PCServer704 - Host Adapter Settings

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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: GKEY-3H2FN6

PCServer704 - Host Adapter Settings

Applicable to: World-Wide

Configure/View Host Adapter Settings
To view or change the SCSI controller settings, select Configure/View Host Adapter Settings from the Bus:Device Options menu and follow the directions on the screen. Refer to the following table for a description of the choices on this menu.

Option

Description

SCSI Bus Interface Definitions

Host Adapter SCSI ID

Changes the SCSI ID of the SCSI controller from its default value of 7.

SCSI Parity Checking

Enables or disables parity checking on the SCSI controller.
The default value is Enabled.

Host Adapter SCSI Termination

Configures SCSI controller termination. The default value is Low ON/High ON.

Additional Options

Boot Device Options

Displays the Boot Device Configuration menu, which allows you to select a Boot Target ID and a Boot LUN Number.

The default boot device is at SCSI ID 0 with logical unit number (LUN) 0. To specify a different boot device, choose
a different SCSI ID (0-7 for 8-bit adapters or 0-15 for 16-bit adapters).

If the boot device has multiple logical units, also specify the boot LUN. It can be 0-7 for 8-bit or 16-bit.

If you disable Multiple LUN Support in the Advanced Configuration menu, specifying a number for Boot LUN Number has no effect.

SCSI Device Configuration

Displays the Configuration menu to allow you to configure SCSI device parameters. Before you can make updates, you must know the ID of the device whose parameters you want to configure.

Advanced Configuration Options

Displays the Advanced Configuration Options menu from which you can enable or disable options such as BIOS Support for Bootable CD-ROM, BIOS Support for Int13 Extensions, Support for UltraSCSI Speed, and Multiple LUN
Support.

SCSI Disk Utilities: To see the IDs assigned to each SCSI device or to format a drive connected to one of the built-in SCSI controllers, select SCSI Disk Utilities from the Bus:Device Options menu.

To use the utility program, select a drive from the list. Read the screens carefully before making a selection.

Using the Low-Level Format Program: If the server did not come with a RAID adapter preinstalled, you can format the hard disks using the Low-Level Format feature of the SCSI Select Utility program.
Depending on the hard disk capacity, the Low-Level Format program could take up to two hours.

Note

If the server came with a RAID adapter preinstalled, refer to the RAID adapter documentation for instructions to format the
hard disk drives.

When To Use the Low-Level Format Program:
- When you are installing software that requires a low-level format
- When you get recurring messages from the diagnostic tests directing you to run the Low-Level Format program on the hard disk
- As a last resort before replacing a failing hard disk drive

Note

For information about backing up all of the files, see the operating-system documentation.

Starting the Low-Level Format Program

Attention

The low-level format programs provided with the server erase all data from the hard disk drive. Before you run a low-level format program, be sure to back up the data.

Note

If the server came with a RAID adapter preinstalled, refer to the RAID adapter documentation for instructions to format the
hard disk drives.

1. If the hard disk is working, make a backup copy of all the files and programs on the hard disk.

2. Select SCSI Disk Utilities.

3. Select the disk drive that you want to format; then, press Enter.

4. Select Format disk ; then, follow the instructions on the screen.

Note

Hard disks normally contain more tracks than their stated capacity (to allow for defective tracks). A message appears on the screen if the defect limit is reached. If this happens, have the system serviced.

5. To install an operating system, refer to the information provided with the ServerGuide package and with the operating system.

Resetting the Adapter Configuration
The RAID configuration information stored in the adapter NVRAM is critical to reliable operation of the disk-array. Therefore, to protect the integrity of the configuration information, copies of the configuration information are stored in the adapter EEPROM and on each hard disk drive in a Rebuild or Online state that is defined in the adapter NVRAM configuration. Each time the configuration information is changed, all corresponding copies are updated.

During POST, if the configuration information in the adapter NVRAM, EEPROM, and hard disk drive does not match, an error message appears. You can view each configuration to determine which you want to use.

The Init/View/Synchronize Configuration menu enables you to view or reset the following parameters:

Initialize Configuration restores the factory default settings, and resets all functional,
connected, hard disk drives to the Ready (RDY) state.
View NVRAM Configuration displays the current configuration settings for the adapter's NVRAM.
View EEPROM Configuration displays the current configuration settings for the adapter's EEPROM.
View Hard Drive Configuration displays the current configuration settings for the selected hard disk drive
that is in the online (ONL) or rebuild (RBL) state.
View Change List displays the configuration conflicts that the ServeRAID adapter reported since the last
time the server was powered on or restarted. For more information, see 'Viewing Configuration Changes—.

To initialize, reset, or view the adapter configuration:

1.

