2 SR1695GPRX2AC Node Hyper-V Cluster SAS HBA Configuration Change

We have been going through various processes of gaining a stable Hyper-V failover cluster using two nodes directly connected to a Promise VTrak E Series RAID Subsystem. At the beginning of this process we started out by installing an Adaptec ASC 1045 Host Bus Adapter for the second path to the VTrak in each node.

While Adaptec’s support site for the version 5.0.1.0 of the driver indicated that it was WHQL signed we ended up having to approve the driver install and subsequently the Cluster Validation called out the driver as unsigned.

Besides that, we would get a “Disk Error” during post from the Adaptec whenever we were ready to bring the VTrak online with shared storage after doing a complete wipe and reload.

LSi 3442E-R SAS HBA

We just finished running the Cluster Validation Wizard with the LSi 3442E-R HBAs (LSI00167) installed and were greeted with success on the drivers:

When it comes to installing the LSi 3442E-R HBAs there are a few things that need to be done due to the fact that they have an on board RAID chip:

1. Cold boot the server.
2. CTRL+C to enter unified LSi SAS BIOS.
1. Boot Setting for both AXXSASIOMOD and LSi 3442E-R: BIOS ONLY
2. Save and Exit for each component’s BIOS setting.
3. Save and Exit for the unified SAS BIOS.
3. Reboot.
4. Set the Intel SR1695GPRX2AC server board BIOS boot disk order:
1. Intel AXXROMBSASMR = 0
2. 4GB OCZ ATV Turbo USB Flash Drive = 1
3. VTrak LUNs 0-XX = 2+
5. Save and reboot.
6. F6 to enter Boot Menu.
7. Boot to USB and begin RAID driver load and OS install.
• Partitioning:
• 55GB partition for the OS.
• 75GB Swap File
• Balance to local storage.

Besides the above, there is a tangible difference in the performance of each node with the LSi cards installed.

So, we will be installing the LSi 3442E-R (LSI00167) part into each node by default for our second SAS connection to the Promise VTrak. Note that this configuration requires a cable with an SFF-8470 to SFF-8088 connector on each end. A total of four cables is required.

And, at the end of cluster creation run number 3 we see:

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer