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Installing an SSA RAID Cluster Adapter



Installing an SSA RAID Cluster Adapter

To complete the installation, you must:
  1.  Install the adapter card
  2.  Connect the necessary SSA cables
  3.  Revise the system configuration information
  4.  Load an operating system, unless one is already loaded in the server
  5.  Load the device drivers and utility programs.


This chapter describes how to perform these tasks. How to configure disk arrays and attach them to your operating system is described in Chapter, 'Configuring SSA Subsystems'.


Installing the Adapter Card

  Remove all power from your PC server and any attached devices before removing the cover.
To install the adapter card, refer to the documentation that came with your PC server. The User's Handbook for your server describes how to install an adapter. Perform the steps described in that book, ensuring that you perform the actions relating to the static-protective package correctly. When choosing a slot for the SSA RAID Cluster Adapter, take note of the following restrictions and recommendations:


Connecting the Disk Drives

Each of the 2 pairs of SSA ports can attach up to 48 dual-port devices in a closed loop. Up to two SSA RAID Cluster Adapters can be included in a loop. If two SSA adapters are in a loop and there is a second loop attached to one adapter, it must be attached to the other adapter also.

If multiple SSA RAID Cluster Adapters are installed in two systems sharing disk drives, the priority in each system of the adapters in each loop must be the same. For example, the first adapter (in slot-number order) in one system must be in an SSA loop with the first SSA adapter in the other system.

'SSA Loops and Links' provides a general description of SSA loops and some rules for cabling valid configurations.

 

To connect the cables:
  1.  Connect the cables from the devices to the appropriate pair of connectors on the adapter card.
  2.  Turn the retaining screws on the SSA cable connectors fully clockwise to ensure that a good ground connection is made.


Configuring the Adapter

The SSA subsystem must be configured before you can and the system can use it. To do this:

  1.  Turn power on to the system unit and to the devices. Your  system automatically performs the PCI configuration tasks, which  recognize the new adapter, during the boot process.
  2.  If you are NOT going to boot from an SSA disk drive:

    1.  Ensure that the CBIOS for the SSA adapter is disabled.  To do this, if the message CBIOS is currently enabled appears during the boot process, press the tab key.
    2.  Enable the BIOS for the other storage adapters in the system (for instructions on how to do this,  refer to the information for those adapters).

    If you are going to boot from an SSA disk drive:.

    1.  Ensure that the CBIOS for the SSA adapter is enabled. To  do this, if the message CBIOS is currently disabled  appears during the boot process, press the tab key.
    2.  Before running the Windows NT Install program, run the SSA  configuration utility (supplied on the PC-DOS Configurator  and Utilities diskette that is supplied with the adapter) to:

      1.  Attach SSA disk drives in the order required.  (Chapter, 'Configuring SSA Subsystems' describes how to do this.)  The Windows NT Install program recognizes disk drives in order starting with the SSA disk drive at  the top of the List of System Resources for the highest priority adapter.
      2.  Set the disk drive access mode of any disk drives you select for a Boot or  System partition to Private to the adapter in the server in which you will run the Windows NT Install program. 'Viewing and Changing Disk Drive Access Modes' describes how to do this.

    3.  If you have a problem when attempting to boot from an SSA disk drive, refer to 'Basic Problems'


Continue at 'Installing the Device Drivers and Utility Programs' to complete the subsystem configuration.


Installing the Device Drivers and Utility Programs

A README.TXT file on the Windows NT Device Driver and Utilities diskette provides detailed instructions on installing the device drivers and the associated utility programs.

When you have installed these programs, reboot your system.

After installing the device drivers, you must configure your disk arrays before you can use them with your system. Chapter, 'Configuring SSA Subsystems' describes how to do this. Then, your SSA subsystem will be ready for use with your system.
The format in which the Event / Error Logger reports errors is controlled by the file EVNCTRLF.TXT in the install directory (which, by default, is system root\issa). Details of the settings and how to change them are contained in the header of the control file.


Moving Arrays from Another Type of Adapter

If you move a RAID-1 array from an SSA RAID Adapter to an SSA RAID Cluster Adapter, you must change the array's SplitConfirm attribute to enabled. 'Changing Array Attributes' describes how to do this.

If you are going to move a RAID-1 array from an SSA RAID Cluster Adapter to an SSA RAID Adapter, before you move it, change its SplitConfirm attribute to disabled.


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