• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Highpoint RocketRAID 2320 issues...

S

StudioXcel

n00b
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
18
I have just put together an 2TB fileserver, with 5x500GB Western Digital drives in RAID5. I am using an 80GB HD for OS (Windows Server 2003). When I try to setup any kind of RAID array (be it from the card BIOS or Windows GUI) it fails to successfully create the array. If any array is declared in the firmware, Windows won't boot (sits at loading screen forever), and if I use the GUI, it pops a message box saying it's complete, but then the software stops responding. I have tried the RAID card in my desktop as well (running Vista 32-bit). I can load drivers on both OSs, and have tried every firmware for it (5 versions).

Any ideas? Did I just get a dud?

Specs for server:
AMD X2 3600+
2GB DDR2-675
Gigabyte M61PM-S2
Highpoint RocketRAID 2320
5x500GB Western Digital SE 16
80GB Western Digital SE
 
It'll take the computer some time to create the RAID array. If you can do a background creation that will allow you to use the array right away. If you select foreground you'll have to wait until the array is done initializing to use the volume. You should see the web-gui report a percentage that is complete. Once it reaches 100% you can partition the array. Are you saying that after it reaches 100% you cannot partition?

Btw are you running that card in the x16 slot?
 
Thanks for the quick reply.

Firstly, yes, I'm running the card in my x16 slot... Is that a problem. Otherwise, I have tried with background and foreground initialization, both of which freeze the GUI. I haven't tried the WebUI though. I did find an interesting thing to possibly note though. When the app freezes, an unknown "Disk Drive" appears in the device manager. In the GUI, I never get a chance to see a percentage of initialization, but I did let it sit for 12 hours and when I finally forced a close and restarted, the array BIOS said it was still uninitialized.

I'll check if the WebUI can still see the array stuff and maybe get it working.

[edit]
I just tried the WebGUI interface (with background initialization), and it does the exact same thing and the GUI. I pops up a box that says it's complete and starts at 0% initialization, but can't get any further. I closed the web interface and now it can't even open again. The drive doesn't appear in the disk management screen either. Another weird thing... I can flash the BIOS before trying to create an array, but after the GUI freezes, I can't even open hptflash to reflash a bios. It's almost like the device is no longer functional.
 
It may take almost a day to create a array that size. I'll check the HP site and see if they have your mobo listed as supported. Ok so I wouldn't use the BIOS level area anymore and just use the Raid management software. If you look at the 2320 manual it says on page 32
Note: If you have specified an initialization option, the initialization process will start automatically. A progress bar will be displayed towards the bottom of the interface window, and will indicate the % completion, and provide an estimate of the time needed to complete the initialization procedure.
Click to expand...
Basically the way the highpoint cards work is you connect and power the drives, load up the os drivers, reboot, launch the raid manager, then you have to format the drives before you can create a array. Once you have the drives formatted you goto the create array area and then wait until it's available. I've created raid 10, 5, 0, and 1 arrays on highpoint cards and they all work like this. Try uninstalling everything and following the procedure I mentioned. Then if it fails write back and tell us what step you couldn't get past.
 
I have "Initialized" the individual drives in the HP BIOS. Does that count as formatting (as you said), or do I actually have to plug the drives into the mobo and format with a filesystem? I was under the assumption that the card just creates an array that appears as another disk that I can format and partition how I please.

Also... It "freezes" during array creation of any type or size. I've tried 2 drive RAID1 and it still hangs with the exact some symptoms. I guess I'll start the Initialization tonight and get back to you later tomorrow. That's pretty crazy that it would take a day to setup an array.

Thanks anyways.
 
StudioXcel said:
I was under the assumption that the card just creates an array that appears as another disk that I can format and partition how I please.

Also... It "freezes" during array creation of any type or size. I've tried 2 drive RAID1 and it still hangs with the exact some symptoms. I guess I'll start the Initialization tonight and get back to you later tomorrow. That's pretty crazy that it would take a day to setup an array.
Click to expand...
After reading the manual you need to initialized the disks I believe in the BIOS. Then you move onto the array creation using the software on the OS. You should really read your manual. Sometimes figuring out how these raid cards work can be a bitch. You should start reading on page 17. There's some more important info on page 26.

You'll know if you've done it right if you see the progress bar and a % marker. Yes, raid 5 arrays can take over 10 hours to setup with the highpoint software. I've setup raid 5, 10, 0, and 1 with highpoint cards and raid 5 and 10 take the longest. Sometimes a day. But in any circumstance you should always see the progress bar. If you're saying it's freezing when it should be displaying the progress bar I would suggest reading the manual and going step by step. If that doesn't work highpoint tech support is good. You can either call or e-mail they'll respond both ways. Only other think I can think of is that maybe you're not using the right drivers when you created the driver diskette like the manual says.
 
Well, the array has (supposedly) been initializing for 13 hours, but I still have the issue of the WebGUI timing out and not letting me back in. Occasionally I can get in to see the array configuration page, but it says 0% initialized.

Also, shouldn't I hear a lot of activity coming from the drives? They are 100% inactive...

One more thing... When I chose background initialization in the past, the device manager would show an unknown disk drive, making the array unusable. No matter what configuration I choose (any RAID level and configuration of that level), I always have the same results. If it's done in the bios, Windows won't boot. If I use a GUI, all card functionality locks up.

!! When the GUI has locked up and I try to look at properties of the RAID card in the Device Manager, the Properties windows even locks up.

I would really like to get this going, but I fear either the card isn't functional in a PCIex16 slot (even though the standard says it should be fine), or my card is shitty. Either way, it sucks...
 
hmm i have hp 2320 with 8x segate 500gb drives. Heres how i did the setup

mobo asus a8n sli deluxe
card in first x16 pci-e slot
win xp installed on 20gb ide drive

connected the 8 drives to hp2320 went to raid card's bios during bootup and initialized all the drives exited bios and booted the xp using the ide drive
in windows flashed 2320 with newest bios and installed web gui interface.
After reboot went back to windows xp and created raid 5 array using web gui. The process took like 18 hours or so but the web gui was responsive all the time and it would show the progress of the rebuild. I've been using this array under freenas for 3 months now without any problems.
 
Thanks for the input and your method. I seriously think my card is not functioning correctly (or my x16 slot doesn't like x4 devices, which is less likely considering I've tried the card in another mobo x16 slot with the exact same issue). I've been talking with Highpoint support, and am running a diagnostic utility provided by them. I should be done tomorrow sometime, and I'll report what it says. I apparently tests the drives and card thoroughly.

As for my experiences and method, I have tried every combination of BIOS, GUI, and WebGUI, and they all create the same issue. Windows (tried Server 2003, Vista, and Longhorn Server) won't boot if there is an array declared, and even when left supposedly initializing for close to 24 hours, the BIOS says it's uninitialized. Lately, I've been trying simple configurations like 2 drive RAID1, and every time it fails. I will try initializing, but exactly 40 seconds later, one or both of the drives reports failure to rebuild, then will try restarting the rebuild. It never gets passed 0% either.

I will be RMAing the card if I can't get it to work in the next few attempts, or if the diagnostics comes up with a failure code.

Should I stick with the 2320? I have been looking at Areca hardware raid cards (the ARC-1220 specifically), and it looks to provide everything I need at a reasonable price. Opinions? Suggestions?
 
Well, I've been dealing with Highpoint support, and they sent me a diagnostic utility. That took a few hours to run, testing the drives, communication between drives and card, and the card itself. Only one component came back with a fail on its test. That was the EEPROM test. When I do an individual test on the EEPROM, it says "EPROM is not loadable". I don't know exactly what that means, but I know that that is card specific, and that would also probably explain why I can't change the staggered spin up setting in the BIOS.

Any final ideas before I RMA this?
 
the ARC-1220 is a good card but its over double the price, then again its full hardware where hp cards are partially software based. If you got the $$$ go with the ARC-1220.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top