Windows Server boot on StorEdge 9990 (TagmaStore)

Hi everyone -

Thought I'd post this question here and see if I could get any feedback.

We have a StorEdge 9990, the Sun version of the HDS USP 1100 TagmaStore.

To this point, we've only put Solaris servers on the array, but would like to utilize it for our some of our Windows servers as well.

We are trying to SAN boot an HP BL20P G3 blade. The blade is disk-less and is using the HP branded QLogic Mezzanine HBA card.

We pushed out a single 14G OpenV and setup the Storage Group as Windows.

We are not able to see anything in the Boot BIOS on the HBA's in the blade.

We have confirmed the usual, latest firmware on the HBA, etc, etc, etc. The zoning is good as we can see the initiators on the array host ports and have dropped the WWN's into the Storage Group.

What are we missing? We've not deployed a Windows server to the 9990 yet, let alone boot from it as well. We do have extensive experience booting from other vendors array's (who will remain nameless :) ).

Can the StorEdge 9990 (Tag) support Windows 2003 server booting?

If so, is there an advanced option for the Storage Group we missed?

If so, does anyone know of any issues around the HP BL20P blade or QLogic Mezzanine card (which is based on the 2312 chipset, I think)?

Thanks for any help!

Jesse

[1355 byte] By [JesseTaylor] at [2007-11-26 8:57:35]
# 1

Though the test and qual teams always make a big deal about this there isn't anything that is different between a LUN you're using for storage and one that you're using for boot. As long as the host can see it from the HBA, the BIOS and the OS you want to run can see and install to the LUN then its not an issue. (Some caveats there but pretty minor in the grand schems of things.)

I'd verify that you have the LUN shared correctly to the host and the the HBA BIOS is set up correctly to look for it.

torreysun at 2007-7-6 22:58:07 > top of Java-index,Storage Forums,Storage General Discussion...
# 2

We are looking at using those blades with the chassis using the Brocade 4 Gb switches. The projects people were dead set keen on using my 9990 but I managed to persuade them that our HP XP 1024 was a better solution.

While looking into this, the doco said that the compatible SAN did not include the XP 10000 or XP 12000. The doco is very recent which makes me wonder why the XP 12000 was not mentioned. The XP 12000 is a HP rebadged Tagmastore.

There was also lots of discussion on booting Linux from the SAN and at that stage I had to wash my hair or something.

I doubt very much that there is an issue with the cards. I am not exactly sure on how SAN booting works if the system does not have any native support for FC. My advise is to try to get HDS to help you even though Sun sold you the box.

If you do find something interesting, please share it here on the forum as I would love to know the outcome.

Stephen

stephen2602 at 2007-7-6 22:58:07 > top of Java-index,Storage Forums,Storage General Discussion...
# 3
Have a look at:ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/other/5982-3248en_rev1_us. pdfStephen
stephen2602 at 2007-7-6 22:58:07 > top of Java-index,Storage Forums,Storage General Discussion...