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[Ian_D]

I've just got hold of an old ML370 server, Its currently got 2 x 9.1gb (OS Raid 1) and 3 x 36.4gb (Data Raid 5) SCSI Hard Drives in it.

The main use of this will be as a home backup / file server, as well as learning from!

I was wondering if anyone on here has / knows where / could get hold of any bigger hard drives for it? Or any other cheapish upgrades! Would also be interested in any other Network / Server type stuff too!  

If near I can collect (and have a mini OOF meet!), otherwise I will pay postage and packaging costs!!!

[HerefordElite]

I've just got hold of an old ML370 server, Its currently got 2 x 9.1gb (OS Raid 1) and 3 x 36.4gb (Data Raid 5) SCSI Hard Drives in it.

The main use of this will be as a home backup / file server, as well as learning from!

I was wondering if anyone on here has / knows where / could get hold of any bigger hard drives for it? Or any other cheapish upgrades! Would also be interested in any other Network / Server type stuff too!  

If near I can collect (and have a mini OOF meet!), otherwise I will pay postage and packaging costs!!!

there's a grumpy fella gets on here somethimes, i think he plays with servers now and again

[Mr Skrunts]

I think the biggest hard drives I saw for these were about 72GB

[TheBoy]

What generation is the ML370?  Up to G4, they took what Compaq/HP called 'Universal' drives, which were Ultra2, Ultra3, Ultra160 or Ultra320, and certainly went to 300g, but they cost a friggin fortune (like around £800 a piece!).

Later ML370 (and other HP hotplug servers) use what they class as SFF drives (basically 2.5" similar to laptop), which come in SATA (entry level) or SAS (enterprise level), and are more energy efficient. They just released 500G SAS varients.

All ML370s were hot plug, so won't go into other options.


Be aware some SMART controllers cannot create logical drives bigger than certain sizes - if yours is a ML370 G1 (ie, beige in colour), you've probably got a SMART 3200, which I seem to recall did have limits.

If you don't have a SMART controller, and are running off the onboard SCSI, get a SMART from egay (dirt cheap now due to age) - SMART 6400, SMART 5300, and SMART 3200 will all work well (performance in that order).


I have a few 18G universal drives knocking around which you are welcome to.


You ideally need the SMARTSTART CD for your server, if its a G1 as I suspect, from memory the V5 ones are they ones that are compatible, pretty certain the V6 ones don't support 1st generation ML370s.  I have a decent selection of SMARTSTARTs at work, as quite a big download from HP, and not all the older ones are available.

[Mr Skrunts]

I have an ML370 G1 733Mhz.  I have a spare CPU and the VRM to take it to dual CPU.  It only has 1 9.1 drive in it with a bad sector on it, so if there any any drives spare 18GB drives available after IanD gets sorted then I may well be insterested in some.

[TheBoy]

I have an ML370 G1 733Mhz.  I have a spare CPU and the VRM to take it to dual CPU.  It only has 1 9.1 drive in it with a bad sector on it, so if there any any drives spare 18GB drives available after IanD gets sorted then I may well be insterested in some.

733 - thats a really early one.  To dual processor it, both chips must be same speed, same cache size, and same stepping.  If steppings are different, it is not recommended, but you'll get more joy putting the later stepping in proc slot 1.  The VRM has to be same age or newer than the processor.  If running Windows, you then need to change the HAL - the PSP (or SSD depending how old your smartstart is) can do that for you.

I have a few 18Gs, as my brother still runs a dual 1Ghz, 4G RAM ML370 as one of his servers at one of his shops (2 of his other servers are even older - dual 550Mhz, 1G RAM 1850Rs), so I stockpiled a few.

My brother's setup shows that these older servers are still more than capable of running small businesses, and making useful servers.  Not that great at virtualisation due to limited cpu power, poor memory throughput, and 32bit only.


