Problems with BP6 W2K Server, softraid 5

[LordSandMan]

System Specs
Abit BP6 bios RU
256 MB RAM
1-6G quantum HD Boot drive
5-20GMaxtor HD's in a Raid 5 W2k software config
2-Celeron 366@366
1 Asante 10-100 NIC detected as Intel NIC and uses Microsoft drivers. installed in PCI 2
1 Asante 10-100 NIC Using Asante Drivers. Installed in PCI 3
TNT video
250 W powersupply
Win2k Advanced Server
All servicepacks were applied.

This config has worked fine for almost a year. Only time I restart it is for maintinance or upgrades once every 2 months or so.

This machine is used as a router, fileserver, webserver, ftpserver, Unrealtournament server for my LAN of 4 computers and a few friends.

PROBLEMS, THINGS I HAVE TRIED
A few days ago the machine was not getting video (moving the mouse or hitting keys on the keyboard wouldn't work). So I shut it down from the terminal console on another computer. started the machine up, still no video. Cleared cmos. Now I get Video. machine starts to boot. Gets through the status bar that loads across the bottom and Blue screens - Problem IRQL Driver. hpt366.dll (HighPoint controller driver I'm assuming). Sorry, don't remember any more of the error message than that. Restart- same error. boot from CD run the fast repair. restart - same error. removed both NICs. reboot - same error. reformat reinstall. install nvidia 6.31, HPT 1.25, Asante (whatever the latest was from thier website for that model). reboot- same error. Format - applied all servicepacks and updates from windows update. had only the intel-asante nic installed in PCI 1. installed only the HPT driver. restarted - booted to windows. opened disk manager - The raid was regenerating. locked up (cursor doesn't move, no disk activity) about 2 minutes later. restarted left it at the login screen. locked up about 3 minutes later. Any ideas?????? I really don't want to format the Raid volume. I have about 60 Gig's of data on there.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[WoundedWallet]

I think this became very difficult to solve now. There was a chance that your 366 had a problem in the beginning but now it's wide open.

As you know these controllers are crappy and in my case the 1.25 drivers killed my machine. I think I use 1.23 or 1.24 now.

So my suggestion is to change the drivers, or plug and unplug the hard drives. Maybe you have some dirt somewhere.

Also, it seems like you got a little nervous and started doing too much stuff trying to find the error. Take it easy next time.

I usually try to concentrate in one area at a time while solving hardware problems in order not to create more problems elsewhere.

WW

 

[LordSandMan]

Yes, I agree, crappy hardware. When I installed it originally I know I had problems finding a stable driver. I think it was 1.23 or 1.24 that I used then also. I will try 1.24 and 1.23.

I may disagree slightly with you however in troubleshooting. First tried removing any of the hardware that I thought could be causing IRQ conflicts. Then, being I couldn't boot in safe mode or regular, I didn't think I had any other choice than to format. Being I didn't have anything on the boot drive that was important, all I had to do was reinstall drivers and reconfigure users, shares and router config. I did this to confirm whether or not I had faulty software/drivers. I don't think this should cause any problems in determining what went bad.

I am not saying that I did everything right and that's the way it should be done.
Please let me know what you think I should have done differently, as it may help me down the road.

Thanks for the post. I have a feeling I'm not going to get too many responses on this one. I'll post an update after I have tried the other hpt drivers.

 

[LordSandMan]

Well, I've got the problem fixed.

I tried the 1.23 drivers. didn't work. I couldn't find the 1.24 drivers. Also tried 1.28beta. I narrowed it down to locking up only when regerating the raid array. Finally I got tired of messing with it and went and bought a SIIG ATA100 controller. Plugged it in, went through the regeneration, and it worked fine. The only thing that I can think of is that the 1.24 drivers would have fixed it, or the HPT controller died. Does anyone know where I can get the 1.24 drivers? I'd like to try them and figure out what went wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Edit- I also ran maxdiag on each drive, and they all passed.

 

[obenton]

I'd stay away from the Highpoint controller. You're lucky it ran almost a year before system file corruption caused problems.

 

[holden j caufield]

wow how is the bp6 handling all this. How much cpu utilization is there with the software raid 5. But I'd have to agree. stick with hpt bios 1.22 and drivers 1.22. These worked best on my bp6. I'm running a similar setup and was wondering what kind of cpu utilization there was with the software raid. Also how long did it take to regenerate the array. Are you using wi2k's dynamic disks or is it still in "basic" from a previous NT 4 upgrade. Oh and for all you bp6 users I've added a better heatsink to the bx chipset and a large fan and now this is by far the most stable this thing has been (only been down once in the last 3 months)

bp6 2x cel366@550 QQ beta 01 bios
768mb ram
tnt2 video
intel pro 100+ managed NIC
linksys etherfast NIC
smc 10/100 NIC
13.5gb ibm
13.5gb maxtor
8.4gb maxtor
4.3gb quantum
3 cdroms
56k USR (remote access)

I'm using win2k advanced server also. This is run as our ftp server, router, mail server, and UT server for a couple of us guys at school. Now I'm using just the basic volumes and I've put off implementing fault tolerance for far to long. How is the software raid implemented. Can you point me to a web page with details. thx

 

[holden j caufield]

also do you manually route by specifying the default gateway, use win2k's internet connection sharing, or use the normal NAT. also do you know how much faster a pure router is instead of a multihomed PC as a router. We don't have a regular router to compare. thx

 

[LordSandMan]

Ok, well here are the tests I did.
Raid 5 on bp6 duplicate file 25MB zip file CPU utilization is 40-60%
4GIG WD on KT7 duplicate file 25MB zip file CPU utilization is 50-100% with no other Apps running.

Seems strange, let me know your thoughts on this.

At idle the server runs at 2-5% utilization.

hmmmm, ok if bios 122 and driver 122 are known to work, then I'm thinking my my HPT controller is toast.

The raid volume took 23-24 hours to regenerate.

This is a clean install of w2k adv server. No previous NT. I'm using Dynamic disks. I don't think you can use basic disks for software raid (Someone correct me if I'm wrong).

As for setting up the Raid, I didn't have any manuals or anything. I just stumbled through it. It wasn't too tough. Just upgrade to dynamic disks. It's been a long time since I set it up though. If I can find a webpage I'll post it.

I use the software routing with NAT. I get 10ms pings to the router on the other side of the cable modem.

Tests.....

Downloading an 8MB file from Microsft at 280KB/sec(sweet) I get 2-5% cpu utilization on the server.

Connecting to a UT server on the net CPU utilization is 1-3%


My cable modem is rated at 1.5 Mbit. I'm not sure how it would handle a net connection like 10Mbit under full saturation.

The performance of this server has been great, although there usually aren't more than 2-3 services that are being used at a time, so it isn't getting taxed too heavily. I'm pretty sure most of the bottlenecks are with network speed(100MB LAN).I've been happy with it for the most part, except the few problems I've had with the High Point controller, and a few problems I've had with the drivers for the Asante NICs. Soft Raid in w2k has impressed me with it's durability. I've had problems with the hpt controller twice now, and both times the data was still intact even after moving some of the drives to new controllers.

 

[holden j caufield]

wow cool thx a lot. I'll look into software raid soon. and I guess win2k's NAT is pretty efficient at routing. If you have questions concerning the hpt366 controller and driver I would visit the bp6 website those guys have every answer concerning the bp6. I've never seen soooo much loyalty to a specific mobo. hehe thx again