PowerVault 725N: I can't run Active Directory or LDAP

For me, A NAS can be a member of an AD architecture, but it can't be a DC, or another controller for Active Directory.

With the "Windows Powered" OS in any case...

I don't know if you can install another Microsoft OS...

BlueHeeler

I know this is old - VERY OLD.

However what is your resource for your answer -

Although I totally understand what you've stated here, I want to make sure it's fact.

Been struggling with a new 725n that I've been working on and any other information would be great.

Thanks,

Joe

Microsoft Server Appliance Kit

Services for UNIX®, Novell® NetWare®, and Macintosh (integrated on the Microsoft Windows Powered operating system)

Protocol support for TCP/IP, DHCP (client support), DNS (client support), NIS (client support), IPX, and AppleTalk

Disk management through Dell OpenManage™ Array Manager

Dell ActiveArchive™ snapshot software

This is a NAS built on Windows storage appliance SDK. Things like active directory are disabled as it's not a required or licensed feature. All the manuals are here: support.dell.com/.../index.htm

If you can figure out a way to install your own OS, you can install regular Windows server on there and run AD and whatever else regular Windows server offers.

I never thought about that..

You will be limited as this is 10 year old tech. max 3gb ram, 250gb ATA100 disks. It doesn't have sata or onboard ide ports. It has USB ports but i don't know if they're bootable.

If it won't boot, you can try puting disks 2 and 3 in slots 0 and 1 and 0 and 1 back in slots 2 and 3. Normally 2 and 3 has a pristine copy of the OS on it's mirror. The working OS is on 0 and 1. I think i still have the cd's laying around somewhere.

Tommo - that's awesome information. My concern is that because I was not the original admin of this server - wether that OS is still in tact. If you find the discs of the OS - would you be able to upload an ISO somewhere for me?

You can connect a monitor, keyboard etc and try logging locally. At least you'll see if it's alive. If it does boot to a login prompt and you don't know the login. You can swap the disks and boot to a fresh install. Details in the service manual. The fresh image would require initial setup, details in the administrators guide. If you end up needing the iso's PM me and we'll set something up. For a reload you'll need a win2000 desktop.

Just a quick follow up, if you do swap the disks and do a fresh initialise. The data partition is not touched so your files will be intact.

Tommo - the OS is alive and I can login locally & remotely to the machine - in fact - all of what we talked about sounds a little risky. That is because of my little knowledge of RAID. Now you say that the 0 and 1 disks have a pristine copy of the OS - can I search for it manually? I have not seen it - unless I am overlooking something.

- Also -

Im a bit worried about doing any formatting or swapping of the disks in fear of destroying the RAID.

I think I might just leave it how it is ----

:)

If the system is working and you can administer it then you don't need to restore it to factory.

So to look, start array manager. It will show 4 physical disks split into different volumes. Disk 0 and 1 will have a mirrored volume. Disk 2 and 3 will have the same and the other space will all be a raid 5 Volume. Disk 0 and 1 are the active and disk 2 and 3 hold the pristine copy and it's hidden from the server. So if you have to swap, 2 and 3 would become the active boot volume and 0 and 1 inactive and hidden. The raid 5 volume is not affercted as all 4 disks are in the system.

The service manual explains it all including single disk failures etc.