PERC's do not support non-RAID, so you are on the right track configuring/initializing the RAID first, but as polar said, you need a driver too ... this driver:

ftp.dell.com/.../DELL_MULTI-DEVICE_A07_R211422.exe

Make sure to run the EXE to extract the files before use.

Which version of Windows are you trying to install?  It matters.

What RAID level to you intend to use?  For what purpose?

In addition, you stated that you are new to the PE 2950. Are you new to servers in general? Below is the definition of a PERC. Although primarily related with Dell, it is a hardware implemented device used in conjunctions with raid configurations. No matter the vendor (HP, IBM, DELL, etc.), if you have a controller, you will have to load drivers for it.

Search dell's website for Dell Open Manage. This should be a downloadable program that is used to prep your system for an OS install.

The DellTM  PERC (PowerEdgeTM  RAID Controller) family of enterprise-class controllers is designed for enhanced performance, increased reliability and fault tolerance, and simplified management—providing a powerful, easy-to-manage way to create a robust infrastructure and help maximize server uptime.

Hi POLARBEARMAN &  theflash1932

Thanks so much for your reply  , actually I'm an Oracle DBA , but I'm in need to configure this server for a new database instance , the servers contains 4 disks*146 GB ,  it was configured  by raid 1 first , but i did remove it  just to use all disk capacity for Storage purpose  .

on the other hand , I need to instal either Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.5 , or Sun Solaris 5.10

so if possible , I need to know :

- which bootable cd /usb I should use ?

- where these drivers which will be compatible with this server?

- any addition steps for Linux/Solaris

I really appreciate your unlimited support

Thanks

I have never worked with Oracle or Solaris, but we have an IBM iSeries 5 that has OS400 running on it. I know that the IBM tech who performed the install used only CDs.

The problem is that I downloaded the iso OMS cd , but evey time once loaded it give "unable to determine the boot device" , although the disks are configured and intialized ,

also I don't know where I can find these drivers , or how to use an USB to define them

The Dell installation utilities (Systems Build and Update Utility - SBUU) will not be any help installing either of those OS's, so you will need to to it manually.

Dell supports Solaris (don't know which versions) on the 2950, so go to support.dell.com, Drivers and Downloads, select the 2950, then Solaris from the OS dropdown menu for drivers.  There are also generic linux drivers, which may work for Oracle's version.

Solaris PERC 6 RAID/storage drivers:

www.dell.com/.../poweredge-2950

I won't be much help with those two OS's either, so you will likely need a basic understanding of installing OS's (and Solaris or Oracle's version of linux specifically) to be successful.

Make sure to configure/initialize RAID in the CTRL-R utility before attempting to install any OS.

"unable to determine boot device"

This is because none of its defined boot devices have bootable media:  configuring RAID does not make it bootable - it will not be bootable until you have installed an OS on the RAID array (virtual disk).  If you are getting this with the OM CD in, then you either don't have CD/DVD high enough in the boot order in the BIOS (which I would assume is not the problem since you were able to boot to other OS media to not find any "disks" to install to) or your OM CD was not prepared correctly (or you are using an OM utility that is not bootable).

OpenManage is a suite of applications and utilities - not all are bootable, not all support linux/Solaris, not all will assist in installing the OS.

Also, many current (or recent) OS's have the drivers for many popular RAID controllers built in.  For example, Server 2008, 2008R2, 2012, and many linux versions have the PERC 6 drivers built in, so while extremely common to need to load them during the install, it is not always required.

I came across this pdf  link (at the bottom of my post):

"Deploying Oracle Application Server 10g on Dell PowerEdge Servers with Linux". It  is dated 2007 but I believe follows what you are attempting to do and even suggests the following:

"For the purposes of this paper, it is assumed that you will be installing the Red Hat Enterprise Linux distribution of Linux.  Dell strongly advises that the Advanced Server (AS) edition be utilized as opposed to the Enterprise Server (ES) edition.  Dell performs Oracle testing using Red Hat AS, which is fully supported by Dell Support."

I am sure that things changed since then, but I still think is is a good reference point for you to look at.

docs.huihoo.com/.../oracle10g-deployment-guide-app-server.pdf

Hi Polarbearman

Thanks so much for your support , now Solaris installation can see the disks , and the installation of Solaris is completed , BUT , once the installers rebooted the system , I'm encountering this message "Bad PBR Sig"   that's it . the system is not hanging but it waiting for something  , missing  something  

any ideas for this message /?

Thanks again

blog.mc-thias.org