So, I may be able to sort some 18G drives for your ML370 - do you have a SMART controller in it, don't think I have a spare here other than those set aside for spares for my brother. You can pick up a SMART controller from egay for £5-£15 (6400 series, 5300 series, 3200 in that order for performance).  I may have a couple of RIBLOE or RIBLOE2 cards laying around if you need lights out functionality (these aren't a patch on the newer iLO and iLO2 stuff though)

[Mr Skrunts]

I have an ML370 G1 733Mhz.  I have a spare CPU and the VRM to take it to dual CPU.  It only has 1 9.1 drive in it with a bad sector on it, so if there any any drives spare 18GB drives available after IanD gets sorted then I may well be insterested in some.

733 - thats a really early one.  To dual processor it, both chips must be same speed, same cache size, and same stepping.  If steppings are different, it is not recommended, but you'll get more joy putting the later stepping in proc slot 1.  The VRM has to be same age or newer than the processor.  If running Windows, you then need to change the HAL - the PSP (or SSD depending how old your smartstart is) can do that for you.

I have a few 18Gs, as my brother still runs a dual 1Ghz, 4G RAM ML370 as one of his servers at one of his shops (2 of his other servers are even older - dual 550Mhz, 1G RAM 1850Rs), so I stockpiled a few.

My brother's setup shows that these older servers are still more than capable of running small businesses, and making useful servers.  Not that great at virtualisation due to limited cpu power, poor memory throughput, and 32bit only.


So, I may be able to sort some 18G drives for your ML370 - do you have a SMART controller in it, don't think I have a spare here other than those set aside for spares for my brother. You can pick up a SMART controller from egay for £5-£15 (6400 series, 5300 series, 3200 in that order for performance).  I may have a couple of RIBLOE or RIBLOE2 cards laying around if you need lights out functionality (these aren't a patch on the newer iLO and iLO2 stuff though)

It's a long time since I had a play/look at it.  I havesome smart array controllers as far as I know, plus a box full of the original software.  I will know more in the new year when I have a major sort out.

I was thinking of bypassing the ML370 (might install it in the shed) in favour of a Dell powerhouse 4400 that I have.  That has a single Xeon 933 in it, but I have 2 733 BNIB.  That has a 300 G raid setup in it.  But the whole thing is just HUGE.  Was think of building a coffe table over it.


Ekk, the things I have bought and collected over the years, if I get rid of it all the house will be empty and I will have to downsize.  


Anyone got a use for a bucket full of 256k simms

[TheBoy]

also, anyone playing with older compaq servers, I have a bucketload of older compaq memory for 1850/1600 (PC100 registered ecc) and ML370/DL380 G1 (PC133 registered ecc), only 128Mb DIMMs though, nothing bigger.

[Mr Skrunts]

also, anyone playing with older compaq servers, I have a bucketload of older compaq memory for 1850/1600 (PC100 registered ecc) and ML370/DL380 G1 (PC133 registered ecc), only 128Mb DIMMs though, nothing bigger.

Yet again, I may well be interested.  I just need to check whats in and how many slots the ML370 G1 has.  Might as well try ad max the performace and capabilties of the unit.

[TheBoy]

also, anyone playing with older compaq servers, I have a bucketload of older compaq memory for 1850/1600 (PC100 registered ecc) and ML370/DL380 G1 (PC133 registered ecc), only 128Mb DIMMs though, nothing bigger.

Yet again, I may well be interested.  I just need to check whats in and how many slots the ML370 G1 has.  Might as well try ad max the performace and capabilties of the unit.

ML370 takes PC133 registered ECC, and has four slots. Each slot can take a max of 1G, for a server max of 4G.

1600/1850r takes PC100 registered ECC, also 4 slots. Each slot takes a max of 256Mb, for server max of 1G

[Ian_D]

Its a ML370 G2 (1.13 pIII x2)

Its got the 5i Raid Controller + a 64bit Compaq Controller on board, is the 5i a smart controller? You set up the volumes in its own BIOS.

