Non-Functioning F10 in the Configuration Utility PERC 4/DC

Question

I have a computer (non-Dell) with two PERC 4/DC Standard FW 351S cards installed attached to a 220S.  When I get into the Configuration Utility, I can select an adapter, select the Easy Configuration, use the space bar to select all drives, hit the Enter to Select a Configurable Array (use the space bar to choose 'Span-1').  This is where I get stuck...I try to select 'F10-Configure' and nothing happens.   This happens on both controllers and reoccurs when the cards are installed on another machine as well.   FYI - The cards are installed into 32-bit slots.   Any suggestions would be most appreciated!   Mike Horan

Dev Mgr · Answer

How is your cabling set up and how is the PV220S set up switch wise?

You mentioned you have a single system with 2 PERCs connected to the PV220S.

The only valid option for that would be split bus. If you don't have the switch set for this (and done a powercycle for the PV220S), your problem is probably the invalid setup.

Pictometry · Answer

I have the 220S in split-bus mode, 1 connector from each PERC card (port 0) goes into the 220S.

The 220S has been powercycled since setting into this mode.

Does a non-functioning F10 indicate an invalid setup?

Thanks!

Joshua Fung · Answer

I encountered the same problem as well.  My computer is Compaq Evo W8000, which has an on-board SCSI adaptor. Same as Pictometry, I can press to select/de-select HDD and press to complete the array.  But later pressing F10 but nothing happen.  I have only 1 PERC 4/DC installed on a PCI-X 64 slot.    Joshua Fung

Joshua Fung · Answer

I might have got the clue.   Pictometry, does your main board BIOS uses F10 the function key for any function ?  For example, does it use F10 to enter BIOS setup mode ?   In my case, my m/b BIOS uses F10 to enter BIOS setup mode.  So, even when I am in the LSI RAID BIOS config mode, when F10 is pressed, somehow it was detected earlier by the m/b BIOS and thus was executed and consumed there without passing on to the LSI BIOS.  Therefore, F10 becomes inactive in the LSI BIOS mode. I change the adaptor and HDD to another computer, which does not use F10 for anything useful and find that the problem disappear. Though, this does not help me to solve the problem.  I still need to find a way to use the LSI adaptor card on the system uses F10.   Any suggestion ?

Pictometry · Answer

That's interesting!!  The machines I've tried are Compaq's, and I'll bet that the F10 does have a function tied to mb BIOS.   I've tried all potential combos of PERC's (single or dual) into the array and the F10 proved to be the end point of all configs over 3 compaq machines.  Regretfully, all I have are Compaq's, so I'm kinda stuck there.   Let me know what you determine!   Thanks again for the insite.   Mike

Joshua Fung · Answer

My older rig is not a Compaq, and I can get to the F10 configuration screen and config to RAID 0 or 1 well.  However, that is an old P3 desktop does not have PCI-X bus and is kind of slow.  I won't be able to use the capability of the RAID card to the full.  That's why I purchase the faster Compaq m/c.  But now, with this terrible F10 conflict, it makes me regret with my purchase.

Pictometry · Answer

So I got the array 'initialized' on my generic box. I've got 2 logical drives now configured via BIOS. I have also installed drivers on Win2kPro, and see the SCSI controller in Device Manager.

I then tried installing OpenMange to see if I could init the array for Windows use...since I'm not using a Dell server, the software will not install. I then tried to initialize the logical drives using MMC - Disk Mamgement. They are not recognized.

I'm now a bit 'stuck' as to how to get Windows to see and init the storage.

Any suggestions or clues from anyone?

Pictometry · Answer

How do I create the Virtual Disk (Container)?  I do not see that as an option through the BIOS.  Do you have to create the VD though the array manageer software?   I think I'll be OK once I can get the VD created.

Dev Mgr · Answer

I run a PERC3QC on a non-Dell system running W2K3 and it works fine with array manager.

If the virtual disk (container) is already crested, regular disk management should see it and allow writing a signature, partitioning, formatting and assigning a drive letter.

Joshua Fung · Answer

Did you go to Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage/Disk Management ? If you have the logical disk/array created, you should be able to see the uninitialized disc on the lower-right panel.  Right click on the disc icon, you should be able to attached the disc, then can create partition.

Pictometry · Answer

This is the same interface as the MMC provides. The array does not show up as an available drive. I have tried a few different versions of PERC drivers to no avail.

From what I understood from the manuals, the OpenManager is where you create a 'Virtual Drive' which, once created, will them make the drive available to DeviceManager / MMC.

Any other thoughts?

pcmeiners · Answer

Message Edited by pcmeiners on 02-04-2006 10:21 AM

PowerVault

Non-Functioning F10 in the Configuration Utility PERC 4/DC

Was this post helpful?