[Info-vax] smartarray 5300 question

[Hans Vlems]

On 20 feb, 18:24, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
> On 20-feb-2013 18:12, Hans Vlems wrote:
>
> > I'm a hobbyist so unsupported is less important than it works,
> > provided it does of course.
>
> There are no PAKs involved, fortunately.  I never tried any Smart
> Array 5300 controller in anything other than a DS10.  But, if you
> see "PYA0" listed amongst the devices in the SRM, then I think
> it is supported to at least some degree.
>
> > I haven't done anything yet on the SRM prompt.
>
> I'm not sure if it's necessary, only if you plan to use a Smart
> Array logical volume as a system disk.
>
> > VMS sees it as a PKC0 and MSA connect to it and get a few responses.
> > What manual do I read to figure out the srm incantations?
>
> I never really used the MSA$UTIL, but regardless of the SRM boot
> ROM configuration environment and the aforementioned utility: Did
> you prepare any logical volume(s) yet?  Because the controller,
> like most (e.g. SCSI) RAID HBAs, can't or won't serve 'JBOD' and
> must explicitly configure any type of volume.  You can naturally
> achieve JBOD, by just creating a 'NRAID' volume on a per disk
> basis.  If I may ask, what do you intend to do/set up?
>
>   - MG

The SA5300 was a gift. What I'm trying to do is see if I can make it
work.
The 5300 is not exactly a fine match with VMS so I want to see how and
if it works.
If works with VMS then I'll put it in my DS20E. Which is big & heavy
so I prefer
the AlphaServer 800 for tests.
My main problem is that neither the off line cofiguration utility nor
MSA$UTIL detects
the single drive attached to it.
My next test is to add more than one drive, of various sizes and see
what happens.
Main problem: all I have are SCA drives and the only cable I have is
68 pin. Which adds
another uncertain factor: a SCSI converter.
But your and Hoff's tips got me on my way (for the time being :)

Hans