OS2World OLD-STATIC-BACKUP Forum

OS/2 - Technical => Hardware => Topic started by: Raiko on 2009.10.29, 14:10:19

Title: IBM xSeries 445 8870-2RX
Post by: Raiko on 2009.10.29, 14:10:19
Since RobertM seems to have success with xSeries 440 I'd like to know what you guys think about installing WSeB on the xSeries 445.

Details:
http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/selectproduct?familyind=5140810&typeind=5140813&modelind=5140800&osind=5050683&brandind=5000008&oldbrand=5000008&oldfamily=5140810&oldtype=5140813&taskind=2&matrix=Y&psid=dm

Title: Re: IBM xSeries 445 8870-2RX
Post by: RobertM on 2009.10.29, 23:18:36
There are drivers for most of the stuff in that machine, and it is around the age where it may be MP1.4 compliant (but not sure on that one). I suspect that certain hardware options may be a problem, especially something non-SCSI for disk access (though even there, I've seen hints of OS/2 drivers existing for other types of HDD interface support).
Title: Re: IBM xSeries 445 8870-2RX
Post by: Raiko on 2009.10.31, 14:43:52
It comes with one SCSI hdd, however I plan to replace it with 2 new SCSI hdd's.
Tried to find some info about "MP1.4 compliant", but no luck. Also, I have to admit that I
don't really know what I'm looking for since MP1.4 is something I know nothing about.
Appreciate if anyone could give some explanations.
Title: Re: IBM xSeries 445 8870-2RX
Post by: RobertM on 2009.10.31, 19:10:37
Quote from: Raiko on 2009.10.31, 14:43:52
It comes with one SCSI hdd, however I plan to replace it with 2 new SCSI hdd's.
Tried to find some info about "MP1.4 compliant", but no luck. Also, I have to admit that I
don't really know what I'm looking for since MP1.4 is something I know nothing about.
Appreciate if anyone could give some explanations.

Raiko,

As the processors are the same standard Xeon CPUs used in the x440 series, it probably is MP1.4 compliant - though of course, that is not guaranteed. The thing I did was to look at as much of the Linux install notes out there for the x440 and see where problems may arise based on what support Linux has that I know OS/2 does as well.

Sadly, I am finding very few technical pages in english or anything I can easily translate.

Suitable SCSI controllers for it would be the built in Adaptec, most of the ServeRAID 4 Series, and the ServeRAID 6M. RAID is supported by OS/2 using those (4 Series or 6M). You will need the appropriate ServeRAID support CD as well. v7.12 should be the one you look for, as well as have a copy of v6 in case the installation hangs (in which case, delete any RAID setup using the v6 disks, recreate them using the v6 disks, install, then use the v7 disk/drivers). You do not need to flash the card's firmware to an earlier version if you go that route (ignore the mismatch, create the RAID or non-RAID setup for the ServeRAID card using the earlier disk, install, then update the OS/2 drivers).

As of yet, I have not gotten WSeB to recognize the additional "cores" of the CPUs in my system (ie: Hyperthreading), but that may simply be because I haven't tried and am using the default installation parameters (which does see each CPU).

You may wish to check IBM's site for all of the documentation on the system and dig through that as well - I think someplace in the x440 docs it mentioned the machine was MP1.4 compliant. You'll want the User's Guide, Hardware Maintenance Manual, Options Installation Manual, any CPU Addendums and Installation Manuals, etc.

Oh, and keep in mind the machine's constraints on CPU installation. Generally, for more than two CPUs, it should be a matched set of Xeon MP CPUs unless the Options Installation Manual or some other support doc says otherwise. And if you are using Xeon DP CPUs, make sure you install them in the correct sockets (for instance, the x440 requires DP CPUs to be in sockets 1 & 4, with sockets 2 & 3 empty).

Best,
Rob