Category Archives: Computers

Computers, Training

HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID

Leave a comment

We had a number of new HP SL series servers arrive in work, and they didn’t have the normal P4XXi controller for the _OS_ drives (since they blades only have two drives in the front). They instead had a “Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID controller” which sounds nice, but in the simplest form…its software RAID. The rear section has the P4XXi array controller however.

Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID in Slot 0 (Embedded)
Smart Array P420i in Slot 1

So…to save a number of people trouble in configuring this under PXE, you would need to do the following. This is similar to what was found in this link, however unless you want to do be doing it one by one with a CD – then you would boot from PXE.

First, you need to download the hpvsa driver from the following link. You could have a few different versions depending on your OS, but be sure to get the latest one.

Secondly, extract the gz and add it to the server path. Also, add the line to end of your existing stub that looks something like this:

blacklist=ahci dd=http://location/of/server/hpvsa.rhel6u4.x86_64.img

Notice we changed the ending of the file to .img vs .dd. This was done based on the feedback we received from HP and also we haven’t tested it with .dd since it just worked with the .img ending. I will try it .dd when I have a change and update this blog entry.

Please be sure the permissions (644) are setup correctly on the file or else it will not be read properly.

Once you boot up, depending on your KS file, you would not be prompted, but it will install and configure the hpvsa driver for the OS:

#lsmod
Module Size Used by
hpvsa 2548728 3

Computers, Downtime, General, Microsoft, Random Thoughts

The price of convenience…

Leave a comment

Well, as the title states, this post is about conveniences of sorts. What conveniences am I talking about? The computer kind of course 🙂 Essentially, the file/web server server and power to get more specific. I may have mentioned a few times here and there about moving this to another server, or etc…and I have done it several time. Just trying to save me some money, but in the end I spend more.

Currently, as I pointed out most likely a bunch of times, this server is a VM off a pretty decent (at the time anyway) quad core AMD CPU and using VMware as a type two hypervisor (in Windows). The system runs fine, and in fact I just upgraded it in some aspects. However the main issue are two fold:

——
1) Performance
This system may have been great in ~2009 and it still is in some cases. Currently its on a AMD Phenom II X4 955 with 16GB of RAM. I wish I can extended the memory more, however with 16GB its max limit – I am stuck. When I try to launch another VM, I have to be sure I have enough of resources or else the system will get really bogged down and barely respond. Worse case, I need to shutdown this site and bring it back up when done (which is why there is frequent downtime at around midnight or so).

2) Price
So what does this have to do with price? You may ask yourself, well he has the hardware and the software – so whats the issue? Those questions are valid, but I have to explain some. Right now in the North East USA, it is starting to become spring and then summer (like you knew already). The problem is AC cost and power.

The price of the computer alone, without AC is around $30-$35 a month. With AC, cause you can’t leave your electronics toasty, it goes up a bunch more. In the end it still maybe cheaper than say renting out a server from a dedicate server farm, or even a VPS though.
——

The bad thing about this…if I want to save money, I need to spend money. Which bring me back to the title of this post – “The price of convenience…”. Sometime ago I was going to get myself one of those RAID systems in a box. I just didn’t like how it sat in my mind though – using a non-open sourced OS (in some cases) and low-end hardware. Granted it doesn’t take much to run a file server, but a file plus a VM server – IMHO requires a decent box, which is why this system is still running to this day.

I just need to think about this and maybe someone could offer a suggestion or two. Till then – good night and hopefully we get no more snow… 🙁

Alienware, Computers, dell

Alienware m18x – we should part…

Leave a comment

Ok, well, long story short – I am returning the Alienware m18x. I am not returning it cause of performance, nor am I returning it over looks (although it did have a nice little paint chip on the top lid).

The reason, in short, was the warranty. Normally when you buy things you can buy a warranty for it within a certain time. In this case, until your other warranty expires. Even then you can buy another one. However its not the fact I couldn’t buy it – it was the price of it.

To max out the warranty on Dell’s point of sale price it would have been around $500. I said to myself, I don’t have the money right now so I will upgrade later. When I received the laptop, I priced it out and boy was I shocked… To max out the warranty on the Alienware m18x would have been $1500 for the same protection.

I called up customer care and tried to ask them to lower the price, but they couldn’t give me the POS (point of sale) price. So they recommended I send the laptop back and order another one. Not only do I find this dumb (IMHO), but its a good way to loose a customer since you have to wait nearly 30 days to get your money back and then you can reorder.

Alienware, Computers, dell

*Update* My new baby – computer wise anyway… Alienware M18x

Leave a comment

Current Production Status:
SHIPPED!!

EDD: 6/01/2011

Current Status:
5/9/2011 – Ordered/In Production
…
5/20/2011 – In Production – Build Stage
…
5/21/2011 – In Production – Boxing Stage
…
5/24/2011 – Shipped!!!!

Dell Order Time:
12 days (used to be 15 days)

Forums I Follow:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/

Quick update(s):

5/18/2011…
Emailed Rep and he stated everything is a-ok so far – no concerns.

5/19/2011…
Emailed Corp Rep and he stated its likely to ship in a few days +/-. However nothing is certain…

5/21/2011…
Emailed reps, but no reply. Guess they could be busy so no worries. Called and found out that its in the boxing stage right now and it should hopefully ship soon!

5/21/2011…
It shipped!!!

Alienware, Computers, dell

My new baby – computer wise anyway… Alienware M18x

Leave a comment

Well, as you can see I tried the XPS 17, however being a gamer I needed something more powerful. So after talking to my Dell account rep, I was convinced to go with the Alienware M18x. Yes it was more expensive, however I believe it was worth it in the end.

EDD: 6/1/2011 with Next Business Day Shipping

225-0887 Alienware M18x Space Black Anodized Aluminum
317-6854 Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
317-6851 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS)
331-2428 Alienware M18x 330W A/C Adapter
320-2269 18.4-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 WLED
320-2271 Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6970M – AMD CrossFireX
342-2626 320GB 7,200RPM HDD
330-6106 Personalized Nameplate Trigger
331-2426 Custom Nameplate
313-8791 AlienFX Color, Mars Red
421-5099 Alienware Command Center, M18X
421-1400 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp
420-9956 Vista PC Restore
421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
410-0548 Adobe Acrobat Reader
318-0843 Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader, BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW
421-1305 Roxio Creator Starter
318-0770 Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
430-4150 Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 a/b/g/n 3×3 MIMO Technology
469-0549 Bluetooth 3.0
330-6350 Automatic Updates: Critical Updates Only
953-9080 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
953-9100 Third Party At Home Service, 24×7 Technical Support, Initial Year
994-3700 Accidental Damage Service, 1 Year
950-9797 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
421-1719 Soft Contracts Consumer Accidental Damage Agreement for Alienware
421-1723 Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
994-3730 Warranty Support, Initial Year
421-1586 Alienhead Chrome Red
421-1596 Alienhead Chrome Red
421-1360 Steam and Portal Factory Installed
421-2965 EVE-Online, English, German, Russian
330-5090 Thank You for Purchasing AlienWare
466-8200 Plant A Tree – Notebook, Netbook, Laser and Inkjet Printers, LCD Monitor Offset
462-3235 Thank you for choosing Dell