RAM wise, all the slots are used (4x 512mb and 2x 128mb = 2304mb) (Thanks for the offer TB, But I will pass on them!)

One of the redundant PSU's wend BANG! the other day - scared the living day lights out of me! So I maybe after another - however its not really that important as its only going to be used as a home test server / nas. (and prob with VM's too)

Had a right job installing Server 2003, 2 1/2 hrs in, and it wasn't even at the stage where it asks which drives to install it on!! - Rebooted setup, pressed F5/F9 and selected ACPI Multiprocessor - And it flew!)
 

TB: I maybe intrested in some of them 18gb drives, Better than the 9gb ones ive got fitted!  

Also, If Skrunties after some, I can happily send him my two 9gb HDDs if I replace them! He can RAID 0+1 them then

Ive also got a few 4gb 80pin drives kicking about if there anyuse to anyone? There in a caddy, but im not sure what they fit - I think its an old HP that was about 266mhz - They all work fine afaik 8-)

[TheBoy]

Its a ML370 G2 (1.13 pIII x2)

Its got the 5i Raid Controller + a 64bit Compaq Controller on board, is the 5i a smart controller? You set up the volumes in its own BIOS.

RAM wise, all the slots are used (4x 512mb and 2x 128mb = 2304mb) (Thanks for the offer TB, But I will pass on them!)

One of the redundant PSU's wend BANG! the other day - scared the living day lights out of me! So I maybe after another - however its not really that important as its only going to be used as a home test server / nas. (and prob with VM's too)

Had a right job installing Server 2003, 2 1/2 hrs in, and it wasn't even at the stage where it asks which drives to install it on!! - Rebooted setup, pressed F5/F9 and selected ACPI Multiprocessor - And it flew!)
 

TB: I maybe intrested in some of them 18gb drives, Better than the 9gb ones ive got fitted!  

Also, If Skrunties after some, I can happily send him my two 9gb HDDs if I replace them! He can RAID 0+1 them then

Ive also got a few 4gb 80pin drives kicking about if there anyuse to anyone? There in a caddy, but im not sure what they fit - I think its an old HP that was about 266mhz - They all work fine afaik 8-)

5i is a SMART controller, but very entry level. No BBWC, so write cache entirely disabled, and a fairly small read cache.  But it will do the job you have set it ideally , though if your VMs are i/o intensive, then you will hit a bottleneck

I'll dig out some disks early next week

[Ian_D]

Its a ML370 G2 (1.13 pIII x2)

Its got the 5i Raid Controller + a 64bit Compaq Controller on board, is the 5i a smart controller? You set up the volumes in its own BIOS.

RAM wise, all the slots are used (4x 512mb and 2x 128mb = 2304mb) (Thanks for the offer TB, But I will pass on them!)

One of the redundant PSU's wend BANG! the other day - scared the living day lights out of me! So I maybe after another - however its not really that important as its only going to be used as a home test server / nas. (and prob with VM's too)

Had a right job installing Server 2003, 2 1/2 hrs in, and it wasn't even at the stage where it asks which drives to install it on!! - Rebooted setup, pressed F5/F9 and selected ACPI Multiprocessor - And it flew!)
 

TB: I maybe intrested in some of them 18gb drives, Better than the 9gb ones ive got fitted!  

Also, If Skrunties after some, I can happily send him my two 9gb HDDs if I replace them! He can RAID 0+1 them then

Ive also got a few 4gb 80pin drives kicking about if there anyuse to anyone? There in a caddy, but im not sure what they fit - I think its an old HP that was about 266mhz - They all work fine afaik 8-)

5i is a SMART controller, but very entry level. No BBWC, so write cache entirely disabled, and a fairly small read cache.  But it will do the job you have set it ideally , though if your VMs are i/o intensive, then you will hit a bottleneck

I'll dig out some disks early next week

Cheers Mate!

