5.296 bytes |
Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: MCGN-3NGNZT |
Netfinity 7000 - Boot tips for Windows NT and SCSI
Applicable to: World-Wide
Summary:
This document contains boot tips for Windows NT and SCSI on Netfinity 7000.
How a system boots Windows NT?
The system BIOS tries to load the operating system loader off the first disk it scans. In the case of Windows NT, the loader is OSLOADER. The OSLOADER then loads the NT operating system.
Where is OSLOADER placed when NT is installed?
Windows NT places the OSLOADER on the disk on which you decide to install Windows NT.
From which disk will the system BIOS attempt to load OSLOADER?
The first disk found while scanning the various SCSI adapters. If both AIC-78xx and ServeRAID have disks attached to them, then the one which is scanned first by system BIOS (depending on their PCI slot) is chosen. If AIC-78xx is disabled in system BIOS, then system BIOS will NOT scan AIC-78xx for a disk.
Notes:
DISABLING the AIC-78XX SCSI chip in the system BIOS does NOT prevent Windows NT from scanning it.
Boot-up rule of system BIOS architecture:
If more than one SCSI adapters have SCSI disks, then the SCSI adapter on which the user wishes to install Windows NT should be the first to be scanned by system BIOS so that its disks are where the system attempts to boot off.
If the user wishes to boot off a disk attached to ServeRAID adapter:
The user must install the ServeRAID adapter in a PCI slot that is scanned before the on-board AIC-78xx SCSI chips, i.e., ServeRAID MUST be installed in PCI slots P1, P2, P3 or P4. Booting off ServeRAID will FAIL if ServeRAID is installed in PCI slot P5 or P6.
If the user wishes to boot off a disk attached to on-board AIC-78xx SCSI chip:
The user must install the ServeRAID adapter in a PCI slot that is scanned after the on-board AIC-78xx SCSI chips, i.e., ServeRAID MUST be installed in PCI slots P5 or P6. Booting off on-board AIC-78xx SCSI chip will FAIL if ServeRAID is installed in PCI slot P1, P2, P3 or P4.
IF THE ABOVE RULES ARE FOLLOWED, THE ORDER IN WHICH THE MINIPORT SCSI DRIVERS ARE LOADED IS IRRELEVANT.
Notes:
If the user must install ServeRAID in slot P5 or P6 and wants to boot off a disk attached to ServeRAID , then the ONLY way to achieve that is to:
- disable on-board AIC-78xx SCSI chips in Netfinity 7000 system BIOS.
- install Windows NT off diskettes (booting off CD will NOT work).
- manually select the SCSI adapters in an order choosing ServeRAID, i.e., IPSRAIDN before AIC78xx. HOWEVER, this should not be recommended as this is not the best way.
If the user wishes to install the AIC-78XX driver (even if no disks are attached), then the driver must be added after the ServeRAID driver is installed. This will prevent Windows NT from looking for its boot device on the wrong adapter.
Search Keywords |
NetFinity, RAID, SCSI, Boot, ServeRAID, NT, Windows, 3.51, 4.0, 8651 | |
Hint Category |
Windows NT, SCSI | |
Date Created |
03-11-97 | |
Last Updated |
29-10-98 | |
Revision Date |
20-10-99 | |
Brand |
IBM PC Server | |
Product Family |
Netfinity 7000 | |
Machine Type |
8651 | |
Model |
RH0; RM0; TH0; TM0 | |
TypeModel |
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Retain Tip (if applicable) |
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