Clean Install question from Truck911

[truck911]

Nick, thank you so much for your reply.

[NickN]

[quote]Nick, thank you so much for your reply.

[truck911]

Nick, I have set up everything as you have suggested I think?

[NickN]

[quote]Nick, I have set up everything as you have suggested I think?

[NickN]

One other thing too

Setting the controller to PERFORMANCE should force the FUA access to be turned OFF, and, when the BBU is installed it will also force FUA to be turned off. FUA is what polls the card memory to ensure the data is not corrupt and it slows the controller down. Make sure it is set to how I displayed it and set to PERFORMANCE.

and, in Windows XP x32 you can increase the buffer for the controller (DO NOT DO THIS WITH A 64bit OS only XP X32)

-Buffering size

You can increase the performance of the 9650SE by increasing the buffer to 4096. Please review this KB at 3ware:

http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=11690

It provides reg key downloads to increase the buffer to 4096 or return it to default.

Please not they do warn that the use of that tweak may affect hibernate or sleep functions.


The BBU get very warm so make sure you have good airflow for it when installed

[truck911]

All I can say Nick is that you have a friend in Toronto.  I cannot get this level of support at my work place on a week day.  thank you very much for your time and if I can ever reciprocate do not hesitate to ask me.

I am checking everything and will respond back.  Just wanted to get a quick thanks back to you it's the least I can do.

One other thing too

Setting the controller to PERFORMANCE should force the FUA access to be turned OFF, and, when the BBU is installed it will also force FUA to be turned off. FUA is what polls the card memory to ensure the data is not corrupt and it slows the controller down. Make sure it is set to how I displayed it and set to PERFORMANCE.

and, in Windows XP x32 you can increase the buffer for the controller (DO NOT DO THIS WITH A 64bit OS only XP X32)

-Buffering size

You can increase the performance of the 9650SE by increasing the buffer to 4096. Please review this KB at 3ware:

http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=11690

It provides reg key downloads to increase the buffer to 4096 or return it to default.

Please not they do warn that the use of that tweak may affect hibernate or sleep functions.


The BBU get very warm so make sure you have good airflow for it when installed

[truck911]

Nick still checking everything else but here is my results with just doing the buffer:

One other thing too

Setting the controller to PERFORMANCE should force the FUA access to be turned OFF, and, when the BBU is installed it will also force FUA to be turned off. FUA is what polls the card memory to ensure the data is not corrupt and it slows the controller down. Make sure it is set to how I displayed it and set to PERFORMANCE.

and, in Windows XP x32 you can increase the buffer for the controller (DO NOT DO THIS WITH A 64bit OS only XP X32)

-Buffering size

You can increase the performance of the 9650SE by increasing the buffer to 4096. Please review this KB at 3ware:

http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=11690

It provides reg key downloads to increase the buffer to 4096 or return it to default.

Please not they do warn that the use of that tweak may affect hibernate or sleep functions.


The BBU get very warm so make sure you have good airflow for it when installed

[NickN]

Alright, lets assume you have gotten the right driver+firmware file, ran the exe file in the unzipped download and upgraded both the firmware and the driver and it is up to date... and you updated the management software and you are sure it is the most recent...

Lets assume you have confirmed the controller settings.. just for giggles, even though the IE interface shows correct settings as i posted in the FAQ thread, boot into the 3Ware BIOS (restart, follow on screen to enter 3Ware controller) and verify those same settings from there. Its a bit more confusing in the BIOS than it is from the web interface but you want to confirm the array is indeed set to PERFORMANCE, Write Cache is enabled and NCQ or 'caching' is DISABLED.

lets also assume you have confirmed or updated the motherboard drivers and the BIOS and you have confirmed settings... and you confirmed the slot is not in conflict with another card or device....

(note, it is normal to share sometimes with onboard devices, post what the slot is sharing and I will review it)


At this point we need to look at your drives and check their specs. Go to the device manager and under the Disk Drive list, expand it and post the model number of the drives, I will then look them up and get the specs. from there I can estimate the max performance you should see using them in RAID0

The more drives you add, the faster the array will be so sometimes network admins opt for 3-4 cheaper/slower drives over 2 expensive/fast ones.

After you feel you have confirmed everything I posted, post the drives and we will go from there.

[truck911]

Alright Nick, just to confirm everything so far.

I have in fact installed XP Professional.

[NickN]

Sorry about the Device Manager duck-up, my bad

You get that info from the 3Ware IE interface under the drive section. I need the exact number of the drives because the spec sheets they post to the public at Seagate tend to bend the lilly a bit. They dont lie but they also do not give you the data that tells a real tech just how fast the data transfer really is on a drive.

What I am after is the buffer/disk speed spec which I can get from another source. As Seagate source but not the public domain info.

No boot?

Well, I assume you cleared the CMOS jumper with the tower unplugged fro the wall, powered back up, went into the new BIOS, loaded the setup defaults, then rebooted..

.... after that you must enter the BIOS and set it all up for boot from the 3Ware card. it wont do that automatically. You must set the BIOS up correctly for all the devices, especially cards and set up the boot order too.

Did you do that? The BIOS had to see the card as a boot device and in the right order before it will boot Windows.


Thanks for the detailed info... that helps

[truck911]

I did not clear the CMOS Nick doing it now.

the drives are:

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/HDD Info.gif

thxs again Nick.

Sorry about the Device Manager duck-up, my bad

You get that info from the 3Ware IE interface under the drive section. I need the exact number of the drives because the spec sheets they post to the public at Seagate tend to bend the lilly a bit. They dont lie but they also do not give you the data that tells a real tech just how fast the data transfer really is on a drive.

What I am after is the buffer/disk speed spec which I can get from another source. As Seagate source but not the public domain info.

No boot?

Well, I assume you cleared the CMOS jumper with the tower unplugged fro the wall, powered back up, went into the new BIOS, loaded the setup defaults, then rebooted..

.... after that you must enter the BIOS and set it all up for boot from the 3Ware card. it wont do that automatically. You must set the BIOS up correctly for all the devices, especially cards and set up the boot order too.

Did you do that? The BIOS had to see the card as a boot device and in the right order before it will boot Windows.


Thanks for the detailed info... that helps

[truck911]

Nick, I am calling it quits for the day.

[NickN]

At least you know the BIOS is definitely the issue now.

You can

[truck911]

Nick, your help and expertise is first rate and first class bar none.

[NickN]

[quote]Nick, your help and expertise is first rate and first class bar none.