Just thinking now... I may have a better SMART controller somewhere! It looked like it had an SD-RAM stick in it? Does that mean its BBWC?

Will try and dig it out!  

[TheBoy]

Its a ML370 G2 (1.13 pIII x2)

Its got the 5i Raid Controller + a 64bit Compaq Controller on board, is the 5i a smart controller? You set up the volumes in its own BIOS.

RAM wise, all the slots are used (4x 512mb and 2x 128mb = 2304mb) (Thanks for the offer TB, But I will pass on them!)

One of the redundant PSU's wend BANG! the other day - scared the living day lights out of me! So I maybe after another - however its not really that important as its only going to be used as a home test server / nas. (and prob with VM's too)

Had a right job installing Server 2003, 2 1/2 hrs in, and it wasn't even at the stage where it asks which drives to install it on!! - Rebooted setup, pressed F5/F9 and selected ACPI Multiprocessor - And it flew!)
 

TB: I maybe intrested in some of them 18gb drives, Better than the 9gb ones ive got fitted!  

Also, If Skrunties after some, I can happily send him my two 9gb HDDs if I replace them! He can RAID 0+1 them then

Ive also got a few 4gb 80pin drives kicking about if there anyuse to anyone? There in a caddy, but im not sure what they fit - I think its an old HP that was about 266mhz - They all work fine afaik 8-)

5i is a SMART controller, but very entry level. No BBWC, so write cache entirely disabled, and a fairly small read cache.  But it will do the job you have set it ideally , though if your VMs are i/o intensive, then you will hit a bottleneck

I'll dig out some disks early next week

Cheers Mate!

Just thinking now... I may have a better SMART controller somewhere! It looked like it had an SD-RAM stick in it? Does that mean its BBWC?

Will try and dig it out!  

Generally, the ones that have a DIMM like device have batteries attached to DIMM - that will be BBWC

[Ian_D]

Its a ML370 G2 (1.13 pIII x2)

Its got the 5i Raid Controller + a 64bit Compaq Controller on board, is the 5i a smart controller? You set up the volumes in its own BIOS.

RAM wise, all the slots are used (4x 512mb and 2x 128mb = 2304mb) (Thanks for the offer TB, But I will pass on them!)

One of the redundant PSU's wend BANG! the other day - scared the living day lights out of me! So I maybe after another - however its not really that important as its only going to be used as a home test server / nas. (and prob with VM's too)

Had a right job installing Server 2003, 2 1/2 hrs in, and it wasn't even at the stage where it asks which drives to install it on!! - Rebooted setup, pressed F5/F9 and selected ACPI Multiprocessor - And it flew!)
 

TB: I maybe intrested in some of them 18gb drives, Better than the 9gb ones ive got fitted!  

Also, If Skrunties after some, I can happily send him my two 9gb HDDs if I replace them! He can RAID 0+1 them then

Ive also got a few 4gb 80pin drives kicking about if there anyuse to anyone? There in a caddy, but im not sure what they fit - I think its an old HP that was about 266mhz - They all work fine afaik 8-)

5i is a SMART controller, but very entry level. No BBWC, so write cache entirely disabled, and a fairly small read cache.  But it will do the job you have set it ideally , though if your VMs are i/o intensive, then you will hit a bottleneck

I'll dig out some disks early next week

Cheers Mate!

Just thinking now... I may have a better SMART controller somewhere! It looked like it had an SD-RAM stick in it? Does that mean its BBWC?

Will try and dig it out!  

Generally, the ones that have a DIMM like device have batteries attached to DIMM - that will be BBWC

Found it...

Its an 'LSI Logic MegaRaid 493 SCSI Controller'

Cant see any batterys on it anywhere  

Is it any good? Specs here http://www4.shopping.com/xPF-LSI-Logic-LSI-AMI-ELITE-1600-MEGARAID-493-DUAL-ULTRA160-SCSI-RAID-128MB-BATTERY-Open-Box-LSI-Logic