Ken, I guess it’s the definition of magic here *grin*
Taking raid sets from one machine to another (with an already existing RAID set), mounting that new RAID set, performing some tasks, passing that raid set through a third machine, bringing it back to the original server (with changes applied), and rebooting the original machine, and still having it work was pretty impressive (esp since each of those three machines had different RAID controllers and different backplanes - single and dual channel). I've tried to do similar things with the Mylex controller series, but fell over at the first hurdle. Long story short, we had a service pack install go awry, and had to manually rollback the SP (rolling back files, undoing reg changes etc) but were unable to do it on the original server as it didn’t boot anymore. Sure, a RAID volume can get corrupted, and I take your point that some of the lower level tools may not be available. I haven't been in a position in recent memory where I have needed something like that (but it might have been helpful). That all being said, I DO have a gripe with HP at the moment with the new 6400 series controllers and HP's lack of support for older hard drives (9/18gb especially). The 6400 controller recommends you *upgrade* the firmware, then *insists* you upgrade and halts at each boot until you do it....problem is, HP haven't released the appropriate firmware *sigh* Planned obsolesce I'm thinking. Glenn -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Cornetet Sent: Thursday, 10 June 2004 4:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers I've played with the SmartArray controllers a lot, and they are not as flexible for doing off-the-wall stuff as the old NETraids were, at least with the standard tools (HP keeps promising me a boot floppy with some powerfull RAID magic, but nothing has materialized thus far...) Am I missing some other magic here? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glenn Corbett Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 4:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers Ken, " I know the Compaq RAID array isn't as flexible/forgiving as the old HP NETRaid, but I think as long as there are no other drives installed, this *might* work." Heh, you obviously haven't played too much with the Compaq/HP SmartArray controllers too much. We use them exclusively at my current employer, and some of the "funky" things we have been able to pull off with the SmartArray controllers would probably make your hair curl. As far as RAID controllers on the market atm, the SmartArray wins hands down in my book. Just for info, I have supported systems based on the Mylex DAC960, IBM ServRAID and DELL Perc (ugh) controllers as well. The only problem with doing the mirror-break mirror-rebuild-break cycle is the time required for the RAID to rebuild itself before you can break it again. On smaller 9gb drives this isn't a huge problem, but with the larger 146gb drives for example, the time taken for a raid rebuild is far exceeded by the time taken for say a scripted installation. For example a RAID rebuild on a SmartArray 6400 with 146gb drives can take upwards of an hour (depending on various factors). I can completely rebuild a server (including layered software such as SQL, Exchange) using a scripted install in less than 20 minutes. My $0.02 G. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Cornetet Sent: Wednesday, 9 June 2004 12:46 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers How about building your "gold" system, run sysprep, mirror the drive, then break the mirror (you are talking about systems with integrated RAID, right?) Then, use this gold disk as a master for each new system - insert master disk and blank disk, power up to raid config, rebuild mirror, remove master. Boot to os and answer the post-sysprep questions. Insert blank disk so the mirror can rebuild, or run RAID utility to reconfigure if you don't want mirroring. This is just theory, although I use a similar process to create new virtual servers under VMWare. I know the Compaq RAID array isn't as flexible/forgiving as the old HP NETRaid, but I think as long as there are no other drives installed, this *might* work. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rutherford, Robert Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 9:30 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers I've spied the RDP tool before and it does look like a quality system, but can't really warrant the £££. If I remember it was expensive. **drifts off to dreamland** Oh how I wish HP would provide me with a simple and free tool... Or a good old gui based front end to produce a script. **wakes to reality** Thud! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 08 June 2004 15:09 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers You can use also our tool RemoteDeploymentPackage (http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/rdp.html). RDP offers templates to deploy,image and re-deploy servers-images and also additional software. RDP is based on Altiris solution.... > I used Ghost to distribute Sysprep'd images either by Multicast or IP > connections on DL380's. After the first build, each server was up and > ready to run DCPromo within 10-15 minutes including the time to load > the image over 100BaseT. You can save a lot of time with the > Sysprep.inf file for many of the tedious settings, but I found running > DCPromo from the sysprep.inf to be hit and miss because of network > configuration, so I opted to do that manually. > > _____ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rutherford, > Robert > Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2004 9:26 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > Thanks Roger, > > ADS does look sxy.....problem is that we are still mainly W2K :O( > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Roger Seielstad [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 08 June 2004 14:16 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > Have you considered something like the Automated Deployment System? > Its part of the Dynamic Systems Initiative and its geared towards this > kind of deployment. Its also more or less free. > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/ads/defau > lt.mspx > <http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/ads/defa > ult.mspx> > > Roger > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Roger D. Seielstad - MTS MCSE MS-MVP > Sr. Systems Administrator > Inovis Inc. > > > > _____ > > From: Rutherford, Robert > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:42 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > > I'm sorry this is off topic but just thought I'd throw it out to see > if I get a bite.... > > It must be that time of year again...... a large number of new servers > coming in.I don't want to, or have anyone else build numerours > DL360's/380's .. All with more or less the same spec and o/s build. > Has anyone ever actually got the things to work with the scripting > toolkit? > > TIA > > Rob > <snip> List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
