Hi all,

Instead of building a server, I just bought one on April 4, 2006. Have had several hard drive failures, and some suspected failures, that mysteriously cured themselves on my Raid 5 array. Raid card issues also. Long list of issues - long story. Server has not been dependable over the almost 3 years I have owned it. I suspect it was built wrong - see *** below.

Recently the server had been operating fine for several months, until it beeped incessantly a few days ago. Desktop screen showed normal - indicators showed no overheating. I shut it down.

Server info:
Dual (2) Intel® Xeon Irwindale 3.2GHz CPUS
800Mhz FSB / 2MB CPU Cache / Hyperthreading
Intel E7320 (Lindenhurst VS) Server Chipset
Supermicro X6DVL-EG2 Mainboard
Expansion Slots:
PCI-Express 2 (x4) PCI-e slots

PCI 1x 64-bit 66MHz PCI (3.3V) slot - ***(PCI-X cards are not supported in this slot) - Expansion slot info from Supermicro site on the X6DVL-EG2 Mainboard page

PCI 3x 32-bit 33MHz PCI (5V) slots
4GB ECC Registered DDR2-400
Three (3) 250GB SATA-II Hard Drives running Raid 5
7200 RPM & 8MB Cache Buffer
Tower Chassis with 450 Watt PS
16.8"H x 7"W x 20.9"D
Four (4) SATA150 Hot Swap Bays
16X DVD-ROM
RocketRAID-5 Controller (1810A) - PCI-X Series
Intel 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC
8MB Onboard ATI Rage XL Video
1.44MB Floppy Drive (Black)
Logitech PS/2 Keyboard & Optical Mouse
Windows XP Pro 64 OS

Turned server back on later that day, and Raid 5 array broken - only drive #1 showing out of three.
Swapped in two new drives - still only #1 showing.
Put the three original drives, one at a time in slot #1, and all three show up, with the raid array broken - all three drives seen individually and ok.
Checked connectivity.
Put all three drives back in and a fourth new drive. Raid card has four slots.
Removed hotswap backplane and wired all four direct to raid card - still only #1 slot showing. Hotswap backplane is ok but left out while diagnosing.
Changed sata cables to new - still only #1 showing.
Unplugged sata cable #1 from raid card.
#2 slot shows up, displays raid array broken with #3 & #4 not showing.
Unplugged sata cable #2 from raid card.
#3 slot shows up, displays raid array broken with #4 not showing.
Unplugged sata cable #3 from raid card.
#4 slot shows up, with bare drive.
Suspect raid card defective.
Changed Raid card - still the same.

Could be second raid card is defective. It was new, and used only once for a failure diagnosis before on this same server.

Was considering buying an upgrade card - RocketRAID 2210 PCI-X Series as a replacement.

Then I was examining Supermicro X6DVL-EG2 mainboard specs and found the note about the PCI slot on the mainboard not supporting PCI-X. http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon800/E7320/X6DVL-EG2.cfm

I think that this server was built wrong from the start and the raid card is not the problem. See the *** above. The PCI slot on the mainboard in this server does not support PCI-X according to Supermicro. The RocketRAID-5 Controller (1810A) - PCI-X Series raid card is in the PCI slot, put there by the BUILDERS. Out of all the troubles with this server, this time the PCI slot may have partially FAILED. Is that possible? Haven't checked it yet.

Considering a Supermicro X6DAL-TB2 mainboard as a possible replacement mainboard. It has the features I need, is still available, and has:
Expansion Slots
PCI-Express 1 PCI-Express (x16) slot

PCI-X 2x 64-bit 66MHz PCI-X (3.3V) slot ( the correct slot to support PCI-X )

PCI 2x 32-bit 33MHz PCI (5V) slot

I researched all this today, and just figured out this suspected misbuild today. Am just a little miffed. Lots of money and time dwindled away.
I am considering confronting the builder, if I am correct.

Any suggestions or comments on my diagnosis?
Thanks for hearing me out.

kenny9dorf






Sounds like the card to me.