Re: RAID Controller & Info

From: root (postmaster_at_buchanangc.com)
Date: 06/28/04 

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 00:30:54 -0700

Right, "SATA Driver ......RAID volume". SATA HDs connected to a mobo SATA
controller like the ICH5R on 875P chipset mobos and NOT in RAID
mode("standard IDE drive") do NOT suffer from this issue when using the
latest Intel ATA drivers for W2K3. I wonder which "SATA drivers" do suffer
from this issue and under what circumstances?"

""Eric Sun [MSFT]"" <v-ericsu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BX1I99NXEHA.304@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> Hi All,
>
> Thanks for your information sharing here. If the SATA issue you mean is
that "Cannot run DCPromo because the
> SYSVOL partition is not formatted as NTFS" message appear during setup of
Microsoft Windows Small Business
> Server 2003, it is a filed bug that is still in process.
>
> The issue appears to be with the SATA Driver responding to an IO Control
Request that should only be handled by
> Floppy Drives. This causes the SBS Setup Logic to classify the RAID volume
as a Floppy Drive. The Driver responds to
> the function IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_MEDIA_TYPES. Per the Win 2003 DDK, the
function
> IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_MEDIA_TYPES is used to:
>
> "Returns information about the geometry of floppy drives. For example,
only a floppy driver would handle
> IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_MEDIA_TYPES requests."
>
> The setup code actually believes that the RAID volume (in our case C:
drive) is a Floppy drive. The function
> IsFloppyDrive (in diskinfohelper.h) returns true when examining the RAID
volume.
>
> This function is called from void CDiskInfo::InitObject( TCHAR* szDisk )
>
> When using a standard IDE Drive or SCSI, GetLastError returned 1
(incorrect function/invalid function) after the
> DeviceIoControl failed which I assume means that
> IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_MEDIA_TYPES is not supported. When using the Intel RAID
volume the function succeeds
> but no data is returned.
>
> The current workaround is to convert the Basic disk that is the System
Drive to a Dynamic Disk in Disk Manager.
> After converting the disk to dynamic disk, the DCPromo process and the
setup process worked fine.
>
> Hope the information is useful to you.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Eric Sun,
> MCSE2000 / MSCA / MCDBA
> Microsoft Partner Support Professional
>
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via
> your newsreader so that others may learn and benefit
> from your issue.
> =====================================================
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
> --------------------
> | From: "root" <postmaster@buchanangc.com>
> | References: <OjXfzaEXEHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>
<O79Oj4EXEHA.3664@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>
> <uI2YJfJXEHA.716@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>
<OBAG2tJXEHA.3420@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>
> <uJl006JXEHA.3420@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>
<#sU03pKXEHA.3640@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>
> <uyB9p5KXEHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>
<u7PcpLLXEHA.1888@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl> <efo9BPLXEHA.2408
> @tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl> <#zxzYTLXEHA.2176@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>
> | Subject: Re: RAID Controller & Info
> | Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 19:28:33 -0700
> | Lines: 332
> | X-Priority: 3
> | X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> | X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
> | X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409
> | Message-ID: <ua2GjdLXEHA.2844@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>
> | Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
> | NNTP-Posting-Host: ip2.usw216.dsl-acs2.sea.iinet.com 209.20.216.2
> | Path:
cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGXA01.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP11
.phx.gbl
> | Xref: cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs:83275
> | X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
> |
> |
> | "Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]" <sbradcpa@pacbell.net>
> | wrote in message news:%23zxzYTLXEHA.2176@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> | > Well one of the incidents reported to me was a Microsoft employee
> | > himself who probably knew what had installed.
> | >
> | > I'll give you his phone number. He's in your area.
> |
> | Please just have him post his findings here. I'll bet it was non-mobo
> | [S]ATA controllers with or without SW/firmware RAID. Yes, I've done a
much
> | more general Google search and that appears to be the issue. These are
> | issues that I keep track of and if any such were being reported then I'd
> | likely know it.
> |
> | > BTW Mountain Dew in September, don't forget.
> | >
> | > root wrote:
> | > > "Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]"
<sbradcpa@pacbell.net>
> | > > wrote in message news:u7PcpLLXEHA.1888@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> | > >
> | > >>" Explain how the Promise controller got involved with 'backup',
> | please."
