Is there any reason that a hardware raid1 would not /could not work on this machine at the BIOS level, using this Adaptec card?
I recently purchased an SC430 server with 2x80Gb SATA drives and Win SBS2k3.
As part of my Grand Plan for this machine, I opted to install an Adaptec 1420SA Raid1 card and a hot swap Tray for a removable drive. I have had quite a bit of trouble setting up the RAID1 as the Adaptec card could see the drives, but would not setup the mirror array. I ended up wiping out my factory install of SBS and was forced to go back and reinstall from the cds.
In searching for answers, it has been pointed out to me that on the SC430 purchase configuration section of Dell's site, it specifically says " RAID 1 requires 2 hard drives and "mirrors" your data to the 2nd hard drive. Raid 1 can be configured on the SC430 via the Operating System."
Now, the optimist part of me wants to believe this is just an indication that the SC430 does not have a hardware controller built into the Motherboard and therefore the software option is the only one available. However, the pessimist in me is concerned that for some unexplained reason, this is a warning that a Hardware RAID1 is not an option under any circumstances and all I am doing is chasing my tail. BTW - The pessimist voices in my head are being cheered on by the fact that Dell does not offer a CERC controller card option on this machine as they do the SC830. Can anyone shed any light on this issue?
Is there any reason that a hardware raid1 would not /could not work on this machine at the BIOS level, using this Adaptec card?
I recently purchased an SC430 server with 2x80Gb SATA drives and Win SBS2k3.
As part of my Grand Plan for this machine, I opted to install an Adaptec 1420SA Raid1 card and a hot swap Tray for a removable drive. I have had quite a bit of trouble setting up the RAID1 as the Adaptec card could see the drives, but would not setup the mirror array. I ended up wiping out my factory install of SBS and was forced to go back and reinstall from the cds.
In searching for answers, it has been pointed out to me that on the SC430 purchase configuration section of Dell's site, it specifically says " RAID 1 requires 2 hard drives and "mirrors" your data to the 2nd hard drive. Raid 1 can be configured on the SC430 via the Operating System."
Now, the optimist part of me wants to believe this is just an indication that the SC430 does not have a hardware controller built into the Motherboard and therefore the software option is the only one available. However, the pessimist in me is concerned that for some unexplained reason, this is a warning that a Hardware RAID1 is not an option under any circumstances and all I am doing is chasing my tail. BTW - The pessimist voices in my head are being cheered on by the fact that Dell does not offer a CERC controller card option on this machine as they do the SC830. Can anyone shed any light on this issue?
Is there any reason that a hardware raid1 would not /could not work on this machine at the BIOS level, using this Adaptec card?
0 events found
No Events found!
SteveHebe
3 Posts
0
March 17th, 2006 16:00
Technically...No. but I am being told by my consultant that it "should" work.
The reason we have not moved ahead is that I am being told that they want to image the drive that is currently setup with SBS 2K3, because when they configure the 1420SA with the drives as "containers", this will effectively erase anything that is currently on the drives. Once the RAID1 is configured and the drives have been formated, they plan to copy the "image' back to the primary drive.
Can you offer any input on this issue?
ActiveMike
8 Posts
0
March 17th, 2006 16:00
No!
But I want to have a hardware raid 1 on the SC430 from which the os is booted.
ActiveMike
8 Posts
0
March 17th, 2006 16:00
SteveHebe
3 Posts
0
March 17th, 2006 17:00
If you haven't already bought your SC430, I saw a deal on the SC1420, which comes with hardware RAID1 for only a little more money! SWEET! :smileywink:
If you already have your SC430, you will face the same challenges that I have encountered. (My frustration comes from the fact that a consultant has already wiped the drive once trying to configure the RAID and now we must do so again. If the imaging works, it's not so bad, but if it doesn't, it's simply a lot of wasted time)
PLEASE NOTE - this is only if you want a hardware RAID1. Software RAID1 is a super simple process using the OS.
ActiveMike
8 Posts
0
March 17th, 2006 17:00
ocular
4 Posts
0
March 27th, 2006 09:00
My SC430 came with two WD800JD (80GB) Sata HDD.
This article from adaptec says there are problems with the "JD" series and the 1420SA
See here
http://ask.adaptec.com/cgi-bin/adaptec_tic.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=14154&p_created=1127142307&p_sid=n2lATv3i&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MzQmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfbmwmcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD0xNDIwc2E*&p_li=&p_topview=1
The promise Fastrak TX2300 gets impressive reports from these reviews (yanking out drives with win2k3 booted up) on a SC430. It is only a 2 port sata II card. the TX4300 is the four port version. My understanding is that the Fastrak TX2300/4300 are only driver/software engines. I should imagine this card is equivalent to the Dell Cerc 2s card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16816102063
I have installed a SiI 3112A 2 port sataraid PCI card and put a boot array as raid 1. I have adjusted sc430 bios to boot from mirror array after Cd, but before sata 0. On boot up after the raid bios comes up the process halts " Strike F1 to continue or F2 to enter setup. " This doesn't happen if the array is not the boot HD. Hitting F1 allows the boot process to continue.
This is a hindrance as it means key board input is required to reboot. I presume this is a function of the sc430 bios as hitting F2 enters SC430 Bios. I have changed PCI slots and looked thru the bios but no good.
Need to have a FAQ with a list of add in raid controllers that work.