On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 09:51:56PM -0400, OpenBSD wrote: > Quoting Nick Holland <[email protected]>: > >> OpenBSD wrote: >>> Hello, >>> >>> I'm trying to replace the Adaptec RAID card inside the Dell PE 1650 >>> with a supported card like an LSI. It seems raid cards like PERC >>> 3/SC and DC are PCI, while 1650 has a ROMB - Raid On Motherboard. >>> I don't see anything inside the server (a scsi connector) to where >>> to connect the PCI raid controller to with a scsi cable. How do >>> people go about this, is there a way to use another raid card in >>> this server? >>> Thanks. >> >> Use another RAID card? sure. Plug it in the PCI slot. >> Your actual question is more likely, "How do I get the existing >> hot-swap drive bays attached to my add-on PCI card". That's a trick, >> 'specially in a 1U box. I don't have a 1650 handy, it is entirely >> possible there is no cable, and even if there was, you would need a >> longer one to reach all the way to the PCI slots (MOST Dells do have a >> cable between the SCSI back plane and the controller, but it is >> possible a 1650 is an exception) > > Yes, there seems to be no SCSI connector in this one, the ROMB looks > like a zero-raid type card that plugs into the MB via its own > connector. So there is no way to connect the PCI card with the drives.
Wrong. It has 2 modes. Either ROMB aka RAID via the disabled aac driver, Or SCSI through the 7899 adaptec chip via the ahc driver. It has a key and some memory to enable the RAID card; hint NOOOOOO zero RAID. > > >> That thing is an old, power-hungry pig, and I think a much better plan >> would be to unplug the ROMB do-hicky and use it as a standard Adaptec >> SCSI adapter (which it will be, if my memory serves me correctly). Use >> softraid if you need it, or just periodically sync the data between >> disks. > > I think your memory is correct, it looks like the usual Adaptec SCSI > adapter. This is what I will probably end up doing, mostly wanted the > RAID to use all three drives for a larger disk space. I will also try > actually using the Adaptec RAID, believe it or not, it might work well > enough. :) 1650 is a fine machine and does not draw nearly as much power as any P4. In fact this was a machine that had the 1.4GHz P3 chips that ran as fast as the P4 of twice the GHz at the time of launch. > > >> If you are going to invest the money on a RAID controller, I'd suggest >> investing the money on new hardware all around, you will be much >> happier with the results. Hey, I am a world champ at reusing old crap >> for new apps (and I've used a recycled, RAID-less 1650 before -- it was >> an old, slow, power-hungry pig three years ago when I did that!), but >> the point is to do it without investing more money in the old pigs. >> Use the pigs as they are (or strip them down), don't add perfume. :) > > I very much agree with you, but as you know we live in the real world. > :) This server is here and either I use it or I don't. I'm just > trying to make the best of it. The PERC 3/SC/DC is cheap on Ebay but > I agree, lets not feed the old pig. > Thanks Nick, appreciate your thoughts and advice. You can not route a cable in this machine since it is part of the motherboard. And you should be happy when you see that. Now you don't have to deal with crappy ass cables that will generate all kinds of stupid non fixable issues. > > > -- > http://www.loftmail.com