> | > >>
> | > >>When the OEM started doing SBS2k3 Premium on the SAME hardware that
he
> | > >>did SBS2k3 Standard the backup was failing on the ones that had
> | > >>standard. The only thing the OEM could figure out was the data
transfer
> | > >>involved with the SQL because of the additional "stuff" the shadow
copy
> | > >>was doing with the SQL. Never did figure that one out. He just
used
> | > >>another controller card model and it was fine after that.
> | > >>
> | > >>The SATA without hardware card RAID was also reported in the partner
> | > >>groups which aren't googlable as well as in private postings to me
by
> | > >>various folks from various listserves.
> | > >
> | > >
> | > > Yes and I seriously doubt that claim. It's very likely not an SATA
> | issue.
> | > > There was enough in Google to see what was being reported.
> | > >
> | > >
> | > >>Google doesn't have everything ;-)
> | > >>
> | > >>root wrote:
> | > >>
> | > >>>"Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]"
<sbradcpa@pacbell.net>
> | > >>>wrote in message news:%23sU03pKXEHA.3640@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>Historical postings in this group for
> | > >>>>
> | > >>>>SATA drives
> | > >>>>Promise controllers
> | > >>>>
> | > >>>>SATA drives may cause issues during the install process [you may
have
> | to
> | > >>>>flip the drive to dynamic to get the install to complete.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>I reviewed all those old threads in google. There is no real
relation
> | > >
> | > > to
> | > >
> | > >>>SATA. What seems to have been reported and discussed was that
various
> | > >>>HW/firmware RAIDs were causing problems to SBS2003. When SBS2003
was
> | > >>>presented with a RAID array to do an initail install upon then the
> | > >
> | > > install
> | > >
> | > >>>would fail unless the pre-existing HW/firmware RAID was changed to
a
> | > >
> | > > dynamic
> | > >
> | > >>>disk.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>SATA HDs unassociated with HW nor firmware RAID work fine on an
SBS2003
> | > >>>install and further they work fine using SBS0223's intrinsic SW
RAID 1.
> | > >
> | > > And
> | > >
> | > >>>yes for one to use the intrinsic SW RAID 1 the HDs must be
converted to
> | > >>>dynamic. But that dynamic conversion and RAID 1 array setup need
not
> | be
> | > >>>initiated until well after the install is complete and all is
stable.
> | > >
> | > > You
> | > >
> | > >>>can keep the 2nd HD in a drawer until SBS2003 is all installed and
> | > >
> | > > stable.
> | > >
> | > >>>Later plug in the 2nd HD convert both to dynamic and initiate the
> | mirror
> | > >
> | > > and
> | > >
> | > >>>with less than a hour you got RAID 1.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>Check and make sure the Promise controllers are on the HCL.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>Don't panic if it's not. Check the Promise site to see if they say
it
> | > >>>works.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>Also an
> | > >>>>installer who used the exact same Promise controller model [sorry
I
> | > >>>>forget which one] worked perfectly with the SBS 2003 standard but
> | > >>>>totally barfed the backup when layering on the ISA/SQL in the
Premium.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>Explain how the Promise controller got involved with 'backup',
please.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>In my network at the office, I have for the past three years {?},
a
> | Raid
> | > >>>>1 and Raid 5 combo. Raid 1 for the OS [software based], Raid 5
for
> | the
> | > >>>>data [hardware based - adaptec controller card]. It's worked like
a
> | > >>>>champ and I've been very pleased with it.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>A reasonable configuration.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>Ensure that whatever hardware you choose is on the Windows 2003
HCL
> | and
> | > >>>>then you won't go wrong.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>But you'll tend to be expensive and limited to a few sources and
often
> | > >>>behind on current products.
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>There are many ways to do things in SBSland, Root.
> | > >>>>
> | > >>>>root wrote:
> | > >>>>
> | > >>>>
> | > >>>>>"Frank McCallister" <anonymous> wrote in message
> | > >>>>>news:OBAG2tJXEHA.3420@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>>Here we go again!! The last one went 79 posts. How many this
time
> | ;-)
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>What's even better is that you guys at least are no talkin about
the
> | > >>>
> | > >>>right
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>issue and that is [S]ATA RAID <VBG>.
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>An [S]ATA RAID controller is rather inexpensive but isn't really
> | needed
> | > >>>
> | > >>>for
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>RAID 1 as MS's intrinsic SW RAID 1 is so effective and one
doesn't
> | have
> | > >>>
> | > >>>to
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>chase any special device drivers nor do any F6 driver installs
during
> | > >>>>>SBS2003 install.. The mobo I've been using Asus P4C800-E Dlx
> | includes
> | > >>>
> | > >>>an
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>onbaord Promise RAID chip which DOES have W2K3 drivers. But I
don't
> | > >
> | > > use
> | > >
> | > >>>it
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>for RAID 1. I use the SATA ICH5R for the two SATA HDs and MS's
> | > >>>
> | > >>>intrinsic SW
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>RAID 1. I use the Promise, which makes SATA HDs look like SCSI,
> | for
> | > >>>>>removeable HDs in trays for backups etc.
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>>"root" <postmaster@buchanangc.com> wrote in message
> | > >>>>>>news:uI2YJfJXEHA.716@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> | > >>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>"billyw" <b@brainless.net> wrote in message
> | > >>>>>>>news:O79Oj4EXEHA.3664@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>RAID can be achieved through software.
> | > >>>>>>>>if you turn the disks to dynamic disks (read up on the effects
of
> | > >>>
> | > >>>doing
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>>>>>>this)
> | > >>>>>>>>i have a price sensitive customer that uses this set up using
raid
> | 1
> | > >>>>>>>>(mirrors the disk onto another.
> | > >>>>>>>>but the best way to accomplish this is to you a raid card.
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>A card offers little over the intrinsic SW RAID for RAID 1.
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>in UK you can get one for 40GBP (approx 70UDS) and this will
take
> | a
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>fair
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>amount of the strain that software raid can suffer from
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>There is no 'strain' from SW RAID 1.
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>"Steve" <someone@somewhere.com> wrote in message
> | > >>>>>>>>news:OjXfzaEXEHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>Our organization has very limited funds. We have purchased
> | SBS2003
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>premium
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>edition. We intend to install it on a Dell OptiPlex GX240
1.5
> | MHz
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>Pentium
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>4
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>w/768MB of PC133 memory. We purchased two new WD 80GB
7200rpm
> | hard
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>drives
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>for this machine. What is the best way to set up these
drives?
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>Currently
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>our company uses a 30GB partition for data storage on a
Windows
> | > >
> | > > 2000
> | > >
> | > >>>>>>>>server
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>and it is plenty. Can I set the drives up in some sort of
> | > >
> | > > redundant
> | > >
> | > >>>>>>>way?
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>I've heard about RAID but don't really understand it? Do I
have
> | to
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>buy
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>a
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>special controller for basic RAID. Should I just use one
drive
> | for
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>backup
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>purposes? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> | > >>>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>TIA
> | > >>>>>>>>>Steve
> | > >>>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>>>>>
> | > >>>>--
> | > >>>>http://www.sbslinks.com/really.htm
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>>
> | > >>--
> | > >>http://www.sbslinks.com/really.htm
> | > >
> | > >
> | > >
> | >
> | > --
> | > http://www.sbslinks.com/really.htm
> |
> |
> |
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Building a file server - advice please
    ... > connecting up 5 drives in a RAID5 system does not affect the Mean Time To ... > important reason to use a RAID system. ... Hardware controllers generally can have an additional spare disk configured ... Hardware raid presents each raid array to the host as one disk, ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Is it HighPoint, is it Seagate, or is it Windows 2000 Professional
    ... Then I tried to boot my system: Windows reported ... Barracuda disk running off a HighPoint HPT370A RAID ... never new that my drives were set up this way. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)
  • Re: Is it HighPoint, is it Seagate, or is it Windows 2000 Professional
    ... As you've discovered Raid 0 has no fail safe redundancy, ... Then I tried to boot my system: Windows reported ... Barracuda disk running off a HighPoint HPT370A RAID ... never new that my drives were set up this way. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)
  • Re: Paul and Old Man: Cannot fix RAID5 failure ...
    ... Considering 3 SATA drives spining up after powerdown may cause a 12V ... Now I need to concentrate on raid array or data recovery (if still ... I removed the drive reported in error, no boot or rebuild. ... I was considering a parallel WinXP installation on a 4th disk, ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: Disk partitioning question
    ... A hardware RAID Volume may exist without any RAID Drives on it. ... > This single array will show up as Disk 0 in Windows Disk Manager. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)