Start the ServeRAID configuration program see Starting the ServeRAID Configuration Program—).

2.

Select Advanced Functions from the Main Menu.

3.

Select Init/View/Synchronize Config.

4.

Select your choice from the next menu; then press Enter.

5.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Viewing Configuration Changes
This option allows you to view the configuration changes that might have occurred since the last time the server was powered on or restarted.

View Power-on Change List displays any drives that have changed states since the last time the server was powered on or restarted.
View Wrong SCSI ID List provides a list of hard disk drives that were found at a different SCSI ID location than the last time the server was powered on or restarted.
View Unidentified Drive List provides a list of hard disk drives that have an identifier that does not match the stored configuration information.

The identifier consists of both the configuration host ID and a time stamp. You can define the host ID as the server serial number or any string, up to 12 characters. (See 'Changing the ServeRAID Adapter Parameters— for more information.)

Synchronizing the Adapter Configuration
When the configuration information in the adapter NVRAM, EEPROM, and hard disk drives does not match, you can select one source, and copy the selected configuration information to the other locations. This menu provides options to synchronize this configuration information.

EEPROM as Source copies configuration information from the adapter EEPROM to NVRAM and to all hard disk drives in a Rebuild or Online state that are defined in the adapter EEPROM configuration.
NVRAM as Source copies the configuration information from NVRAM to the adapter EEPROM and to all hard disk drives in a Rebuild or Online state defined in the NVRAM configuration.
NVRAM and POCL as Source updates information from the power-on change list with the information in NVRAM. This information is then copied to the adapter EEPROM and to all hard disk drives in a Rebuild or Online state that are defined in the NVRAM configuration.
Hard Disk Drives as Source retrieves configuration information from hard disk drives. The configuration information is then copied to the adapter NVRAM and EEPROM.
Identified HDD as Source updates the configuration information with stored configuration information on a hard disk drive that matches the identifiers stored in the NVRAM. The updated configuration information is then copied to NVRAM, the adapter EEPROM, and the hard disk drives configured in an array.
Specific HDD as Source retrieves the configuration information with stored configuration information on the hard disk drive that you select. The updated configuration information is then copied to NVRAM, EEPROM, and configured hard disk drives.

Search Keywords

Hint Category

Adapter Cards, Configuration, Hardware Maintenance Information

Date Created

13-05-97

Last Updated

28-05-98

Revision Date

27-05-99

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

PC Server 704

Machine Type

8650

Model

Various

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

Option	Description
SCSI Bus Interface Definitions
Host Adapter SCSI ID	Changes the SCSI ID of the SCSI controller from its default value of 7.
SCSI Parity Checking	Enables or disables parity checking on the SCSI controller. The default value is Enabled.
Host Adapter SCSI Termination	Configures SCSI controller termination. The default value is Low ON/High ON.
Additional Options
Boot Device Options	Displays the Boot Device Configuration menu, which allows you to select a Boot Target ID and a Boot LUN Number. The default boot device is at SCSI ID 0 with logical unit number (LUN) 0. To specify a different boot device, choose a different SCSI ID (0-7 for 8-bit adapters or 0-15 for 16-bit adapters). If the boot device has multiple logical units, also specify the boot LUN. It can be 0-7 for 8-bit or 16-bit. If you disable Multiple LUN Support in the Advanced Configuration menu, specifying a number for Boot LUN Number has no effect.
SCSI Device Configuration	Displays the Configuration menu to allow you to configure SCSI device parameters. Before you can make updates, you must know the ID of the device whose parameters you want to configure.
Advanced Configuration Options	Displays the Advanced Configuration Options menu from which you can enable or disable options such as BIOS Support for Bootable CD-ROM, BIOS Support for Int13 Extensions, Support for UltraSCSI Speed, and Multiple LUN Support.

Note
	If the server came with a RAID adapter preinstalled, refer to the RAID adapter documentation for instructions to format the hard disk drives.

Note
	For information about backing up all of the files, see the operating-system documentation.

Attention
	The low-level format programs provided with the server erase all data from the hard disk drive. Before you run a low-level format program, be sure to back up the data.

Note
	Hard disks normally contain more tracks than their stated capacity (to allow for defective tracks). A message appears on the screen if the defect limit is reached. If this happens, have the system serviced.

1.	Start the ServeRAID configuration program see Starting the ServeRAID Configuration Program—).
2.	Select Advanced Functions from the Main Menu.
3.	Select Init/View/Synchronize Config.
4.	Select your choice from the next menu; then press Enter.

	Search Keywords
	Hint Category	Adapter Cards, Configuration, Hardware Maintenance Information
	Date Created	13-05-97
	Last Updated	28-05-98
	Revision Date	27-05-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 704
	Machine Type	8650
	Model	Various
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes