Noob Question

[Warlock]

Hey All,

I just got a new snap server 2000 and I want to know what upgrade are available. I didnt even bother putting a drive in it yet.

First: I would like to upgrade the memory. What am I looking for? Want at least 128 megs.

Second: I plan to put two 250 meg drive in this thing. Should I install an old 80 gig first and then upgrade all Bios and all that first?

Anything else I should be getting so I dont turn this into a boat anchor?

Thanks
}War{

[blue68f100]

You need to power it up and get it on the network. This can be done with out any drives installed.

If it is not set up for DHCP, you will have to do a reset. You will then need assist to find and do the initial setep.

Once you get access, click on the SnapAppliance logo. It will popup a window, giving you BOIS, SN, HW & OS version.

The only bios upgrade know is to 1.2.180 this was released to allow upgrade to v3 OS.

The OS is stored in Flashram. All you need to do is to install the harddrive/s and let it do its thing. It takes about 10 min, to transfer files files from flash to the hd. During this process you will not be able to connect.

I don't recall if the 2000 will take large disk, I think so? But don't quote me. You will need to have OS version 3.4.805 or v4. There are some problems with v4.0.860 on some units, 27k and less.

As for ram, There are 2 differnent ones. My 2000 uses a 72 pin SIMM . My came with 32 meg other report 64meg, depends on age. The newer ones use PC66 DIMMs.

If you need assist or resetting instruction let me know.

[sgossard34]

I just got a 2000 recently myself.

I got my 2000 to see large disks with the 3.4.805 OS and BIOS 1.2.180 (server number is 31xxx)

My 2000 uses EDO 72 pin SIMM (not DIMM). The only upgrade for that is 128 mb. If you have the 168 pin DIMM PC66 RAM you can upgrade to 256mb.

If you need any OS upgrades and cannot get it from someone else drop me a line and I will help you out.

[blue68f100]

You were right on the memory, Simm not dimm, I corrected my post.

[sgossard34]

You were right on the memory, Simm not dimm, I corrected my post.


no biggy. I should really check with Adaptec if a BIOS update is available for the 2000 beyond 1.2.180.

I kind of do not want to call them because they needed a screen shot of my unit information and said if i do not supply it to them in 5 days time they will refund my money in full. Seeing how there support is worth spit, i would love to get my money back from them.

Blue did you ever talk to anyone at snap appliance before it was moved to adaptec to see if a BIOS version beyond 1.2.180 ever came out? Just wondering if it is worth my calling them to find out.

[blue68f100]

I think the newer 2000 with the PC66 ram have a bios >2.

When Snap was SnapAppliance, they didn't have anything past 1.2.180. The OS was at v3.4.803 at the time.

Keep your money. I use to check every months for updates, when they were snap.

Since the 2000 uses a software raid, I don't think the bios is that critical. I know on FreeBSD it directly reads the drive. With 805 and 4 we have large disk support. I'm a true believer in adding ram, with all of the demons running.

[Warlock]

Hey sgossard34,

I have the Simm version. Did you get any ram and if so from where and model number?

Thanks everyone for the quick replys !!

[sgossard34]

Hey sgossard34,

I have the Simm version. Did you get any ram and if so from where and model number?

Thanks everyone for the quick replys !!



Yes I just ordered a new SIMM version 128 mb. I would have liked 256 mb but the 72 pin EDO SIMM's only come in 128 mb :(


Here is the company I got it from.

Enjoy!

https://www.upgradenation.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MEM-EDO128KIT

[Warlock]

Woot !
Got my 128 meg stick mem and a WD 250 gig drive on the way.
Countdown to destruction is 3 days =P

Thanks All

[sgossard34]

Woot !
Got my 128 meg stick mem and a WD 250 gig drive on the way.
Countdown to destruction is 3 days =P

Thanks All


Let me know once you get your rig setup. I am curious to see if you have problems getting the unit to see and format the 250 gig drive. post your results once you have them.


thanks,


sgossard34

[Warlock]

w00t! No Smoke !

Hey sgossard34,

It was actually easy to setup so far. I'll be sure to let you know how the 250 drive goes when I get it.

Going to try to update the os now....

[blue68f100]

Warlock,

Connect to the server and findout which version of os is in flashram. No drives required. You will need 3.4.805 or v4 for hd >137gig.

[Warlock]

Hmmmm, not sure what I have to upgrade.

http://www.thebardrinking.com/snap2000.JPG

[blue68f100]

This is not quit the page I was looking for. This is from Assist.
This does not give the BIOS version. Your serial number is one of the early ones. DO NOT UPGARDE TO V4.0.860. Your bios is proably 1.2.180 made by Meridian. Mine is in the 27k range.

Do upgrade the fan. That is the reason for "FRIED", mine failed.

[Warlock]

Where do I find the Bois version ?

[Warlock]

Model Software Hardware Server # BIOS
2000 series 4.0.830 (US) 1.1.0 26345 1.2.180

[blue68f100]

Once the drives arrive you will be set to GO. It will not take to long to format, 30 min. I will take a long time if you decide to set a raid. You said 250 gig, approx 24 hrs.
That estimate is bassed on 10 hrs to do an 80 gig.

The clock stops if you watch it.

[sgossard34]

Once the drives arrive you will be set to GO. It will not take to long to format, 30 min. I will take a long time if you decide to set a raid. You said 250 gig, approx 24 hrs.
That estimate is bassed on 10 hrs to do an 80 gig.

The clock stops if you watch it.



My raid 1 setup of 112 gigs took almost 20 hours to do. I do not know the exact amount as I fell asleep. ;)

[Warlock]

Cool. I'll be sure to drop a line back in a few days when I get it all setup and running. I think I'll pass on raid though. =)

Thanks!
Adam

[re3dyb0y]

My drives took about half an hour for a 250gb...

[blue68f100]

Formating is quick, it's the raid builds what takes time.

[Warlock]

Doh !

My WD 250 took a dump. ( and it formated the second drive ) Uhg !
Format terminated unsuccessfully
Installed 64 meg simm though and it seems fine.

So,... Should I put this drive in my tower and see if it will format there?

[re3dyb0y]

The only thing that will help you achieve is to find out that the drive is dead

The snap server using XFS i belive, which can be done with some unix variants, however, it would still need to be snap initialised!

[Warlock]

Help please

I have installed two WD 250 gig drives now. Both have failed at around 38%.
I must be missing something... Any suggestions ?

Thanks
}War{

[blue68f100]

Refresh: 2000, BIOS 1.2.180, OS 4.0.830, SN <27k
250 gig drives will take a while to format.

If you can connect, look at the log and see what errors are being reported.

Since you replace the ram, did you check to see if it reconized it correctly? (debug memory)

WD has several model with the EIDE interface. These older units do not play well with this interface.

Since you are having problems, Work with 1 drive at a time. How long has it been formating? If you are building a raid, 24 hr is the est time for 250gig.

[Warlock]

OK, I’m ready to Snap!

Still not working… I tried to install just a single 250 gig and it failed again.
Disk write error : File System : Process formatting device /dev/ride0a
Seems like the large drives seem to all fail at 38% … odd.
That’s equal to about 95 megs. Any relevance there?

I used the same cable and it installed a 40 gig drive fine. Even though I didn’t want it to.

Where can I see if it is recognizing the new Ram properly?

Model Software Hardware Server # BIOS
2000 series 4.0.830 (US) 1.1.0 26345 1.2.180

Has anyone actually called for support on these things? At this point I have an expensive desk ornament.
The lights are cool though.... !

[blue68f100]

Its the WD drives, they cause problems some times. In detail they have a EIDE option. and there head/cyl/comp/sector is different than most.

I have never liked WD. The only drive I would consider of their's would be the raptor.

I only use Seagate or Hatichi.

[Warlock]

OK, I returned the WS 250 and got a 300 MB Seagate.
Still failed. Will not install past 35% now.

It seems like there is a hard level set and when it hits that is just stops formatting.

There is a 40 gig Seagate drive also installed and it works fine.

Now what ? = )

[blue68f100]

This is the first report of v4.0.830 causing any problems on a 2000.
Yours is one of the v1 / SIMMs units with the lastest and last bios 1.2.180.

You were looking at upgraded the ram. V4 requires more ram than v3. Have you checked to see how much is free?

Do you have a 80 or 120 gig drive you can try?.......

Lets copy the 40 gig HD to one of your new drives. You will need Knoppix CD or the windows verson of dd.
Master = 40gig = hda
Slave = 300gig = hdb

dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb BS=1024

You can add "count=40" at the end of the cmd to only copy 40 meg.

Re Install the 300 into the master position. Make sure you change the jumper to master.
boot, it should come up but report a file size error. Reports the size you copied.
then from debug issue "co de format 10000 /reinit" reboot
the formating process will start.

Generally if there is a problem it stops at 137gig.